Ok . . . so I’m thinking it might be somewhat self-centered to have finished reading Isaiah 42 and 43, along with Hebrews 9, and end up with a thought about me. Magnificent is how I might describe Isaiah’s declaration of God’s sent Servant. Amazed is how I respond to the fact that this Servant is the “better sacrifice” described in Hebrews. And in the midst of the high and holy . . . as I take in the grand truths of God’s wonderful salvation . . . I find me . . .

The Lord, through Isaiah, leads me to “Behold My Servant, whom I uphold, my Chosen in whom My soul delights” (Isa. 42:1-2). And my soul delights in Him too . . . so that I will “sing to the LORD a new song, His praise from the end of the earth” (42:10). He is the Lord, besides Him there is no Savior (43:11) . . . He blots out transgressions and remembers sins no more, for His own sake (43:25) . . . there is none who can take from His hand that which He is determined to claim for His own (43:13) . . . He is the Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel (43:14) . . . and He is doing a “new thing” as He graciously provides living water “to give drink to My chosen people, the people whom I have formed for Myself” (43:21). Behold God’s blessed Servant . . . Behold His salvation!

And this Servant is the Christ spoken of in Hebrews 9 . . . He who has “appeared as a high priest” . . . and has “entered once for all the holy place . . . by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:11-12). The blood of Christ “purifying our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (9:14). He is the “mediator of a new covenant” (9:15) . . . have sealed the deal through the “better sacrifice” (9:23) . . . appearing “once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (9:26) . . . entering into “heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf” (9:24)!

Oh, catch your breath! Behold the Servant! . . . Behold the Sacrifice! . . . Behold Your Salvation! And in the midst of these grand themes . . . this jumps out at me . . .

“But now thus says the LORD, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.'” (Isaiah 43:1 ESV)

A word to descendants of Jacob . . . specifically targeted for the nation of Israel . . . but does it not have application to me as well? I’m thinkin’!

And so, enveloped by the greatness of my God, and the wonder of an eternal salvation, I hear Him say, “I created you . . . I formed you . . . I have redeemed you . . . I have called you by name . . . you are Mine. Fear not.”

Called by name. Known individually. My sins, covered by His sacrifice. My name, written in His book. My days on earth, ordered by His hand. My circumstance, His concern. My future, secured by His promise.

And so I rest. A tiny mite amidst a great big God. A sinner saved by grace, on the radar of the God of grace. Knowing it’s not about me . . . but that He has chosen to make it about me . . . that I might make it all about Him . . . that I might declare His praise . . . and give Him all the glory. Amen?