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A journey through Lent - 2016
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Day Eighteen - The Chosen Servant.
In the preceeding chapters the prophet Isaiah has been addressing the peoples pursuit of false idols. Idols who delude, enslave and are destined to fail.
In this passage, God's chosen "servant" is called to bring justice and freedom.
Although this lesson was spoken for Israel it remains an equally valid lesson for us.
Idolatory at its very heart is slavery to undeserving things.
This is in stark contrast to Jesus who chooses to serve us. He is the one who deserves our worship.
We are called to see Jesus as the one who God delights in. He is an example to us of what is real. The Spirit-filled servant who has come because we are forever on the precipice of hopelesness.
He will deal with us with the gentleness of a friend and reveal to us the one true God who loves us. This passage contains some of the most beautiful images of God's gentle interaction with our lives. He will not shout or cry out... he will not break a bruised reed.... he will not snuff out a smouldering wick.
These are pictures that truly speak a thousand words of the nature of the Trinity. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In this passage there is the promise of salvation, for the whole world and of the constancy and reliability of Jesus as he works to draw all to himself. God declares he will hold Jesus' hand, as he does these things in the world, for he is one with God.
Because of Jesus we are freed from the chains of our burdens which prevent us from worshipping our God. Our eyes are opened to his glory and we emerge from the darkness into the light of his covenant with us.
Bible Passage: - Isaiah 42: 1-9 (NIV)
'Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.'
This is what God the Lord says -
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
'I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
'I am the Lord; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you.'
Contemplation Saying.
"I am the Lord; that is my name!"
Contemplative Prayer.
Think of the saying in order to understand context and meaning,
Feel the meaning of the saying with and in your heart,
Pray, using the saying, for yourself or others. With only a name and without explaining the reasons or pre-defining any answers.
Listen for God's voice in the quiet of your prayers.
Pray using your own prayers or one of those which have been prepared below.
Hymn: Singing the Faith - "From heaven you came"
Let us pray together.
Twitter Prayer
Father God, we thank you for our servant-king, Jesus who has come to set us free. Amen.
Facebook Prayer
We thank you for our servant-king, Jesus who has come to set us free.
We delight in the gentleness of your touch in our lives.
We are fragile people easily diverted from your path, easily damaged by the world in which we live.
We are indeed bruised reeds and we praise you that you will not break us but nurture us in your loving way.
We pray that we too will nurture those around us, so that in our lives we too may be gentle with those around us. Amen.
Full Prayer
Loving God, we thank you for your scriptures, for the many stories which tell of your covenant with your people.
We thank you for our servant-king, Jesus who has come to set us free.
We delight in the gentleness of your touch in our lives.
We are fragile people easily diverted from your path, easily damaged by the world in which we live.
We are indeed bruised reeds and we praise you that you will not break us but nurture us in your loving way.
We pray that we too will nurture those around us, so that in our lives we too may be gentle with those around us.
Gently spreaking your words into the world. In Christ's Name, Amen.
Lord Jesus, we pray that through the presence of your Holy Spirit you will reveal to us the wonder and awe that you are our Messiah and Savior, our Prophet, Priest, and Servant King.
We pray that we will know you as servant and king in our lives, each and every day.
We pray that we too may be servants of the servant, ever ready to answer your call on our lives. In your name we offer our prayers. Amen.
O God, you are mighty and awesome in power. You have given us the breath of life.
We thank you for your Holy Spirit who intertwines with our lives.
Help us to remember that you are holding our hand.
Open our hearts to humbly receive your call.
Give us a compassionate desire to show the world around us the love of Jesus. Amen.