“This is my servant; I strengthen him, this is my chosen one; I delight in him. I have put my Spirit on him; he will bring justice to the nations. He will not cry out or shout or make his voice heard in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick; he will faithfully bring justice. He will not grow weak or be discouraged until he has established justice on the earth.” 42:1-4
Isaiah prophesies about the coming servant, who we know to be fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus was God’s chosen one (the Messiah) who was full of the Spirit and sent to “bring justice to the nations.” It seems that the word “Justice” has become greatly misunderstood in our day. “Justice ministries” are all the rage around the world and it is very popular to be involved in justice-seeking. What is meant by “Justice” though is not typically what the bible means when it refers to justice. Historically, we thought of justice in terms of punishment for breaking the law or sin, and what all of us pray for is mercy rather than justice. We want wrongdoers to be brought to “justice,” but we want to define what is just or unjust. In the language of our modern culture justice is often defined in terms of politically correct jargon, racial tension, gender equality or faraway problems like human trafficking that we know are wrong, but seldom see with our own eyes. It has become “cool” to want to get involved in solving social justice issues, but what is just is sometimes more culturally driven than biblically driven. Isaiah makes it clear that there is only one person who will actually “bring justice” and that person is Jesus. He is the one who defines what is just and He is the one who will “establish justice on the earth.”
What I love about this text is it describes how Jesus will do that. First, He will do it by His power as God and by His work through the people of God, but not by shouting or crying out in the streets (see vs. 42:2). That flies in the face of how modern-day society approaches justice issues. Usually, the squeaky wheel gets the grease and the ones who shout the loudest and longest win the day. That is not justice, that is bullying. The modern LGBTQ movement is a classic example of this. In the name of “justice” and “equality,” they have systematically pushed a political and cultural agenda that has changed the face of a nation. To look at modern TV and media you would think that half of America identifies as LGBTQ, yet recent Gallup polls show that it is only about 4.5% of the country who identify that way. Because they are shouting in the streets and assaulting cultural norms from every angle, it creates a false narrative that most Americans are buying as “normal.” That is not real justice. It is a calculated attempt for the minority to dominate and control the majority, and this movement embodies a spirit of “intolerance” with anyone who disagrees with them.
Second, Isaiah also says that the servant “will not break a bruised reed” or “put out a smoldering wick.” In short, Jesus’ establishment of justice is one that is based on mercy. He faithfully brings justice to those who are the most hurting and the most vulnerable and He does in a way that heals the hurting and restores those whose flame is dying out. He doesn’t pursue a political agenda (and neither should His church). Instead, He runs to those who are suffering the most and gently reaches them and rescues them in the nick of time. Finally, Isaiah says this servant “won’t grow weak or be discouraged” until justice has been established. Jesus never gives up, and He never gave up… even while hanging on the cross. Yes, He is at work in the world through His Spirit and His church establishing justice and mercy… but this justice and mercy are based upon His sacrifice on the cross. The answer to the social problems of this world (including discrimination, gender inequality, etc.) is the redemption of sinful people. Injustice comes from our sin and the answer to sin is not legislation or protests. The answer to our sin is the Son of God, dying for the sins of the world and our submission to Him as Lord. He changes society as people are changed by His gospel. Never forget that only Jesus and a relationship with Him is what can bring true justice to this planet.
