Isaiah 42:5-6

SSB Men’s Study 03/18/2021

Trials, troubles, pain, loss, suffering, evil, injustice, fears, enemies, threats, shortfalls, and the like – they are all part of living in a selfish, evil, broken and sin-infested world.

So, just how does one cope?

The story of Job is a great help.  Not because it gives us a clue as to how to avoid the issues of life, but because it gives us a hope (it ended well) and Help for it points to a powerful and involved God!

In our men’s study we contemplated this portion of the first Servant Song of Isaiah –

Isaiah 42:5-6, Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it: I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles

Jesus was wrapping up Advent One and facing the cross when God spoke these words to Him.  While these are words directly to Jesus, there is wisdom and application for us herein.  Consider…

God can be trusted (verse 5).  He created the heavens and all its inhabitants and He formed the earth and caused all its growth.  Furthermore, God gave life to mankind.  Translation: God is wise, all-powerful, sustainer, and life holder.  God is GREAT!

So, what about this great God and my life?

In verse 6, when He says that He “called”, it means He sees us and knows us individually.

Note here: called you in righteousness.  The helps about to be noted are only for those who are His:  who are saved by His grace applied when by faith the person confesses their rebellion, asks forgiveness, and desires His leading henceforth.  It is then that God knows them in righteousness.

To those called, He holds their hand.  Think of Peter walking on the water – the trip continued because God held his hand.

Then God promises to keep those He called – they are not lost or ignored.  God holds them in His loving grip – an unbreakable grip (John 10:27-30).

Lastly, God declares that He uses the trauma experienced by the righteous one to impact others (light).  Our weakness and inabilities rescued by His might mark us and shout to the non-believer that there is a God – a God who is personal and able and they need Him!

So, our God is all-powerful, wise, and loving: three legs to a “stool” that render stability in life.  If we claim only one or two legs (attributes) in any combination, then we will wobble, teeter and maybe fall.  But No!  The God of Scripture is all three all the time!  He is fully able and fully engaged – He sees, He holds, He keeps and He uses.

So, eyes on this great God knowing His attributes and knowing His care and move through the bumps, bad, and battles of life with hope!