A TRUE SERVANT OF GOD

When the prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of Christ and His kingdom, he outlined what Christ's true ministers would be like. In doing so, he defined our ministry in these last days by saying, in essence, "I want you to know the marks of the true people of God, those who will be ministering just before the Prince of Peace comes to reign!"

Isaiah begins with these words: "Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness" (Isaiah 32:1). Then the prophet adds, "And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land" (verse 2).

It is clear to me that Isaiah is talking about Christ. He goes on to tell us that a true servant of God will preach the all-sufficiency of Christ! Indeed, this believer shuts himself in with Jesus, trusting his Lord to make his soul a well-watered garden. He lives with a quiet confidence, his spirit at rest and full of peace.

This true servant of God has no "tempest" brewing in his soul because of sin. On the contrary, he fully trusts the Holy Spirit to mortify his sins, and his spirit is as free as a bird. He has no fears or worries, because all is clear between him and his Lord. There is a song in his heart because Christ is his delight!

Moreover, this servant knows no one can harm him because he clings to the security and comfort of God's promise to defend the righteous. No weapon formed against him can prosper because God Himself rises up against every tongue that comes against him. God is his defense in a weary land!

Isaiah points out two distinguishing marks of the righteous servant. First, he has discernment and, second, he knows the voice of God distinctly: "The eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken" (Isaiah 32:3).

We see an example of this in Jesus' first encounter with Nathaniel. When He saw Nathaniel coming toward Him, He cried, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" (John 1:47). In other words, "Look, brothers! Here comes a man who is no hypocrite. There's no deceit in him, no immorality. He is a clean vessel!"