This is the first of the so-called “Servant Songs” from Isaiah 42:1-4. Pay special attention to what I have put in bold.
Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him
and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his law the islands will put their hope.
The identity of the Servant is debated by critical scholars who deny (1) that there is a God, that he knows the future, and that he reveals his future through his prophets and (2) that Jesus is the one predicted by Isaiah. But it’s pretty tough to be a Christian and deny that the Servant is Jesus (see especially Isaiah 53 and the New Testament).
In any case, the Servant is called to establish justice on the earth. This he will do, not faltering or being discouraged until he accomplishes it.
My question is this: is there any way to reconcile this prediction with the amillennial view? Does anyone say that Jesus has in the past or is currently in the present establishing justice on the earth? By “anyone,” I mean anyone not living on a deserted island.
Next question: How is this accomplished? How does Jesus establish justice on the earth? Does it do it by killing all of the bad guys and destroying the earth? That is my understanding of the amillennial answer. Perhaps they say that this passage is fulfilled because Jesus has established justice in my heart (well, he really hasn’t, but let’s go with one of my better days).
I believe another interpretation better suits the passage and the book as a whole: Jesus will, in the future, establish justice on the earth by redeeming the repentant, destroying his enemies, and ruling over all creation with perfect righteousness.
Amen!