The Light of Life
Isaiah 42:1-9[1]
Photosynthesis.
It’s not a word we use in our daily conversations. But it certainly is a
process we rely on daily! In a simplified version, photosynthesis is the
process by which plants use sunlight to produce the food that enables them to
grow and the oxygen that we breathe. Even young children who have never heard
of the word “photosynthesis” see its effects every year as the weather turns
warmer, the trees and shrubs and flowers put out green leaves, and the crops grow
and produce food. Photosynthesis is what fuels this process. But more than
that, this cycle in nature sustains all life on earth! We may not use the word
“photosynthesis” very often, but we certainly depend on it!
As important as
that fundamental process in nature is to sustaining life, as the Scripture
says, “one does not live by bread alone” (Deut. 8:3). It takes more than
sunlight, air, water, and food for us to thrive. We need to know that there’s
someone who cares about us. More than that we need regular doses of kindness,
love, goodness, and mercy from “significant others” in our lives in order to be
able to reach our full potential for living. Living in a setting where we feel
valued, where we feel empowered, where we have hope for the future; these are
essential to our well-being. It seems to me that regular doses of kindness,
goodness, mercy, and love enable us to have that sense that life is worth
living.
In our lesson
from Isaiah for today, this is precisely the mission of the “Servant” of the Lord.
This servant is the one whom the Lord has chosen to “bring forth justice to the
nations” (Isa. 42:1). I know that “justice” is a word that sounds somewhat
harsh to our ears. But the mission of the Lord’s servant was not a harsh one.
He would “bring forth justice” through kindness and mercy. The Scripture says
it this way: “a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he
will not quench” (Isa. 42:3). In The
Message translation it says: “He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt
and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant.”
The kind of
justice the Lord’s “servant” was called “bring forth” would mean “opening the
eyes that are blind” and “bringing out the prisoners from the dungeon” (Isa.
42:7). I’ve said many times that doesn’t sound very much like our idea of
“justice.” But in the Bible, God’s justice is defined in terms of feeding the
hungry, freeing the prisoners, restoring sight to the blind, lifting up those
who are bowed down, and caring for vulnerable: refugees, widows, and orphans.
The kind of “justice” the Lord sent his “servant” to “bring forth” consists of
kindness, mercy, and love. It’s intended to enhance the life of all people.
In fact, the
Scripture tells us that the Lord had called his “servant” to be a “a light to the
nations” (Isa. 42:6). Like the light of the sun brings new life to the world of
nature every year, so the work of the Lord’s “servant” was intended to be like
shining a light that would bring new life to all people. And, Lord knows that
we can all use some light to brighten our world and to renew our sense of
fulfillment in life! We oftentimes look in all the wrong places for that “light
of life.” Only through the experience of genuine goodness, kindness, mercy, and
love can we find the light that truly enhances our lives.
One of the
interesting features of the “servant” of the Lord in the book of Isaiah is that
it has more than one meaning. In some places, when Isaiah talks about the
“servant,” he seems to be referring to himself as a prophet called by God to
deliver a message to the people. In other cases, the “servant” seems to be
someone who is yet to come, who will bring true justice, peace, and freedom to
the oppressed people of God. But in other settings, the “servant” of the Lord
is the people of God. They are the ones who are called to bring light to the
nations, to make the peace that enables all people to thrive, and to share the
mercy of God they have been given so freely.
While we
recognize that Jesus fulfilled the role of the Lord’s “servant” in Isaiah in
the fullest sense, I think we also have to embrace that fact that we share that
calling as the people of God and as disciples of Jesus. We who have experienced
the goodness, kindness, mercy, and love of God through Jesus his “servant” are
called to share this life-giving light with all those around us. We’re the
“servants” of the Lord who are called to enhance the life experience of the
people we encounter. We’re the ones who are called to share the “light of life”
with those who may be struggling with the darkness of doubt or despair.
When we rise to
the call to be “servants” of the Lord, we play a crucial role in God’s work of
bringing light to all those who are living in darkness. So many people in our
world live in constant fear, unrelenting pain, and deep sadness. They’re
plagued by a sense of hopelessness about their lives. It’s as if they are stuck
in a perpetually dark winter that literally drains the life out of them. But
when we accept the call to be “servants” of the Lord by bringing goodness,
kindness, mercy, and love, it’s like we’re bringing the light of the sun back
into their lives. And just as the sun brings new life to the natural world
every Spring, so we can be God’s “servants” who help bring new life to those
who are hurting around us. We can help those who are struggling to feel
empowered; we can help them have sense of hope for the future; we can help them
regain the confidence that life is worth living. When we shine God’s “light of
life” into the lives of hurting and hopeless people all around us, we are
acting as the Lord’s “servants,” bringing new life to all people.
[1] ©
2020 Alan Brehm. A sermon delivered by Rev. Dr. Alan Brehm on 1/12/2020 at Hickman
Presbyterian Church, Hickman, NE.
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