SPECIAL TOPIC: MY SERVANT

This was a title of respect and calling (BDB 713).

  1. It was used in a collective sense
    1. the Patriarchs as a group - Deut. 9:27
    2. the prophets - 2 Kgs. 9:7; 17:13; Ezra 9:11; Jer. 7:25; 26:5; 29:19; 35:15; 44:4
    3. Israel - Ps. 105:6; 136:22; Isa. 41:8-9; 42:18-19; 44:1,2,21; 45:4; 48:20; 49:3; Jer. 30:10; 46:27,28
    4. the Septuagint adds a phrase to Isa. 42:1, which makes it refer to national Israel ("Jacob is my servant, I will help him; Israel is my chosen")
  2. It was used in an individual sense
    1. Abraham ‒ Gen. 26:24; Ps. 105:6
    2. Job ‒ Job 1:8; 2:3; 42:7, 8
    3. Isaac ‒ Gen. 24:14
    4. Jacob ‒ 1 Chr. 16:13; Ps. 105:6; Ezek. 28:25
    5. Moses ‒ Exod. 14:31; Num. 12:7-8; Deut. 34:5; Jos. 1:1-2,7,13,15
    6. Joshua ‒ Jos. 24:29; Jdg. 2:8
    7. Caleb ‒ Num 14:24
    8. David ‒ Ezek. 34:23,24; 37:24,25
    9. Zerubbabel ‒ Hag. 2:23
    10. Solomon ‒ 1 Kgs. 3:8
    11. Isaiah ‒ Isa. 20:3; 44:26
    12. Jesus ‒ Matt. 12:15-21 quotes Isa. 42:1-4

This is a honorific title used of the Messiah in the "Servant Songs" of Isaiah (cf. Isa. 42:1-4; 49:1-6; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12). Some have seen all of these as referring to Israel (cf. Isa. 41:8-9; 42:19; 43:10; 44:21), but Isa. 52:13-53:12 refers to an individual, ideal Israelite (note Isa. 53:8). The servant cannot die for the sins of the servant! Notice Matt. 27:38,59. God is in control of history, men, nations, and even Satan; all may be used to accomplish His redemptive purposes (see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN)! He used Christ (cf. Isa. 53:10).

The footnote of the Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 545, is very helpful as it outlines the different usages of the title "My Servant."

  1. a servant of God as a prophet, cf. Num. 12:7-8; Neh. 1:7; Dan. 9:11
    1. Moses
    2. Daniel, cf. Dan. 9:17
  2. a servant of God as a military leader (i.e., Joshua), cf. Jos. 24:29; Jdgs. 2:8
  3. a servant of God as King (i.e., David), cf. 2 Sam. 7:5,8; Psalm 18; 36; Ezek. 34:24; 37:24
  4. a servant of God as administrator
    1. Nehemiah, cf. Neh. 1:6
    2. Zerubbabel, cf. Hag. 2:23
  5. all Israel (or Jacob), cf. Isa. 41:8,9; 42:1,19; 43:10; 44:1,21; 49:3; Ezek. 28:25; 37:25
  6. the remnant of Israel, cf. Isa. 41:8-10
  7. a godly individual, cf. Job 1:8; 2:3; 42:8
  8. unbelieving rulers who serve YHWH's purposes
    1. Cyrus, Isa. 44:28; 45:1
    2. Nebuchadnezzar, Jer. 25:9; 27:6; 43:10

In Peter's sermon in Acts 4, it is obvious that vv. 27,30 use OT imagery of "My Servant" to refer to the person and work of Jesus, the Messiah. This follows Matt. 12:18, where Jesus quotes Isa. 42:1-3 as referring to Himself!


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