My Servant: A Covenant to the People

Isaiah 42:1-9

The Biblical text from the NRSV is always found in the first column.

The reflection by Fr. Dennis Chriszt, CPPS is always found in the second column.

He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:

I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to 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 idols.

See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

Isaiah prophecies that God will send someone who will be “a covenant to the people.” This covenant will not be written on stone tablets or kept in the ark of the covenant in the Temple. This covenant will walk among the people. “He will faithfully bring forth justice.” He will never give up his work for justice.

This covenant, this person will be called by the Lord, called to do wondrous things – being a light to the nations, opening the eyes of the blind and setting prisoners free.

We Christians know this person to be Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Son of God. We know him because of all he did to fulfill this prophecy.