Nigeria Baptist Church Sunday School Lesson For April 5, 2020 : Topic – GOD’S JUST SERVANT
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NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Date: April 5, 2020
Topic: GOD’S JUST SERVANT
Devotional Reading: Psalm 98
Background Scripture: Isaiah 42
1 The LORD says, “Here is my servant, whom I strengthen— the one I have chosen, with whom I am pleased. I have filled him with my Spirit, and he will bring justice to every nation.
2 He will not shout or raise his voice or make loud speeches in the streets.
3 He will not break off a bent reed nor put out a flickering lamp. He will bring lasting justice to all.
4 He will not lose hope or courage; he will establish justice on the earth. Distant lands eagerly wait for his teaching.”
5 God created the heavens and stretched them out; he fashioned the earth and all that lives there; he gave life and breath to all its people. And now the LORD God says to his servant,
6 “I, the LORD, have called you and given you power to see that justice is done on earth. Through you I will make a covenant with all peoples; through you I will bring light to the nations.
7 You will open the eyes of the blind and set free those who sit in dark prisons.
8 “I alone am the LORD your God. No other god may share my glory; I will not let idols share my praise.
9 The things I predicted have now come true. Now I will tell you of new things even before they begin to happen.”
10 Sing a new song to the LORD; sing his praise, all the world! Praise him, you that sail the sea; praise him, all creatures of the sea! Sing, distant lands and all who live there!
11 Let the desert and its towns praise God; let the people of Kedar praise him! Let those who live in the city of Sela shout for joy from the tops of the mountains!
12 Let those who live in distant lands give praise and glory to the LORD!
13 The LORD goes out to fight like a warrior; he is ready and eager for battle. He gives a war cry, a battle shout; he shows his power against his enemies.
14 God says, “For a long time I kept silent; I did not answer my people. But now the time to act has come; I cry out like a woman in labor.
15 I will destroy the hills and mountains and dry up the grass and trees. I will turn the river valleys into deserts and dry up the pools of water.
16 “I will lead my blind people by roads they have never traveled. I will turn their darkness into light and make rough country smooth before them. These are my promises, and I will keep them without fail.
17 All who trust in idols, who call images their gods, will be humiliated and disgraced.”
18 The LORD says, “Listen, you deaf people! Look closely, you that are blind!
19 Is anyone more blind than my servant, more deaf than the messenger I send?
20 Israel, you have seen so much, but what has it meant to you? You have ears to hear with, but what have you really heard?”
21 The LORD is a God who is eager to save, so he exalted his laws and teachings, and he wanted his people to honor them.
22 But now his people have been plundered; they are locked up in dungeons and hidden away in prisons. They were robbed and plundered, with no one to come to their rescue.
23 Will any of you listen to this? From now on will you listen with care?
24 Who gave Israel up to the looters? It was the LORD himself, against whom we sinned! We would not live as he wanted us to live or obey the teachings he gave us.
25 So he made us feel the force of his anger and suffer the violence of war. Like fire his anger burned throughout Israel, but we never knew what was happening; we learned nothing at all from it.
Lesson Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9
GOLDEN TEXT
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. Isaiah 42:1
Primary Learning Outcome/Indicators
Learners will know that God is God of justice and indicate achievement of this by:
• Describing Jesus Christ as the Chosen Servant of God who practised and promoted justice;
• Explaining the story of Esther as a triumph of justice and the messianic role of Christ as a course of justice for humankind;
• Imitating Jesus as a Servant of God who executes justice.
INTRODUCTION
Happy Palm Sunday! This day is symbolic to our faith in God through Christ Jesus. It begins with a weeklong Passion of Christ when God chose and sent Christ through whom we have salvation and a relationship with God. Some years ago, the visit of Governors, chairmen of local government councils, Councillors and other important personnel would be announced ahead, probably to enable the people make adequate preparation to receive them. In some cases, students will be made to line up along a particular route, under the rain or in the sun, waving the Nigerian flag. Everything was done to give the visitor a befitting welcome, with their mission widely made known, just like the case of the coming of Jesus. Prior to His coming, prophecies had been told by some prophets and His mission clearly stated. For example, more than any other prophet, Isaiah prophesied about the coming of Christ and His messianic roles as contained in Isaiah chapter 42.
