The Resistance - Day 33
Day 33: Wednesday, March 15
Read Isaiah 42
Highlight
Isaiah 42 opens with a “servant song,” one of many in the Book of Isaiah. In each of these songs, God describes a perfect Servant that does perfectly what God’s people have failed to do. The people of God were meant to uphold justice and be gentle towards those in need (‘a bruised reed he will not break’) and represent God to the nations/Gentiles. But they had failed in this and their own land had become a place of injustice. The Servant Songs communicate hope that what Israel has failed to do, the servant will accomplish.
Jesus is this perfect servant, and we know that because this particular section of verses are directly connected to Jesus in Matthew 12:15-21. As we struggle to do what we know we ought to do, we should remember that Jesus is the perfect servant that we have failed to be. Even as far back as Isaiah 42, written in the 700s BC, God was promising that he would send someone to do what we could not. Why? To make a beautiful exchange. He was the perfect servant, he knew no sin and had never failed God. That’s what made him capable of taking our sin and exchanging it for his perfection. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says this exactly: “For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in [Jesus] we might become the righteousness of God.”
Reflection
Every passage in the Bible, including the one you just read, is “...inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” Let the passage challenge you as you reflect on it, but always cling to the full context of Scripture, which tells us that “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Praise God!
Prayer
Let the passage we just read guide your prayers. Use the acronym ACTS.
Adoration - Praise God for the truth this passage communicated about him.
Confession - Confess to God the thing that this passage showed you is wrong in your life.
Thanksgiving - Thank God for what this passage taught you was true about you and for the ways He is already helping you to do what is right.
Supplication - Ask God for help to do what this passage teaches to do and accomplish the good works he has for you.
Read Isaiah 42
Highlight
Isaiah 42 opens with a “servant song,” one of many in the Book of Isaiah. In each of these songs, God describes a perfect Servant that does perfectly what God’s people have failed to do. The people of God were meant to uphold justice and be gentle towards those in need (‘a bruised reed he will not break’) and represent God to the nations/Gentiles. But they had failed in this and their own land had become a place of injustice. The Servant Songs communicate hope that what Israel has failed to do, the servant will accomplish.
Jesus is this perfect servant, and we know that because this particular section of verses are directly connected to Jesus in Matthew 12:15-21. As we struggle to do what we know we ought to do, we should remember that Jesus is the perfect servant that we have failed to be. Even as far back as Isaiah 42, written in the 700s BC, God was promising that he would send someone to do what we could not. Why? To make a beautiful exchange. He was the perfect servant, he knew no sin and had never failed God. That’s what made him capable of taking our sin and exchanging it for his perfection. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says this exactly: “For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in [Jesus] we might become the righteousness of God.”
Reflection
Every passage in the Bible, including the one you just read, is “...inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” Let the passage challenge you as you reflect on it, but always cling to the full context of Scripture, which tells us that “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Praise God!
- What truth does this passage communicate about God? About us? About our world?
- Has God used this passage to highlight something that is wrong in your life?
- What does this passage teach us to do? What is one practical thing you can do to apply this to your life?
Prayer
Let the passage we just read guide your prayers. Use the acronym ACTS.
Adoration - Praise God for the truth this passage communicated about him.
Confession - Confess to God the thing that this passage showed you is wrong in your life.
Thanksgiving - Thank God for what this passage taught you was true about you and for the ways He is already helping you to do what is right.
Supplication - Ask God for help to do what this passage teaches to do and accomplish the good works he has for you.
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