Prayers:

Confession and words of assurance (adapted from rootsontheweb.com):  

Loving God, when we neglect justice, when we cause strife, when we walk away from your path of discipleship, forgive us.   Lead us from darkness into your light.  Work in us the miracle of your grace, that we might become people of humility, justice and mercy.  We pray for strength as we follow our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

“See the former things have come to pass.”  In Christ new hope is declared. Grace springs forth, we are reconciled with God and in Christ we are forgiven.  Thanks be to God.

Amen.

Reading:  Isaiah 42:1-9

Reflection:

Isaiah 42:1-9 is the first of four servant songs in Isaiah.  Many commentators have argued at length about who the servant actually was.  Some have named Cyrus of Persia as the servant.  A king who defeated Babylon and who allowed the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland.  Others have argued for a collection of individuals through the ages, or even for the whole people of Israel themselves.  Early Christians saw God’s servant in Jesus, and recognised in him the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy.  However, rather than focussing on who the servant is, a more interesting question is what does the servant do?

We discover from Isaiah that the servant is called by God, patient, non-violent, and merciful.  He is also one who does not execute justice by force, but through humility, reserve and endurance.  We are told that,  

“a bruised reed he will not break and a dimly burning wick he will not quench.”

It is an image of tender care for those who are vulnerable, or for those who need help to flourish.  This is the picture of leadership to expect from one who is called by God.

Today it is very hard to imagine anyone standing for public office under this banner of humble, gentle leadership.  Could you imagine a politician running on a platform of tenderly caring for a “bruised reed”?  Surely such a person would be squashed by those who follow a more aggressive path.  And yet Isaiah’s servant is tougher than we might think, refusing to “grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth”.  This is exactly the vision of leadership that was adopted by Jesus after his baptism.  When he came up out of the Jordan, he entered into a ministry steeped in that vision inherited from Isaiah.  A ministry of leadership guided by mercy and a hunger for justice.  May this vision speak to our hearts today as once it spoke into the heart of Jesus, God’s servant.  May we respond to it as Jesus did, with our whole lives.

Hymn:  StF 706 “Longing for light, we wait in darkness”

Prayers:  

Intercessions:   Loving God, when nations go to war and military might is the only currency that matters in our world, help us to remember the example of your servant Jesus Christ.  We pray for those people and places where there is conflict and where innocent people suffer and die.  We continue to remember Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and Yemen.  We also pray for the unfolding situation in Venezuela.  We pray for justice for those who have lost homes, land and loved ones.  We pray for those who lead the nations that they may turn their backs on violence and govern for the good of all.  We pray for those who grieve at this time and for those who are sick, remembering especially those who are coming to the end of life.  Bring to this earth your kingdom of peace, through the return of Jesus Christ our Lord,  

Amen.

Our Father…

Hymn: StF 546, H&P 788  “Behold the servant of the Lord”

Blessing:

May God bless us with endurance and hope.  May God grace us with justice and mercy.  May we go with these precious gifts of God.  And may the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with us.  

Amen.