Jan. 23, 2011
Background Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-6
Devotional Reading: Hebrews 10:19-25

Although few, if any, of us have ever had servants, “the servant problem” is a well-known cliché: “It’s so hard to get good help.” God might justifiably make the same complaint, for His “servant problem” usually involves us.

While the role as “servant” is found in earlier parts of the Old Testament, it is in Second Isaiah (40-66) that the idea is more fully developed, particularly in those passages that have come to be known as “the Servant Songs.” There are four of them: 42:1-4; 49:1-6 50:4-9; and 52:13—53:12. The Second Servant Song, 49:1-6, is our background scripture for this week.

Isaiah 49 appears to arise from a dialogue between the Hebrew exiles in Babylon and the Lord regarding their summons to liberation and return to Israel. It is understandable that these people who have lived without hope many years would now have some questions and doubts about the “new” word from God.

Keeping score

In the First Servant Song (42:1-4), it was God speaking through Isaiah to Israel. But in the Second Song it is the servant himself, Israel (49:3), who addresses both the exiles and the nations: “Listen to me, O coastlands, and hearken, you people from afar …” (49:1).

Although this call comes to the exiles as a new idea, the call of God actually goes back as far back as the womb (49:1 – See Jeremiah 1:5 for a similar pre-natal call.) God says: “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified,” but they reply: “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity” (49:4).

It is understandable that we may sometimes feel our efforts have not been successful. Even then, if no results are apparent, it may be that we have simply not seen them. So, when serving God in some capacity, we need to do our work and let God keep score.

Sometimes, many years later, I have found that although I didn’t know it at the time, someone was helped, inspired, healed or confirmed. Having complained to the Lord, the servant answers his own question: “... yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God” (4b). So, I cannot keep score, but God can, and will.

God’s response to this discouraged servant is astonishing. Instead of telling the servant to take some time off, he gives him a greater task, not a lesser one: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (v. 6).
Israel’s mission is no longer limited to its own people, but all the peoples of the earth – because God’s will includes all people everywhere.

Light for the ‘nones’

So how will Israel accomplish this charge to bring the message of God’s reign to everyone? The answer: By example!

By demonstrating to the peoples of the world that the precepts of covenantal justice, instead of being told, can be acted out for all to see. Shedding light on vital religion is usually more effective than a barrage of words.
A recent landmark study on American religion by two political scientists, Robert Putnam of Harvard and David Campbell of Notre Dame, pay particular attention to those who, when asked about their religious affiliation, check “none.” From 1990 to 2010 the number of “nones” has increased by 17 percent, particularly among people 18-29.

The researchers have concluded that these young people are not indifferent to issues of faith. “Indeed, young people are deeply interested in spiritual topics. They just don’t associate the pursuit of such topics with religious organizations.”*

Mine? Yours? Ours?

It would appear that we are not shining enough light on the Good News of Jesus Christ. God is having a servant problem – and it appears to be an inside job.

*The Christian Century, Nov. 30, 2010

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.