my chosen, in whom my soul delights—
I have put my Spirit on him.
He will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout,
nor raise his voice,
nor cause it to be heard in the street.
3 He won’t break a bruised reed.
He won’t quench a dimly burning wick.
He will faithfully bring justice.
4 He will not fail nor be discouraged,
until he has set justice in the earth,
and the islands will wait for his law.”
5 Thus says God Yahweh,
he who created the heavens and stretched them out,
he who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it,
he who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it.
6 “I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness,
and will hold your hand,
and will keep you,
and make you a covenant for the people,
as a light for the nations;
7 to open the blind eyes,
to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon,
and those who sit in darkness out of the prison.
8 “I am Yahweh.
That is my name.
I will not give my glory to another,
nor my praise to engraved images.
9 Behold, the former things have happened,
and I declare new things.
I tell you about them before they come up.”
Palm Sunday's mood is one of exuberance and hope, as Jesus rides into Jerusalem to the cheers of the Jerusalem crowds. Now the events of Holy Week begin to unfold. Jesus defies the religious authorities by overturning moneychangers' tables at the temple. On Palm Sunday the crowds acclaim him as "the Son of David." Now in these next days the authorities begin their campaign to change the mood of the populace, harassing Jesus with all sorts of challenges.
Jesus' goal was already articulated in one of Isaiah's servant songs: "... to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness" (Isaiah 42:7). But first his path will lead through suffering and death. In these next days on the streets of Jerusalem the forces of evil will gather their strength against him.
Lord, help us through whatever times of sufferings we too experience. Amen.
Michael Rogness
Professor Emeritus of Preaching
Isaiah 42:1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
5 Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations,
7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
8 I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.--New Revised Standard Version
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