‘Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen one in whom I delight…

It is generally agreed that in verses 1-4 of this chapter we have the first of four ‘Servant Songs’ (as they have come to be known) found in Isaiah. (The others are in 49:1-6; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12). Although Israel is God’s servant (see 41:8), in these great prophecies one individual seems to emerge from out of the nation who is the Servant of the Lord. Tom Hale explains this well:

‘Israel, as a nation, was meant to serve God; therefore, in a collective sense, Israel could properly be called God’s ”servant.”

However, here in verses 1-9, God is clearly speaking about an individual servant – or at least an idealized servant, an ideal Israelite. Here again we see Isaiah prophesying on the basis of his historical situation – as a citizen of an imperfect nation – and yet seeing something beyond that, a perfect Israel represented by one perfect individual. Isaiah didn’t know it, but that perfect individual, that perfect servant, was Christ; indeed Matthew, inspired by the Holy Spirit, applied these verses to Christ (see Matthew 12:15-21).’ ‘Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.1040.

For a number of years, I had the privilege of returning to a church where I had been a pastor, and helping to deliver one component of a leadership course. The essence of Biblical leadership is servanthood, and I put together a talk, highlighting vital leadership (i.e. servant-like characteristics) from Isaiah’s Servant Songs. Over the next few days we are going to look at certain truths about Jesus’ ideal ‘leadership’, that can also be realised – however imperfectly – in His flawed human leaders.

The greatest need for any pastor is Christ-likeness.

The great Scottish minister, Robert Murray McCheyne, put it so well: ‘My people’s greatest need is my personal holiness.’