On a still, clear night, standing in awe of the limitless universe before us, we get a sense for the overwhelming nature of God. That such a Creator even knows the number of hairs on our head (or once were there), and cares so deeply about each one of us, is almost beyond our comprehension.
It is just as amazing that this Creator would come and walk the earth as a human, a future King in the line of David. He would come not only to save and to serve His chosen Israel, but all the people of the earth, including the Gentiles.
The prophet Isaiah tells us more about this coming Servant King:
5 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:
6 “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,
7 To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the prison,
Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.
8 I am the Lord, that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved images.
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
And new things I declare;
Before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isaiah 42:5-9 (NKJV)
Isaiah reminds us that it was the Lord who stretched out the heavens. In fact, scientists tell us that they are still stretching out today. If there was a Big Bang to start it all off, it was because He spoke it into existence.
When you and I awoke this morning, it was the Lord who gave us breath. He created the spirit and soul within us that define our conscious being. He has gifted us the miracle of life, an ordained a set of days for us to walk upon this earth. But it does not end there – we have been created as eternal beings, sustained by His righteousness.
God called and sent this Messiah to ensure that we could spend our eternal life with Him. He is pure and righteous, but we are not. To remove this incompatibility, the Messiah lovingly atoned for all of our sins and shortcomings on a cross of suffering, taking all the punishment that we deserved upon Himself. Because of this, His believers may now rise from death with a new glorified body, just as He first did at His resurrection. We may now have joyful fellowship with Him and explore His created universe in a never-ending journey.
How would the faithful know this Messiah when He came? Isaiah gives two more signs here: He will give sight to the blind and bring prisoners freedom from darkness.
The gospels give several examples of Jesus Christ giving sight to the blind, as well as hearing to the deaf, cleansing to the lepers, and healing to those with disabilities. He did and still does this out of love and compassion, but also to prove His credentials, that He is the Servant King that Isaiah spoke of.
I can personally attest to His love of prisoners who sit in darkness. Although prisoners were the furthest thing from my mind at that point, the Lord nudged me one day to change to that. A gentle sensation came over my body and spirit while I was on my way to worship one Sunday morning. It was a very strong impression to pay attention, something was about to happen.
I listened carefully in Sunday school that morning, but did not hear anything unusual. Same thing with the singing and prayers in worship service – they were good, but nothing that really got my attention. Surely it must be in the sermon. When that was over, I had the same feeling – good, but nothing in it really grabbed me as something I really needed to hear from God that morning.
As the worship service drew to a close, I began to feel that I must have misinterpreted my divine alert. Then, during closing announcements, a man stood up and said that he was on a ministry team going to the State Prison, and that he needed volunteers to join them.
That announcement hit me like a wooden two-by-four plank across the head– there was no doubt in my mind that this was the reason for the spiritual alert, and was my mission now. That began the experience of going into prisons and jails as a volunteer for various types of ministries. The Spirit of God, the Servant King, has always been there to protect and lead all people, both in and out of prison, who seek freedom from spiritual darkness, who need hope, an encouraging word, or a prayer. He is the Light amongst the spreading heavens.
Reflection
Lord Jesus, bring us into Your light. Free us from our own prisons, be they physical, spiritual, of body, or of mind. Bring us out of the darkness of addiction, depression, oppression, or any habit that binds and controls us, keeping us from enjoying and following You. May we walk with You among the amazing universe that You have created around us. May we faithfully fulfill our remaining days in freedom and joy, serving alongside You in love. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Have a blessed day, walking amongst the Lord’s creation in freedom and forgiveness today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 