Read: Isaiah 42:1-9
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights. (v. 1)
The phrase “servant leaders” is contradictory. As James MacGregor Burns said in his book Leadership, leadership involves authority, direction, and control, while servanthood implies submission, humility, and obedience. Robert K. Greenleaf, who coined the term “servant leader” in the 1970s, intended to highlight the irony in the best kind of leadership. The idea of a “servant leader” is as old as the Bible.
In the book of Isaiah, we find four passages that prophetically point toward the servant leadership of Jesus Christ. Our reading today is the first of these “servant songs”. It describes how God’s chosen servant will bring justice to the nations with gentleness and righteousness (v. 1). He will be a leader who will not quench a “faintly burning wick” (v. 3) but will show compassion to all (v. 7). In the following servant songs, Isaiah describes the global reach of the servant (49:6), that he will face intense suffering but will not compromise (50:5-7), and that he will bear the sin of others (53:4-6) and redeem them (53:12).
The servant songs in Isaiah point to Jesus, but they are also an example for us. With discernment from the Holy Spirit, Christians should act with authority from God and with humility and obedience. This is why Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant . . . For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:43-45).
As you pray, ask God to help you follow Jesus’s example of service.
Words of Hope’s South Asia Ministry field leader is based in India and works with more than 70 team members sharing the hope of the gospel in more than 20 languages. Because of security concerns, we have chosen not to share his name.
