12-11-2022 Light to the Nations (Isaiah 42:1-9)

Sermon Passages and Notes: Light to the Nations Isaiah 42:1-9 Isaiah 42:1 “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. The original audience in this passage was God's people, Israel. Isaiah 42:1-9 Verse 1 1 “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. Ezekiel 36:25-27 25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You have the God-given capacity to transform someone's life now that the Spirit is upon you. Verses 2 & 3 2 He will not cry out or shout or make his voice heard in the streets. 3 He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick; he will faithfully bring justice. Verse 4 4 He will not grow weak or be discouraged until he has established justice on earth. The coasts and islands will wait for his instruction.” Verse 5 5 This is what God, the Lord, says— who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it— Verse 6 6 “I am the Lord. I have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will hold you by your hand. I will watch over you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, Verses 7-9 7 in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those sitting in darkness from the prison house. 8 I am the Lord. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. 9 The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur.” Three Disruptive Moments in the Old Testament 1. The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) 2. Slavery in Egypt (Exodus 1-13) 3. Exile God's Response: • Form a people • Give the people a mission God is not done with you or His people. God will always have a people who are evidence of God's goodness, kindness, love, and justice.