Isaiah 42:1-9 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 42:1-9 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 42Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. Verse 2He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; Verse 3a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. Verse 4He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
Verse 5Thus 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: Verse 6I 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, Verse 7to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. Verse 8I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. Verse 9See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Devotion
According to legend, there is a sign at the beginning of the Trans-Alaskan Highway which reads, “Choose your rut carefully; you’ll be in it for 1390 miles!”
It seems that Isaiah was preaching to a people who had been living in a rut, not for miles, but for generations. They were well-acquainted with injustice, exile, persecution, brokenness and defeat. Nothing on the horizon suggested anything different. Then the prophet spoke: My servant will bring forth justice…and vision…and light. New things I now declare! Through Isaiah, the people of Israel were reminded that they were not abandoned and God would lead them out of the rut and into light.
In this first week of the New Year, when the fading euphoria of Christmas is best evidenced by spruce trees lying on the curb and Visa bills in the mailbox, many of us will return to our ruts. Life can be hard, the future can be uncertain and relationships can be fragile. Nevertheless we do not walk alone, because the Lord of Creation walks before us. “New things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them!”
Prayer
Lord God, may the glory of the Savior’s birth go with us into darkness and doubt and draw us into a sure and certain hope. Amen.