Isaiah 42:6-8 English Standard Version

⁶ “I am the Lord; I have called you^[a] in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,
⁷ to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
⁸ I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

Footnotes ^[a] The Hebrew for you is singular; four times in this verse

The subtitle to Isaiah 42 is The Lord’s Chosen Servant. This is not the collective you as is so often used in bible verses. This is the Messiah that the Lord is talking to here. Seems strange because so often we think about the Lord as the Messiah but at this point the Lord had not come in the likeness of man.

The real danger in the singular you is when man, in his vanity, wants to believe that the Lord is talking to him and that he is called to lead. It sounds insane but how many times in history has that exact thing happened to the destruction of those who have followed a Jim Jones or a David Koresh.

The Lord himself, after He became man, warned us of these types and we may not be done with those who declare ownership of these verses.

Matthew 24:5 English Standard Version (ESV) For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

Matthew 24:23 English Standard Version (ESV) Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.

We all with great anticipation wait on the Lord. When He comes again we will know it of a certainty that will not be convinced with enticing words. At the sound of His voice we will have no choice in answering for He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. We will not be able to deny Him.

Exodus 13:2 English Standard Version (ESV) “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

Exodus 13:2 King James Version (KJV) Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

The words used here are consecrate and sanctify were the Hebrew word is qāḏaš. It’s meaning according to biblical outline usage is to be set apart, to treat as sacred, to be hallowed, to regard or treat as sacred. Strong’s Definition adds; to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)

Obviously this is human effort at God’s direction. This returns us once again to Paul’s Romans 6:19 comment about human limitation. This is in reference to the first fruits offering unto the Lord. Once it belongs to the Lord it is no longer under our control except in how we view it, treat it, and respect it while it is under our care. It belongs to the Lord.

Obviously the additional requirement for cleaning means that it will be regularly cleansed because they will come in contact with contamination. Think of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet as an example. This also it a representative example of forgiveness of sin.

While we make these efforts there is also one interesting aspect of what God considers, His view, His treatment of us being sanctified.

Colossians 3:3 English Standard Version (ESV) For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

God considers us His and separated unto Himself.

Believe what God thinks of us is more important than what we think of ourselves.