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A journey through Lent - 2016
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Day Nineteen - The Servant Israel.
In this passage Isaiah is talking not only to Israel but the whole world.
We do, however, read this passage in the context of Israel in exile and longing to return home.
The passage assures us that the people of God will be restored, not by conquest and violence but by the power of the servants voice.
In God's design Israel was meant to be a blessing to all nations, to display all of the characteristics of God, which they had never managed to be or do.
So the servant, the Saviour would, unlike them, be perfect in every way. Revealing all of the character of God to the world.
He would come to save not only the Jews but also everyone else, he would indeed be a "light to all the nations".
We must remember that Jesus, by his sacrificial death, is not the means of God's Salvation - he is God's salvation through the totality of his life, death and resurrection.
We are saved, not by his death alone but by our relationship with our resurrected servant king. Guided in his way by his life, humbled by his death but made alive in his resurrected presence in our lives. Hallelujah!
Bible Passage: - Isaiah 49 1 - 6 (NIV)
Listen to me, you islands;
hear this, you distant nations:
before I was born the Lord called me;
from my mother's womb he has spoken my name.
He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.
He said to me, 'You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendour.'
But I said, 'I have laboured in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due to me is in the Lord's hand,
and my reward is with my God.'
And now the Lord says -
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel to himself,
for I am honoured in the eyes of the Lord
and my God has been my strength -
he says:
'It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.'
Contemplation Saying.
"You are my servant"
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 - "Brother let me be your servant, let me be as God to you"
Let us pray together.
Twitter Prayer
You are truly our salvation, saving us from the emptiness and terror of separation from God. Amen
Facebook Prayer
Loving Jesus, we thank you that, by your death and resurrection, you have brought us back into a full relationship with you.
You are truly our salvation, saving us from the finality of death, the emptiness and terror of separation from God.
Warm our hearts with the truths of your goodness and your endless love for us.
We see that through your life, death and resurrection we are restored into the presence of God. Amen
Full Prayer
Loving Jesus, we thank you that you have brought us back into relationship with you.
You are truly our salvation, saving us from the finality of death, the emptiness and terror of separation from God.
Warm our hearts with the truths of your goodness and love for us.
We see that through your life, death and resurrection we are restored into the presence of God. Your promise means we will never be separated from that love.
As we gaze on the cross this Lenten time may we remember the pain you bore, the love you poured from your wounds, the challenge you faced on our part. Freely pouring out your life for each one of us.
May we remember that as loved ones leave us they travel the path you have trod, following you to your heavenly kingdom.
Let us kneel in our abject need before you, acknowledging our need for your promise of forgiveness. Relying on the mercy of your love and Name. Amen.
Loving God, we thank you that your message is for all.
That your light shines in the darkness of the whole world, illuminating everywhere and everyone.
We pray that the light of your love may shine on all of our lives, driving out any darkness we have in us.
Blaze in the dark corners of our hearts where our temptations lie, ready for the shadows to grow and give them space to multiply and invade the light of our souls.
Drive away our doubts, fears, selfishness, our lack of love and kindness.
For you are our shield and protector and we confidently place our faith in you. Amen
Crown of thorn image fromClipart.co