Behold My Servant, Whom I uphold; Mine elect in Whom My soul delighteth. Isaiah 42:1 KJV

Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. Isaiah 42:1 NASB

Of all the major prophets, it is likely that Isaiah presents more pictures of the Lord Jesus than any other. At least four chapters (known as the Servant Songs) speak of the Lord Jesus as the Servant. In other chapters, He is the Solace, Shepherd, Sovereign, Sufferer, Son, and Savior. A review of Isaiah provides an abundance of material for meditation and worship.

Here in Isaiah 42 is one of the most delightful of considerations by the prophet as he calls upon us – or rather God calls upon us – to behold the Servant character of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are at least four hallmarks of His service to God that can be appreciated here.

The Delight He brought to His Master

“In Whom My soul delights” expresses something of the pleasure that God found in His Servant-Son. A Father found infinite pleasure in His Son while here. But in His character as a Servant, the Lord Jesus gave back to His Master everything that God ever looked for in a servant. Israel was chosen to be His servant-nation, but they failed and failed miserably. Kings were raised up to serve as “shepherds” of His people. Some succeeded in part while most failed in large measure. There were prophets called to the service of God. Once again theirs is a checkered history of faithfulness and failure.

Here was a Servant Who consistently brought pleasure to His Master.

The Dependence He Displayed

“Whom I uphold.” Here was the only servant who was cast upon God from the womb. He never moved independent of the will of God; He never strayed from the pleasure of God.

He proclaimed that His words were not His but the Father’s Who had sent Him. His works were ascribed to His Father. He sought to direct men to God as the object of their praise and thanksgiving.

The Selflessness of His Service

“He did not cry or lift up His voice” may at first seem to be contradicted in the Gospels where we read at times that He cried with a loud voice (John 7:37 and other passages). But the thought is that He did not attract men to Himself. He did not do, as some in the times of the Apostle Paul, “huckster” the gospel. He never sought to glorify Himself or manipulate men to serve or honor Him.

The Tenderness that Marked Him

The bruised reed and the dimly burning wick were not cast off by Him. Every bruised reed such as Peter and others were valued and restored. Every dimly burning wick, such as the two on the road to Emmaus, were not extinguished but made to blaze once again into full radiance and joy. He dealt tenderly and sensitively with each and every servant. His “success” as a Servant of God did not cause Him to minimize the value of other servants.

God has called upon us to “Behold” His Servant. May we not only worship Him but take character in our service from Him.

Consider:

Go through Isiah and find as many portraits of Christ as possible. Many are in contrast to individuals and nations presented in the prophecy.

Translate