"Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy name." (Psalm 138:2)
The word "servant" holds numerous varying definitions. The word servant could refer to obedience -- as believers in faith in Jesus are servants unto His righteousness. Servant can also refer to a bondman purchased as a slave or one who labours until the year of the jubilee. As well, servant can mean being in subjection. Or, servant can be used as a comparison to master.
All of these meanings have merit and we see examples of each in the scriptures. But the one I would like to focus on today is servant in relation to our faith walk from the new testament perspective. That is, one who voluntarily serves one another (as Stephen did as a table servant) and/or ministers to others, as did the apostles to those who believed in Jesus by faith.
We should note here that serving Jesus or being His disciple is not about going to church once or twice a week and then expecting His blessings to be bestowed upon us the rest of the week. That is the culture that stems from man-made religion. Rather, when our heart receives Jesus, our agenda should then become His agenda. In other words, serving Jesus should mean worshiping and praising our blessed Saviour 24-7, spending time in continual prayer, while studying His Word -- the same Word (Jesus) that hast been magnified above all of God's names previously used in the old covenant. (John 1:1-18; Psalm 138:2)
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God ... He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:1-18)
But I digress. Let's look at what the scriptures state.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:5-7)Perhaps, this might be a good time to interject that I have seen scriptural translations that have used "servant" and "son" interchangeably. Certainly, we see that Jesus is referred to as a servant in prophecy. Herein, from Isaiah, the Lord is prophesying of the mystery that was held in His bosom since the beginning of the world -- the new song which would spring forth when He was made flesh.
"Behold My servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My Spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench. He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for His law.
Thus saith God the Lord, "He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the Lord have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold Thine hand, and will keep Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."
"I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the Rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare His praise in the islands.
The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: He shall cry, yea, roar; He shall prevail against His enemies. I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained Myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools. And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, "Ye are our gods." Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
Who is blind, but My servant? or deaf, as My messenger that I sent? Who is blind as He that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but He heareth not. The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will magnify the law, and make it honourable. But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, "Restore."
Who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come? Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not the Lord, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, neither were they obedient unto His law. Therefore, He hath poured upon Him the fury of His anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set Him on fire round about, yet He knew not; and it burned Him, yet He laid it not to heart." (Isaiah 42:1-25; Matthew 12:17-21)
So that at the end of the day, our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ can say to us too -- "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord ..." (Matthew 25:21)
Let him and her who hath ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.
Thus saith God the Lord, "He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the Lord have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold Thine hand, and will keep Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."
"I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the Rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare His praise in the islands.
The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: He shall cry, yea, roar; He shall prevail against His enemies. I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained Myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools. And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, "Ye are our gods." Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
Who is blind, but My servant? or deaf, as My messenger that I sent? Who is blind as He that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but He heareth not. The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will magnify the law, and make it honourable. But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, "Restore."
Who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come? Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not the Lord, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, neither were they obedient unto His law. Therefore, He hath poured upon Him the fury of His anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set Him on fire round about, yet He knew not; and it burned Him, yet He laid it not to heart." (Isaiah 42:1-25; Matthew 12:17-21)
When Jesus healed the man with the withered hand, the Pharisees went out and held a council against Him so that they could destroy Him. But Jesus knew and withdrew Himself from thence. Still, great multitudes followed Him and He healed them all. But Jesus also charged them that they should not make Him known that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias [Isaiah] the prophet, saying: "Behold My servant, whom I have chosen. My beloved in whom My soul is well pleased. I will put My Spirit upon Him and He shall shew judgement to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax He shall not quench, till He send forth judgement unto victory ... and in His name shall the Gentiles trust." (Matthew 12:17-21)
Again, what name shall we -- the Gentiles trust? In Jesus. The same Jesus -- Thy Word -- that is above all Thy name. The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. The King of kings and Lord of lords. Both Lord and Christ.
Jesus said, "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be. If any man serve me, him will [My] Father honour." (John 12:26) "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)
This is why we "study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." (II Timothy 2:15)
So that we too, as believers in Jesus by faith, chosen and ordained to be ministers of the good news gospel can too -- as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God -- can go out into the highways and hedges and compel the lost to come in, so that His house may be filled. (I Corinthians 4:1-2; Luke 14:23)
This is why also we "put on the new [man] which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him ... Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also ... and above all these things charity, which is the bond of perfectness, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful." (Colossians 3:10-15)
But most of all, remember that the servant is not greater than his Lord. (John 13:16)
Thus, let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, signing with grace in your hearts to the Lord, and whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." (Colossians 3:16-17)
Let him and her who hath ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.
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