Promise in the Prophets 77: Servant Is Called

  •  77. Servant is Called

Isaiah 42:6,7 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles: To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

The prophecy is about the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God and Son of Man. The Lord God called Him, held Him, and kept Him; He has given Him as a covenant for the Jews and a light for the Gentiles. The prophecy has been fulfilled in the birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. God promised a Messiah and He kept His promise. He was given for all people, Jews and Gentiles alike.

The promise for us is based on what this Messiah will do and has done for us: He will open the eyes of the blind, bring out the prisoners, and set free those in darkness. We, all sinners, are spiritually blind, for we do not see God, the things of God, or the spiritual realm where He lives. Jesus opens the eyes of the heart and the Holy Spirit causes us to see when we hear the Gospel. What a glorious thing it is for us to see! How beautiful is God, His Life, and His Love!

He will bring out the prisoners from the prison. We, all humans, were born in a spiritual prison, kidnapped, captured, bound, and held by Sin, Death and the Devil. All who sin are slaves of sin. Jesus sets us free; when He died for our sins they were forgiven and the enemies have no more legal right to keep us bound. For freedom Christ has set us free. Freedom is life and life forever.

The third promise is that Jesus will bring out those who sit in darkness. All people “sit in darkness.” The darkness in which we live is even darker for those who don’t even see the darkness. It should not be hard to see and feel the thick darkness if we have lived very long at all. Down deep, every person on earth knows that life can be better than it is. Things have to be better than they are and the hope for a better life is hard to crush. The Good News: “There is a better life; let Me open your eyes so that you can see both the light and the darkness; repent and believe.”