'A Servant Who Is Deaf and Blind'

God's Chosen Servant, Jesus Christ, remained faithful to death.  Jehovah's people Israel, though, prove to be an unfaithful servant, deaf and blind in a spiritual sense. Addressing them, Jehovah says:  "Hear, you deaf ones; and look forth to see, you blind ones. Who is blind, if not my servant, and who is deaf as my messenger whom I send?  Who is blind as the one rewarded, or blind as the servant of Jehovah?  It was the case of seeing many things, but you did not keep watching.  It was a case of opening the ears, but you  did not keep listening. Jehovah himself for the sake of his righteousness has taken a delight in that he should magnify the law and make it majestic.' -Isaiah 42:18-21. 

What a lamentable failure Israel is!  Her people repeatedly fall  away to worshiping the demon gods of the nations. Again and again, Jehovah keeps sending his messengers, but his people pay no heed.  (2 Chronicles 36:14-16) Isaiah foretells  the consequences: "It is a people plundered and pillaged, all of them being trapped in the holes, an din the houses of detention they have kept hidden.  They have come to be for plunder without a deliverer, for pillage without anyone to say:  Bring back!' Who among you people will give ear to this?  Who will pay attention  and listen for later times?  Who has given Jacob for mere pillage, and Israel to the plunderers?  Is it not Jehovah, the One against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they did not want to walk and to whose law they did not listen?  So he kept  pouring out upon him rage, his anger, and the strength of war. And it kept consuming him all around, but he took no note; and it kept blazing up against him, but he would lay nothing to heart." -Isaiah 42:22-25.

Because of the unfaithfulness of her inhabitants, Jehovah  allows  the land of Judah to be plundered and pillaged in 607 B.C.E. The Babylonians burn Jehovah's temple, desolate Jerusalem, and take the Jews captive.  (2 Chronicles 36:17-21) May be take to heart this warning example and never turn a deaf ear to Jehovah's instructions or a blind eye to his written Word. Rather, may qwe seek Jehovah's approval by imitating Christ Jesus, the Servant whom Jehovah  himself approved.  Like Jesus, may be make true justice known by what we say and do.  In this way, we will remain among Jehovah's people, serving him as light bearers who praise the true God and give him glory. 

Next time: "You Are My Witnesses"!  Chapter Four

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001