Scripture Reading: Isa. 41:2, 8-16, 25; 42:1a; 43:7, 10; 44:1-5, 21, 28; 45:1, 4, 13; 46:11, 13; 48:14; 49:3
Ⅰ
Three parties are used by Isaiah to typify Christ as the Servant of Jehovah: Cyrus the king of Persia, Israel, and Isaiah the prophet:
A
They all did the same thing to please God by serving to release God's people, to build up God's house, the temple, and to build up God's kingdom, signified by the city of Jerusalem; thus, they all typify Christ as God's Servant—Luke 4:18-21; Matt. 16:18-19.
B
All who are in Christ (1 Cor. 1:30) and who are thus one with Christ to release God's people and to build up His house and His kingdom are servants of God; those who are one with Christ have become a great corporate Christ (12:12; Col. 3:10-11), the same as the individual Christ in being the testimony and servant of God:
１
We need to be one with Christ to release God's people from the captivity of Satan back to the enjoyment of God as their possession—Isa. 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-21:
ａ
In eternity past God chose millions of people, but they were all captured by Satan, typified by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon—Eph. 1:4; Isa. 14:12-23; 1 John 5:19; Rom. 7:14.
ｂ
Our preaching of the gospel is to release these captives to make them the sons of God, the members of Christ, and the constituents of the new man—Matt. 12:28-29; Gal. 3:26; Rom.12:4-5; Col. 3:10-11.
２
We need to be one with Christ to release God's people from Babylon (apostate Christendom) and the principle of Babylon; anything that is Babylonian gives Satan the ground to defeat the people of God—Isa. 48:20; 41:21-29; Rev. 17:3-5; Josh. 7:21:
ａ
The principle of Babylon is man's endeavor to build up something from earth to heaven by human ability—Gen. 11:1-9; 1 Cor. 3:12.
ｂ
The principle of Babylon is hypocrisy—Rev. 17:4, 6; Matt. 23:25-32; Josh. 7:21; Acts 5:1-11; 15:7-8; 6:1-6.
ｃ
The principle of Babylon is that of not considering herself a widow but of glorifying herself and living luxuriously—Isa. 47:8b; Rev. 18:7; Luke 18:3; Matt. 9:14-15.
ｄ
The principle of Babylon is for man to make a name for himself and deny God's name—Gen. 11:4; Rev. 3:8; 2 Cor. 11:2; 1 Cor. 1:10.
ｅ
The principle of Babylon is confusion—Gen. 11:6-7; cf. Rom. 15:5-6; 1 Cor. 1:10; Phil. 2:2; 1 Tim. 1:3-4.
ｆ
The principle of Babylon is scattering, with each one going his own way and his own direction—Gen. 11:8; cf. Deut. 16:16; Psa. 133; 1 Kings 12:26-32.
ｇ
The principle of Babylon is mixture; anything which is halfway and not absolute is called Babylon—2 Chron. 36:6-7; Ezra 1:11; cf. 2 Kings 17:8.
ｈ
The Lord's call in the book of Revelation is for His people to come out of Babylon—Isa. 52:11-12; Rev. 18:4-5.
３
We need to be one with Christ to build up the church as God's temple—Eph. 2:21-22; Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 14:4b.
４
We need to be one with Christ to build up the church as God's kingdom—Matt. 16:18-19, 24; Rom. 14:17-18.
Ⅱ
Christ as the Servant of Jehovah is typified by Cyrus in the following aspects:
A
He was raised up by Jehovah (Isa. 41:2a, 25a; 45:13a; Acts 3:26a), anointed by Jehovah (Isa. 45:1a; Luke 4:18a), and loved by Jehovah (Isa. 48:14b; Matt. 3:17).
B
He did God's pleasure on Babylon (Isa. 48:14; 46:11), symbolizing the Roman Catholic Church (Rev. 17:3-5).
C
He was God's counselor (Isa. 46:11b) to subdue the nations and have dominion over the kings (41:2b, 25; 45:1b; Ezra 1:2a; Acts 5:31; Rev. 1:5a).
D
He was Jehovah's shepherd (Isa. 45:1) for the fulfilling of His desire in building up the city (symbolizing the kingdom) and the temple of God and in releasing God's captives (44:28; 45:13; Ezra 1:2-3; John 2:19; Luke 4:18b).
Ⅲ
Christ as the Servant of Jehovah is typified by Israel in the following aspects:
A
Israel was chosen by Jehovah and upheld with the right hand of His righteousness—Isa. 41:10.
B
Israel overcame the enemies by Jehovah and rejoiced and gloried in Him, the Holy One of Israel—vv. 8-16; 42:1a; Rom. 8:37; 1 Thes. 2:19-20.
C
Israel was the witness of Jehovah—Isa. 43:10; Rev. 1:5a; 3:14; Acts 1:8.
D
The Spirit of Jehovah was poured out on Israel for the blessing of his offspring—Isa. 44:1-5, 21; Matt. 3:16; Luke 4:18-19.
E
Jehovah was glorified in Israel—Isa. 43:7; 49:3; 46:13b; John 17:1; 12:28:
１
Israel is God's servant in the sense of fulfilling God's desire in His economy to have a corporate expression of Himself for His glory; in this sense Israel was one with Christ as God's servant—Isa. 41:8; 45:4; 49:3; Hosea 11:1; cf. Matt. 2:15.
２
In the present age the church as the testimony of God serves God for the expression of God, the glory of God—Rev. 1:2; Eph. 3:21; Gal. 6:16.
３
The glorification of God is the purpose of our service; the highest service we can render to God is to express Him in His glory—Eph. 1:23; 1 Cor. 10:31.