Spiritual Success or Distress?
teacher's guide Quarter 1, Lesson 1

Lesson One

God's Son Was A Servant

Text: Isaiah 42:1-4

Context: Babylon was to fall. Soon, Israel's captivity was to end. Soon, those who choose to return to their homeland could. God's purpose would be achieved in Israel by Israel functioning as a gentle servant.

Often Old Testament prophecies served a double purpose. In this prophecy, God could speak of the servant nation (Israel) and of the servant Christ (Jesus) in the same prophecy. Read Matthew 12:15-21.

In this lesson, we want to understand God's plan and intentions for the Christ.

Questions to be answered directly from the text: (The text used is the New American Standard. You may certainly use your own study text.)

  1. "Behold, My servant, whom I uphold (verse 1).

  2. "My chosen one in whom My soul delights (verse 1).

  3. What was put upon him (verse 1)? God's Spirit

  4. How would this benefit the nations (verse 1)? He would bring them justice.

  5. What will he not do (verse 2)?

    Cry out or raise his voice. He will not "command attention" as was commonly done by someone who had a mission to accomplish that involved a message. He would not use crowd attracting shouts to gain attention. Instead he would use quiet instruction.

  6. What will not be heard in the street (verse 2)?

    His voice. A parallel (repeat) emphasis on the point in the last question.

  7. What will he not break (verse 3)?

    A bruised reed. Reeds that grew by the river side had numerous uses. They were plentiful and expendable. He would not destroy something as inexpensive and useless as a bruised reed.

  8. What will he not extinguish (verse 3)?

    The glowing ember in a wick. The flame has been extinguished. Only the glowing ember remains in the wick. It is so weak that all it produces is a rising wisp of smoke (no light). It can easily be destroyed by pinching the wick between your fingers. He would not even destroy the ember.

    The primary point of 7 and 8 is that he is a threat to no one. He revitalizes and restores life, not destroys life. That is a striking contrast to rulers and leaders of that time.

  9. What will he bring (verse 3)? He will bring justice.

  10. He will not be what (verse 4)? He will not be disheartened or crushed.

Insights into the text:

  1. In this context, placing "my Spirit" upon him likely refers to receiving power from God.

  2. In this context, bring justice to the nations likely refers to revealing God's true religion to the nations. Both in Israel and in Christ, the nations would see a dramatic contrast between the pagan gods and the living Creator God.

  3. God's "chosen one" would be a servant. He would not be a threat to people. He would not overpower the nations. He would not terrorize and conquer.

  4. In contrast, he would be an unassuming servant who would not break a useless bent reed or put out the glowing ember in a "blown out" wick. Note the servant would be harmless and nonthreatening.

  5. Though he was given the seemingly impossible task of changing the nations by working as a harmless servant, he would be neither disheartened nor crushed.

Jesus' life was the life of a servant.

Read each of the following scriptures about Jesus' life. State how each scripture illustrates a point made in Isaiah 42.

  1. Matthew 3:13-17

    He refused to let John discourage his baptism because he knew it was appropriate for him to be baptized. He wished to submit, to surrender to His father. He committed himself to "delighting God" by fulfilling all righteousness even though he had no sin.

  2. Matthew 17:1-5

    The transfiguration illustrates that he was God's chosen one. He was to be heard rather than Moses who gave the law and Elijah, the symbol of the prophetic voice.

  3. Matthew 4:23-25. God's spirit or power was upon Jesus.

  4. Luke 7:36-50.

    He did not "break the bruised reed or extinguish the wick" when the woman known by all to be sexually immoral came to him in deep grief. This person sought Jesus out.

  5. John 4.

    He did not "break the bruised reed or extinguish the wick" of the Samaritan woman at the well, even though she was a divorcee living with a man to whom she was not married. Jesus sought her out and used her to bring a whole village to faith.

  6. Matthew 8:1-4

    He did not "break the bruised reed or extinguish the wick" of the leper, an outcast, who had complete confidence in Jesus' ability to use his power to heal him. Jesus told him to tell no one about the healing. Jesus did not try to attract attention to himself or the power in him. His primary concern: "Hear my message."

  7. Matthew 26:62-68

    The high priest could not comprehend why Jesus kept his silence. Even as he unjustly was condemned, he was a threat to no one and he "did not cry or raise his voice."

For Thought and Discussion

  1. Contrast a servant with the following roles.

    • A servant and a rich man
        (A rich man exists to be served; being served signifies his importance.)

    • A servant and a powerful man
        (A powerful man displays his power by controlling others; others serve him.)

    • A servant and a scholar of great reputation
        (A scholar is accustomed being respected for his knowledge; his success depends on respect, not on serving.)

    • A servant and a military officer
        (The military officer demands respect for his authority and issues orders. Others serve him; his role does not include serving others.)

    • A servant and a king
        (A king is honored for his position and power. The lives and futures of others are in his hand.)

    • A servant and a world emperor
        (The world emperor controls the world. He is supreme. He has supreme control and supreme power. All humanity are his servants.)

  2. If you had the responsibility to change the world through the work and efforts of a single person, would you choose and use a servant? Explain your answer.

    Choosing the role and position of a servant is not the human avenue to significant accomplishment and achievement. Leaders who are served are the avenue; servants merely accomplish the plans and dreams of leaders.

The Creator God looked at His creation and said that it was very good (Genesis 1:31). Evil corrupted, distorted, and ruined God's good creation (Romans 8:19-23). God executed His plan (Romans 5:6-11). (1) He sent His Son to live a human life in a wicked world and complex age. (2) He sacrificed His Son for our sins on the cross. (3) He raised His Son from the death. (4) He made His Son Lord and Christ.

Satan changed the world through evil. God changed the world through Jesus. The all powerful God who created all things, who could do anything He wanted to do in any way He wished to do it, sent Jesus to be a servant. God gave the world a Savior by sending a servant. The eternal God accomplishes His purposes through servants.


Link to Student Guide Quarter 1, Lesson 1

Copyright © 1999, 2000
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ

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