Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.
And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.
They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.
Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.
Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.
For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.
The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.
Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?
Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
Isaiah 49, a pivotal chapter, unveils the multifaceted role of the "servant" and God's unwavering commitment to Israel and the world. This chapter resonates with themes of calling, rejection, ultimate triumph, and restoration, offering profound insights into God's plan of salvation.
The Servant's Calling and Initial Struggle (Isaiah 49:1-7)
The passage opens with the servant speaking, emphasizing a divine calling established even before birth (Isaiah 49:1). While verse 3 identifies the servant as "Israel," a deeper understanding reveals this cannot solely refer to the nation itself. The servant's mission includes bringing Jacob/Israel back to the Lord (Isaiah 49:5), suggesting a figure distinct from and yet intimately connected to the nation. This points to Christ, the ultimate Servant, who embodies and fulfills God's purposes for Israel and the world. Before the foundation of the world, the Trinity determined the plan of salvation.
Jesus' baptism exemplifies this identification. Though sinless (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22), He identified with sinful humanity, taking upon Himself the task of perfectly fulfilling God's demands on their behalf (Matthew 3:13-15). In Isaiah, the Son of God aligns Himself with the people of God, succeeding where Israel faltered.
The servant's lament, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and futility" (Isaiah 49:4), echoes the rejection Christ faced during His first coming (John 1:11). Yet, God's promise shines through: "I will also make you a light for the nations, to be my salvation to the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6). Jesus fulfilled this through His ministry (Matthew 4:14-16). Despite being "despised and abhorred by people" (Isaiah 49:7), the servant will ultimately triumph at His second coming, commanding universal adoration (Isaiah 49:7).
Victory, Glory, and Restoration (Isaiah 49:8-13)
God promises victory and glory to His servant during "a time of favor" and "in the day of salvation" (Isaiah 49:8). This alludes to Christ's millennial kingdom, when Israel will be restored, welcoming back her captives and exiles (Isaiah 49:8-9). Isaiah calls upon the entire earth to praise God for fulfilling His promises to Israel (Isaiah 49:13).
God's Unwavering Love and Remembrance (Isaiah 49:14-21)
The cry of despair, "The LORD has abandoned me; the Lord has forgotten me!" (Isaiah 49:14), reflects the anguish of captivity. Yet, God reassures His people that His love surpasses even a mother's love for her child (Isaiah 49:15). Captives in Babylon would find solace in this promise, anticipating God's deliverance as their captors face divine judgment (Isaiah 49:17). The people of God will increase in number as they return to their land (Isaiah 49:18-21), a partial fulfillment seen in the return from Babylonian exile, but ultimately pointing towards the nation's complete salvation in the Messiah's millennial kingdom.
Gentile Nations and Israel's Future Glory (Isaiah 49:22-26)
In that glorious future, Gentile nations will assist the Jews in returning to their land (Isaiah 49:22), bowing down in humility before Israel and her Messiah (Isaiah 49:23). God promises, "I will contend with the one who contends with you, and I will save your children" (Isaiah 49:25), echoing His promise to Abraham: "I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt" (Genesis 12:3). He will vanquish all of Israel's enemies, and all people will recognize the LORD as Israel's Savior (Isaiah 49:26).
Isaiah 49 paints a powerful portrait of God's redemptive plan, highlighting the vital role of the Servant, the unwavering love for Israel, and the ultimate triumph of God's purposes. It's a chapter filled with hope, reminding us of God's faithfulness and His promise of a glorious future.
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.
And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.
They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.
Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.
Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.
For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.
The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.
Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?
Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
Isaiah 49, a pivotal chapter, unveils the multifaceted role of the "servant" and God's unwavering commitment to Israel and the world. This chapter resonates with themes of calling, rejection, ultimate triumph, and restoration, offering profound insights into God's plan of salvation.
The Servant's Calling and Initial Struggle (Isaiah 49:1-7)
The passage opens with the servant speaking, emphasizing a divine calling established even before birth (Isaiah 49:1). While verse 3 identifies the servant as "Israel," a deeper understanding reveals this cannot solely refer to the nation itself. The servant's mission includes bringing Jacob/Israel back to the Lord (Isaiah 49:5), suggesting a figure distinct from and yet intimately connected to the nation. This points to Christ, the ultimate Servant, who embodies and fulfills God's purposes for Israel and the world. Before the foundation of the world, the Trinity determined the plan of salvation.
Jesus' baptism exemplifies this identification. Though sinless (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22), He identified with sinful humanity, taking upon Himself the task of perfectly fulfilling God's demands on their behalf (Matthew 3:13-15). In Isaiah, the Son of God aligns Himself with the people of God, succeeding where Israel faltered.
The servant's lament, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and futility" (Isaiah 49:4), echoes the rejection Christ faced during His first coming (John 1:11). Yet, God's promise shines through: "I will also make you a light for the nations, to be my salvation to the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6). Jesus fulfilled this through His ministry (Matthew 4:14-16). Despite being "despised and abhorred by people" (Isaiah 49:7), the servant will ultimately triumph at His second coming, commanding universal adoration (Isaiah 49:7).
Victory, Glory, and Restoration (Isaiah 49:8-13)
God promises victory and glory to His servant during "a time of favor" and "in the day of salvation" (Isaiah 49:8). This alludes to Christ's millennial kingdom, when Israel will be restored, welcoming back her captives and exiles (Isaiah 49:8-9). Isaiah calls upon the entire earth to praise God for fulfilling His promises to Israel (Isaiah 49:13).
God's Unwavering Love and Remembrance (Isaiah 49:14-21)
The cry of despair, "The LORD has abandoned me; the Lord has forgotten me!" (Isaiah 49:14), reflects the anguish of captivity. Yet, God reassures His people that His love surpasses even a mother's love for her child (Isaiah 49:15). Captives in Babylon would find solace in this promise, anticipating God's deliverance as their captors face divine judgment (Isaiah 49:17). The people of God will increase in number as they return to their land (Isaiah 49:18-21), a partial fulfillment seen in the return from Babylonian exile, but ultimately pointing towards the nation's complete salvation in the Messiah's millennial kingdom.
Gentile Nations and Israel's Future Glory (Isaiah 49:22-26)
In that glorious future, Gentile nations will assist the Jews in returning to their land (Isaiah 49:22), bowing down in humility before Israel and her Messiah (Isaiah 49:23). God promises, "I will contend with the one who contends with you, and I will save your children" (Isaiah 49:25), echoing His promise to Abraham: "I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt" (Genesis 12:3). He will vanquish all of Israel's enemies, and all people will recognize the LORD as Israel's Savior (Isaiah 49:26).
Isaiah 49 paints a powerful portrait of God's redemptive plan, highlighting the vital role of the Servant, the unwavering love for Israel, and the ultimate triumph of God's purposes. It's a chapter filled with hope, reminding us of God's faithfulness and His promise of a glorious future.