The Things I Do (Isaiah 42:16)

 


Friday, 5 December, 2025


Psalms 82; 84

Isaiah 42:1-17

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12


The Things I Do (Isaiah 42:16)


And I will lead the blind
    in a way that they do not know,
in paths that they have not known
    I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
    the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I do,
    and I do not forsake them.


The prophet has been preaching on the mystery of the Messiah, and now he moves into God’s words about how the earth will respond when he appears. The effect the Messiah will have seems to be very great; and yet there is also this curious mingling of humility and great strength.


He will not lift up his voice, rather, he will be one who encourages even the most down-cast: a bruised reed he will not break, a faintly burning wick he will not quench. At the same time, he will go out like a mighty man of war, showing himself mighty against his foes.


This seeming contradiction is explained when Jesus preached his famous sermon, particularly the version we have in Luke 6:20-26. Four blessings and four woes: blessings for the poor, hungry, weeping and the hated. Woes upon the rich, satisfied, laughing and popular. It is all summed up in many places, where Jesus taught that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be raised up. Jesus knows how bad things can get for us, and he makes wild and great promises that only increase when our lives get seemingly worse. These are the things he does, this is who he is; and he does not forsake us.


When was the last time you felt God had left you? How was God actually bringing you closer to him in that?


Father, we thank you for sending us your Son to be our servant unto life, filling us with the fullness of his Holy Spirit: knock us off our ledge of self-satisfaction, so that we may be caught in your loving arms, and be with you forever.

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