Lent Group 2021

A JOURNEY THROUGH LENT WITH ISAIAH AND JESUS

WEEK ONE

Preparation

Please read Isaiah 42:1-9 Servant song.

(If you have different bible translations look at this verse in them all)

The reading below is out of the NRSV (New Revised Standard Version bible)

Isaiah 42

1.    Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have out my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

2.    He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;

3.     a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

4.    He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

5.    Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:

6.    I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the have and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations.

7.    To open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

8.    I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols.

9.    See the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.

In older translations this passage begins with the word ’Behold’, it is a more powerful word, it means to notice, observe, pay full attention to this it’s really important.

Have a think about the following questions to begin discussion:

·      Who do you think Isaiah is talking about?

·      Himself as a prophet?   Isaiah 20:3

·      Israel as God’s people?  Isaiah 49:1-6

·      Some other servant figure?  Isaiah 50:4-9, 52:13, 53:4-5, 53:12

Biblical and history scholars are still debating and arguing over Isaiah!  There are no right or wrong answers only your thoughts and opinions, the above is just a prompt to try and stimulate our thinking, and lead us into other questions. 

Questions for discussion

What are your thoughts about servanthood?

Do you think serving and service are the same thing as servanthood?

Where would you say you have seen servanthood happening, can you think of some examples?

Can you identify ways you live out servanthood?

What is the relevance of the text for today in our own context, how do the words of Isaiah still speak to us today?