THE SALVIFIC TASK OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT IN ISAIAH 42:1-7:

Abstract

The theme of salvation is central in the servant songs. In Isaiah 42:1-7, the theme of salvationprefigures the significant task of the suffering servant. First, this essay commences with a critical analysis of Isaiah 42:1-7. This analysis will shed light on the context from which the text emerged in an effort to decipher salvific themes in the text. Second, the study maintains that Yahweh’s exclusivist proclamation in the Old Testament (hereafter OT)is revised in order to also include non-Jews in his salvific programme of the universe. Third, the term salvation is defined as depicting liberation in the OT. Liberation comprises various facets, including but not limited to political freedom, economic emancipation, democracy, justice, poverty eradication, and equal rights, amongst others. Fourth, this essay will explore divergent views on the identity of the suffering servant in the servant songs, such as Jeremiah, Cyrus, Jacob/Israel, and Jesus. The Christian view of the suffering servant will also be considered.Fifth, this article will discuss servant leadership in our contemporary context, in which Nelson Mandela as a representative example of a servant leader is explored. The overall objective of this research is to identify some salvific tasks of the suffering servant in the first servant song in order to inspire, inform and legitimise socio-political transformation1 in our contemporary society.