The Lord's Servant

Isaiah 41 ends with Isaiah asking (for the Lord) that the idols if Israel show themselves true by declaring what is to come. 

Isaiah 41:22–23 (ESV) Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come. 23 Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified.

Idols fail us. That is the great lesson of the Bible. We make something created into something it cannot do. And when they fail, we suffer. So it should be no wonder that God has determined for Himself who will be the representation of His voice in the land. His chosen servant.

Isaiah 42:1 (ESV) 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.

Then the text describes the servant God has chosen. 

Isaiah 42:2 (ESV) He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;

Verse 2 is an interesting reminder. Jesus did not in fact, cry aloud or lift his voice in the streets. He was meek and unassuming. He kept His miracles a secret when He could. He did not push His way into prominence and His first sign in John 2 was instigated by His mother. 

Unlike the fanatical street preachers we see today who are mostly ignored by the population, Jesus quietly worked as a carpenter for 30 years and then began His ministry by drawing disciples from the untouched places of culture - fishermen and tax collectors. Jesus illustrates a diminutive nature in service to God and provides a wonderful example so often ignored by those who claim to speak for Him. 

Isaiah 42:3 (ESV) a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

Verse 3 tells us that this servant of God will not discard the weak and broken. He will have compassion on those who cannot keep their lives together. 

Isaiah 42:4 (ESV) He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

Jesus does indeed not rest until the work is accomplished on the cross. He was tired at times, but always ready to serve. He was discouraged in His humanity but diligent to bring about the justifying work of the Cross so that we who are weighed down with sin might find rest. 

Now how does this happen? Because of what God said in verse 1. He will put His Spirit on Him. 

How did Jesus do what He did? Because He was God the Son? No. He set aside His prerogatives as God to become a man (See Philippians 2). Jesus did the work of God because He had the Spirit of God upon Him. 

At His Baptism, the Spirit descends and begins to lead Him where He was to go. 

Matthew 4:1 (ESV) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Acts tells us this:

Acts 10:38 (ESV) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Guess what. You might feel weak and useless in yourself. But God has made a way through Jesus to give you the same power Jesus had as He did the work of God. The Cross has wiped out your sin so that the Spirit can come within. And if you're serving God only in your power, watch out, you'll pass out. But in the power of the limitless Holy Spirit, you'll never quit until the job is done.