Thursday 08 January 2015

Psalm: Psalm 23

Background

Verses 1-7 are the second of the so-called 'servant songs' inIsaiah 40-55, four songs that describe a servant of God - appointedin the womb (verse 1) - who is sent to restore Israel (verse 5) andenlighten the nations (verse 6). This servant will suffer andexperience rejection (verse 7), but ultimately will glorify Godbefore all nations (verse 6).

While the passage itself identifies the "servant" with Israel(v. 3), it is not surprising that the early Christians saw thispassage - and the other servant songs - as pointing to Jesus. Jesusfulfils the role given to Israel; he is appointed Son of God at hisBaptism (Mark 1:11) - a title also given to Israel (Hosea11:1) - and brings salvation through his suffering andsacrificial death. Jesus is the one who enlightens Israel and thenations (Luke 2:32).

In the second part of today's passage (verses 8-13), a series ofstatements describe the restoration of Israel. In the immediatecontext, this looks forward to the return from exile in Babylon(6th century BC). On this "day of salvation" (v. 8), prisoners arereleased, the hungry are fed, and the land is plentiful (verses9-10). The language points to freedom and release, abundance andGod's provision for the people and the land.

The New Testament uses such images, however, to depict thecoming kingdom which Jesus announces and where ultimate fulfilmentis found (eg Matthew 5:1-11, Luke4:18-21). Christians live between the dawn of this kingdom andits final consummation, the time at which tears and grief will beno more and God will be all in all.

To Ponder

• How does the 'servant song' within this passage shape yourunderstanding of Jesus?

• How can the Church proclaim today the freedom that the kingdombrings?