What for Our Labors?
Epiphany 2 – January 18, 2026
Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 40:1-12 (LBW)
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42
Today we read the second servant song in Isaiah. As you remember from last week these so-called servant songs occur in Second Isaiah which was written during the Babylonian captivity. Like the first servant song this one is in two parts. The first part written by Second Isaiah with a second part written later – possibly by Third Isaiah. You may also remember that who the servant is remains anonymous. The Christian church has read these songs as prophecies about Jesus the Messiah. Although that is not totally clear in the text. This song is the exception in that it mentions Israel as the servant. Although most scholars believe that this is an even later insert into the song since Israel is also the one who is to be served. This is a reminder that the scriptures have a long history of being passed down from generation to generation, written and rewritten over and over again, and that there is often minor changes in all those years. Some of those changes show an ever changing understanding of God’s call to God’s people. But that is not what I wish to focus on today. My focus is on the statement by the servant that his (or her) efforts have been in vain.
We all know that feeling. We all have things in our lives that we had hoped to do and fulfill and have been unable to do so. We have striven to succeed in a life-changing event and have failed. We know the servant’s feeling of spending our strength and effort for nothing. We have failed in many things. While it is almost a cliché we know the stories about NewYear’s resolutions that by the end of January are forgotten. But this is greater than that. This is failing at the task that God has called you to.
Yet, even knowing that he had failed God, the servant still puts his trust in God. He knows that his salvation comes from God alone. Once he proclaims this he is then given other tasks to fulfill. Having failed at one task does not preclude you from continuing as one of God’s servants. The disciples show us that as well. How many times did they disappoint Jesus and were still called to serve? Even as far as denying that they knew him. Paul the ultimate failure – persecuting Christians – was called to serve the gentiles. You see, failure does not separate us from God and God’s call. Here we see that each and every week. We come here and confess that we have failed God and are forgiven and nourished on God’s Word and sent back out into the world to serve God by following Jesus.
No matter where you find yourselves, no matter how badly you have messed up, you are God’s own children. And when you find yourself thinking it was all in vain and hopeless, be assured that God still has plans for you. It does not matter if you succeed. It does not even matter if you try. What matters is that Jesus died for you and rose on the third day so that you will always be God’s own child. With the gift of salvation and the support of the Holy Spirit, you can live the life God calls you to and weather the strongest of storms that may rage about you.