“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.” (Isaiah 42:6-8)

Although Isaiah specifically named Israel as the Servant of the Lord in the preceding chapter, here the Servant is a specific person. Isaiah prophecies that He who will come will fulfill the mission Israel had been called to. This Servant of the Lord is totally committed to God’s will, to perform His mission completely with gentleness, meekness, humility and patience. He will enlighten those living in darkness and free those trapped in the bondage of idolatry and sin. He will uphold and fulfill God’s law.

The mission of the servant was the one that the Lord chose Israel to perform, but which she failed to carry out. Israel failed to give praise to Yahweh for all the blessings He had showered upon her. She became deaf to His words and commands, fell in to idolatry and sin and failed to be a light of truth to the gentiles.

We who have faith in Jesus are called to the same mission because we are the servants of the Lord. Too often we get mixed up with the ways of the world and pay more attention to cultural and political values than to the word of God. We neglect to preach the good news that Christ came to heal and save those who are weak, powerless and poor. It is our mission to preach to the lost as well as love the poor and oppressed with works of righteousness. The message of salvation by faith in Jesus is meant to be shared with everyone.