Bible study on Isaiah 42:1-9

This study can be used by a small group, a household or an individual.

See also our Guidelines for a weekly Bible study including suggestions for adapting it to your context.

Begin with an opening prayer

God of hope,
open our eyes, our ears and our hearts
to become more aware of the hope that you offer:
a hope that is refreshing;
a hope that has no limits;
a hope that is for all people.
Amen.

Read the passage

Consider different ways to read the text. For example, hearing it in more than one version of the Bible.

In an online group, you could share parts between those present, or use/adapt this week’s Share the Word suggestion: Use the Jump to this week's menu on the right to go to Share the Word and scroll down to find the Gospel reading.

Explore and respond to the text

Start by reading the Bible notes below. You may want to read them more than once, or pause after each paragraph to reflect on what you have read.

Bible notes

Isaiah 42:1-9

Classically, scholars have dubbed this the first of four songs commonly known as ‘servant songs’. But as Hugh Williamson has pointed out, the four ‘songs’ in Isaiah 40–55 continue a theme first introduced and spelled out in the early chapters of the text (notably chapter 9). The poet/prophet of the exile picks up the theme of good governance – the absence of which was a reason for the exile – and paints a picture of God’s servant that many Christians see perfectly fulfilled in Jesus – hence this text being used on the day we mark our Lord’s baptism.

Structurally, these verses are no more a ‘song’ than the surrounding context. Indeed, Isaiah 40–55 is one long poem/song focused on the situation of the Judeans in exile. The original audience here was a defeated and disillusioned group of exiles far from home and lacking hope. Verse 27 suggests that they assumed that even God had given up on them. However, there is good news for them in this passage of hope, comfort and good governance.

Many characters are identified as ‘servant’ in Isaiah – Eliakim in 22:20, David in 37:3 and, most importantly, Jacob–Israel in 41:8-9. The call outlined in Isaiah 42:1-9 is for all the exiles to fulfil. But in Christian theology, this is also seen as a portrait of Jesus, the archetypal servant of God and the one who we are called to imitate in our lives.

Notice that this is a pastoral, prophetic and political calling, in that it is offering comfort to people, giving them a word of hope from God and pointing to good governance of their society; there is no separation between these three in the mind of God. While much of Isaiah 42 describes the ministry of Jesus, it also encapsulates the type of world God wants to see his people involved in creating, a vision that reaches its apex in Isaiah 65:17ff. Here God reminds his people that they are not abandoned in exile, that he has plans for their restoration and for them to play a key role in the delivering of his plans – outlined in brief here, especially in verses 3-4, 6-7 – which will be developed as the book unfolds.

Reflection

Spend a few moments thinking about what stands out for you from the Bible reading. This idea may help.

If you were an advertiser working at the time when the Israelites were in exile, how would you bring the theme ‘hope refreshed’ to life? What words and images would you use to bring hope to a defeated and disillusioned group of people? In Isaiah 42, we read how God brings the theme ‘hope refreshed’ to life. God speaks to the Israelites with the perfect blend of hope, care, encouragement and action. Through the words in Isaiah 42, God also provides ‘hope refreshed’ for all people, as these words are ultimately fulfilled through Jesus.

Questions for reflection

You may wish to use these questions and the picture to help you think about or discuss issues arising from this week’s Bible passage.

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or use the Jump menu to go to This week's images.
For artist's details, see this issue's illustrators.

Questions

What are you hoping for?
How would you like Jesus to meet with you in the coming week?
How might you bring the hope of Jesus to others?

A simple activity E S

Refreshing waters

You will need: containers of water, towels.

Place several containers of water at different points around the room, with towels next to them for people to dry their hands afterwards.
Invite the group to disperse and move to a container of water. Then encourage them to slowly move their hands through the refreshing water. As they do, invite people to reflect on their own baptism or, if they haven’t been baptized, to reflect on the hope they have because of God. It may be helpful to have some quiet music playing during this time.

Use the Jump to this week's menu on the right to go to more activities in Explore and respond.

Prayer

Adapt to your local context.

Loving God,
your wonderful light can shine in the darkest of nights.
Refreshing hope, thank you.
Your justice can stand firm against the worst corruption.
Refreshing hope, thank you.
Your comforting spirit can reach the depths of despair.
Refreshing hope, thank you.
You call us to share that hope as we praise you.
Refreshing hope, thank you.
Amen.

Use the Jump to this week's menu on the right to find more prayers,
including up-to-date intercessions.

A prayer to end the Bible study

God, you bring hope today,
as well as to so many through the ages.
May we be open to the hope that you bring:
refreshing, restoring, renewing,
and be ready to share that hope with others.
Amen.