The focal point of today’s lesson is on the prophecy of Isaiah about the person and messianic roles of Christ. Interestingly, Jesus lived and fulfilled the prophecies according to Prophet Isaiah. He also practised and promoted justice.
THE LESSON EXPLAINED
A.The Servant and His Mission Stated. Isaiah 42:1-4
Chapter 42 of the book of Isaiah is known as “The Servant Song’. Although no specific name was mentioned as the servant throughout the passage, the descriptions fit the person of Jesus and the nature of His earthly ministry as a just servant. According to verse 1, God spoke through Isaiah saying, “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations” (v. 1) The mission of the servant is well-stated, from verse 2. He says:
• He would be a gentle and humble servant who will not shout or cry out;
• He will save and not destroy those who are treading towards destruction;
• He will bring lasting justice to all;
• He will not lose hope or courage until He establishes justice on the earth;
• In his teaching, the islands will put their hope.
From the passage, it is apparent that Jesus is the servant who is described as the Chosen and Elect of God (v. 1a). He was chosen by God with an elaborate mission of divine justice and delight, which He would bring about to the nations (v. 2). The mission was to be accomplished in quietness. He is also depicted as courageous and resolute until He accomplishes His mission (y. 4). The fulfilment of these attributes are found in Christ (Matthew 12:15-21). He came for the salvation or humankind and sought for the lost (Matthew 18:11: 20:28). He demonstrated impartiality in His dealings with people and faithfully accomplished the work of salvation on the cross of Calvary, in spite of the shame (Hebrews 12:2). Although it seems justice is gradually eroding from the society, Christians should be reminded that they have been called to live righteously and shine like light in this dark world.
DISCUSSION TIME
1.Explain how the mission of the servant correlates with the person of Jesus.
2.Discuss the way Jesus fulfilled the mission for which He was chosen.
B.God’s Promise to the Servant. Isaiah 42:5-9
Having stated the mission of the servant (vv. 2-4), God affirmed His commitment to him for success. Precisely in verse 6, God promised to give the servant power to execute justice on earth by virtue of his call. He also promised to take hold of his hand, keep and make Him to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.
In other words, the servant will fulfil the Davidic covenant as king (Isaiah 9:7) and will institute the new covenant by his death on the cross (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Apart from the aforementioned responsibilities expected of the servant, he will open the eyes of the blind, free those in captivity and set free those who sit in the dark. According to verse 7, God vowed not to share His glory with anyone or give His praise to idols. The promise of new things God made known in verse 9 is the restoration of the nation of Israel.
No other person was more qualified to be referred to as the servant than Jesus Christ. Reading from the book of Isaiah, Jesus revealed His mission, which is the perfect confirmation of the duties assigned to the servant in our passage (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:17-19). Primarily, Jesus came to set humankind free from the bondage of sin. Therefore, He is both the Saviour and the Judge of the world. He provides salvation through His death and resurrection and He will judge the world at the end of the age eternal life to the godly and eternal suffering to the ungodly (John 3:16-18). In this new dispensation of justice, there shall be no partiality and no room for status quo (v. 9). In the days of Isaiah, there was widespread injustice. The poor, the widow, orphans and the underprivileged were cheated by their leaders. Thus the servant was chosen with the responsibility to establish justice without fear or favour. Truly, Jesus lived and died a just Servant of God and thereby fulfilled His mission of salvation.
DISCUSSION TIME
1.Give instances of how the Servant fulfilled His mission and executed justice to the nations.
2. Discuss the new things God promised to do, as declared in verse 9.
PRAYER POINTS
• God, help me to understand the concept of justice and practise it wherever I go.
• Help me Lord, to live and fulfil Your purpose on earth.
• Give me grace to shine like light in this dark world.
Fellowship and Ministry Buildings Activity
• Discuss how you can be a just servant of God in this wicked generation.
TAKE HOME
• We have been called and chosen by God for a specific purpose.
• Christians must work hard to fulfil their mission on earth.
• God expects us to be light to the nations.
• All Christians are to be like the servant who gives justice.
• God will not share His glory with any humankind.
• We have been called to righteous living.
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