Summary

As we press deeper into the final stages of the book of Isaiah we get clearer and clearer pictures of the God of Isaiah. It is like we are ascending the mountain and now we can see more than when we first set out. We are nearing the peak.

We are seeing a very unique and special picture of God’s chosen servant. This is the King Isaiah saw coming to sit on the throne - yet he is very different to any who comes before Him.

What We Need

Submitting to God's ruling in our life. Giving him total control to decide how we live. Obedience is an indicator of commitment. Love is an indicator that obedience is willing.

Why We Can't

Resentment and a broken relationship leads to a lack of obedience and diverging paths. Israel failed in that they decided to choose their own way and rejected God. God didn’t divorce Israel, they abandoned God. The relationship is complicated.

Why Jesus Can

It is different with the Servant - glimpses of Jesus Isaiah sees. We follow Him now in the first-person perspective. Imagine what it would be like to be Him. We notice straight away how different He is from my way of thinking. He is attentive to the words of God. He listens carefully. Not one thing said by God is neglected by Him. (Vs 4-6)

He is reliant on God and determined to do what God says (vs 7-8). He is accused and mocked - yet he stands firm.

But no charge is brought. No case can stand. No accusation is warranted. He is perfectly obedient in every regard.

Now What?

my failure and broken relationship to God is remedied by Jesus’ bridging the gap. He is the mediator. When I am abandoning God, he won’t give up on the relationship. He gives up himself before he gives me up.

Obedience isn’t about doing more good things to outweigh the bad. “Trust in the Lord and rely on your God” (vs 10) is the way forward. The analogy at the end implies we are all in darkness. It is easy to try to make your own fire and try to keep yourself going. The fire will go out eventually. Instead, we need His light.