A Holy Monday Reflection

Isaiah 42
1 Behold 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.
2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.

Three things in this passage encourage me. I hope they'll encourage you today.

First, the chosen servant about whom Isaiah is prophesying is Jesus, who didn't bring about justice by getting loud and working everyone up into a riot. The last thing we need now (or ever needed) to deal with the problems of the world is another show, more grandstanding, more empty words and hollow moral outrage that lasts a week or three. We're buried in that. It doesn't really work, especially when suffering has found us in our living rooms on a Monday.

Second, we're vulnerable and Jesus knows this even when we try to hide or deny it. He knows us. He sees how it's actually going even when we say, "Fine." My favorite metaphors in all of Scripture are here in verse 3, reminding us of the compassion and sensitivity of our Savior. He doesn't break an already bruised and delicate reed, a seemingly irreparable thing. He doesn't snuff out a struggling spark gasping for fuel. Maybe you feel like that now, bent over, obscure, faint in body, mind and Spirit. Nothing left to give. Jesus isn't just there to fix you and move on. He's there with you as you are. That's where he wants to begin.

Third, just what verse 4 says: He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth. Not just abstract, sweeping justice for the world, but the help and vindication you need where you are and how you are. He's here for that and though you might be discouraged and done, he's just not. He never is. So take heart. Or, at the very least, take hold. He's holding you...

...the passage goes on to read:

5 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 on it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
I will take you by the hand and keep you...