Isaiah 42:1-2, promises the Messiah (Elect One) will fulfill his work as spiritual, in a very physical world, Matthew 12:17. The declaration would be verbal, not written, which may be one reason, Jesus never made a recorded writing, but His Spirit did! Isaiah’s declaration echoes through the centuries, through you and me, 2nd Corinthians 3:1-3.
42:6, The Singular Servant, Matthew 12:18-21.
42:8, Mark 12:29-30 This Servant brings only One God to humanity.
See Isa. 44:9-12, for any other thing worshipped is an idol from our own ignorance. See 1st Corinthians 8:4.
Both Isaiah and Paul were adamantly clear about how fake idolatry is in our lives.
“Carved images” Isa. 44:17-23, Paul in Colossians 3:5, makes a precise point drawn on idolatry in the sin of covetousness. Today, people can worship carved images in the form of coveted coins. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, see 1st Timothy 6:10. Be warned, a warning for all Christians, from the youth collecting coins to the elderly who act like misers with their retirement investments!
The unique nature of Christ as Immanuel (God with us) is forsaken when we don’t avoid idolatry in our lifestyle. The subtle sin of idolatry can twist our desires into other types of sin. See Romans 1:23-24. This led Isaiah to remind God’s people to RETURN to God, Isa. 44:22-23
The New Testament quotes from the Psalms more than any other Old Testament book, which is no surprise when we consider Psalms is the biggest part of the Jewish Bible, however, what is surprising is that Isaiah is the second most quoted book in the New Testament, yet Isaiah didn’t write as much as Jeremiah. Pure logic would expect the second most often quotable scriptures would come from Jeremiah since he wrote more, but actually Isaiah wrote less and is quoted more often. Why?
Because Jesus proved he was THE S______________ Messiah.
If we are going to follow Jesus, we must S________ others more and self less.
God designed us for S__________ ! We should see a red flag in our lives, when we are spending more of our money on creature comforts, rather than in serving our Creator!
Epaggelia 