Isaiah 49
Imagine walking into this auditorium on a dark, overcast day without turning the lights on. You would proceed carefully; you might stumble and bump your way along. If you had never been in the auditorium before, you would have to creep along (so that you don’t hurt your shins). Gradually, a general idea of how the auditorium is laid out would begin to emerge. Your great need would be for someone to turn the lights on for you. This is what the New Testament does for us. There is light in the Old Testament; there is brilliantly clear light in the New Testament – because it testifies of Jesus. For instance, in today’s text, we are told that the Servant would be a light to the Gentiles. In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” Revelation 21:23 tells us “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did light it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” So in today’s text, we learn to love and lean upon the Lord who is the light of the nations.
Isaiah 40-66 has been called “the book of comfort.” How does God comfort us? Chapters 40-48 give us comfort by describing God’s nature and character as our Royal Redeemer. Chapters 49-66 lay the emphasis on salvation and restoration. Isaiah 49:1-13 describes God’s Servant whom He would send.[i]
Who is the Servant?
When you read verse 3, you see that the Servant is called, “Israel.” Who is this? Earlier in this book, the nation of Israel is referred to as God’s servant.[ii] Yet verses 5-6 tell us that Jacob/Israel will be delivered by this Servant. Verse 7 tells us that the Servant is worthy of worship – meaning that He is God. One of the better-known Servant songs is Isaiah 53. In Acts 8, we read the story of a high official from Ethiopia who was reading Isaiah 53. The evangelist, Philip, came alongside him to ask if he understood what he was reading. According to Acts 8:34-35, the official asked Philip, “Who is the prophet speaking about, himself? Or some other man?” In one of the most enlightening connections in Scripture, “Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture and preached unto him Jesus!”[iii] Today, we can rejoice in the fact that this Servant is Jesus the Christ. As Jesus said, He did not come to be served, but the serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.[iv]
How would God the Father prepare His Servant for His mission?
- The Father would issue His calling to Him while He was still in the womb: naming Him by name. v. 1
“The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.” Remember what the angel told Joseph about Mary’s child? “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.”(Matthew 1:21).
- His mouth would be like a sharp sword or arrow with piercing words, vs.2-3
When the chief priests and Pharisees wanted the officers to arrest Jesus, what did the officers say? “No one ever spoke like this man!” (John 7:46). Jesus spoke with authority (Mark 1:27). In Revelation 2:12, Jesus identified himself with the words, “These things says He which hath the sharp sword with two edges.” Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is quick [alive], and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” With equal clarity, the Lord Jesus Christ told us about what is right and what is wrong. In a society where it is taught that truth is relative, and that nothing is “black and white, only grey,” we need the sharp words of Christ. Let’s we learn to love and lean upon the Lord who is the light of the nations.
- He would be like a secret weapon, hidden in the quiver and ready for use. vs. 2-3
“And He has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand has 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.”
How would Jesus be like a secret weapon? They expected kings to be haughty, but He was humble. He was “meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). He is the highway to heaven. But the highway to heaven is hidden in humility; the path to punishment is paved with pride. When Jesus humbled Himself and endured an agonizing death on the cross for us, He was God’s “secret weapon.” At His bodily resurrection three days later, God proved that His “secret weapon” had conquered death itself!
What problems would the Servant face?
- He would face severe frustration suspecting that He had labored in vain and wasted His energies for nothing. v. 4
“Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for naught [nothing], and in vain:” It is hard to imagine Jesus Christ thinking this way. Yet this is the true prophecy of Scripture. The Son of God the Father would endure great frustration. He would wonder if His labors were in vain as He ministered to rebellious and double-minded people.
In 1912, medical missionary Dr. William Leslie went to live and minister to tribal people in a remote corner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After 17 years he returned to the U.S. a discouraged man – believing he failed to make an impact for Christ. He died nine years after his return. But in 2010, a team led by Eric Ramsey with Tom Cox World Ministries made a shocking and sensational discovery. They found a network of reproducing churches hidden like glittering diamonds in the dense jungle across the Kwilu River from Vanga, where Dr. Leslie was stationed.
Did Jesus ever experience “letdowns?” Since He was tested the same way that we are (Hebrews 4:15), we know that Jesus had to deal with disappointments, frustrations, and “letdowns.”[vi]
- Yet He would comfort Himself with the knowledge that God would judge His work and reward Him appropriately. vs.4-5
“…yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God. And now, says 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.”
How would God’s Servant face tremendous discouragement and despair? He would remember that God is the judge for all His labors. This is a good reminder for all those who serve the Lord: “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10).
It is clear from this passage that the Messiah’s mission was to bring Israel to God. But Israel rejected its Messiah! Though Israel was not gathered (at His first coming to earth), Christ is coming to earth again. He will be glorious in the eyes of God the Father, who will strengthen Him. Let’s we learn to love and lean upon the Lord who is the light of the nations.
What was His God-given purpose?
- To glorify God, v. 5.
- To bring Israel back to God, vs. 5-6
- To be a light to the Gentiles and proclaim God’s salvation to the ends of the earth, v. 6
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.
Not only would God’s “secret weapon” the Messiah, bring Israel back to God, He would also be a light to the nations. Jesus is the Light of the world, and He works through His followers to make them the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). Through the Gospel of Christ, God’s saving plan would be known throughout the world.
It is fascinating to note that Jesus Christ was the Chief Disciple of God the Father. It is on this basis that He calls us to be His disciples and make disciples:
”Go therefore and teach [make disciples] of all the nations …”
(Matthew 28:19-20)
“The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned [disciple], that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.” (Isaiah 50:4)
- To be worshiped and adored by kings and leaders, because the Holy One of Israel has accomplished this purpose, v. 7
Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, 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.
Though God’s Servant will face intense frustration and discouragement, He will be exalted! He will be worshiped and adored by leaders throughout the world.
- To deliver those in bondage and lead them as a shepherd, vs. 8-12
What should be our response to this glorious truth?
- Listen and pay close attention, v.1
One of the best ways to do this would be to search the Scriptures. Why not read through the Bible this year? You could do it in 15 minutes each day. We recommend the reading schedule from Tabletalk magazine. (We have placed copies at the Welcome Center.)
- Trust Him for light and salvation, v. 6
- Worship Him, v.7
- Trust Him for deliverance and protection, vs. 9-12
- Sing and be joyful! vs. 13
This year, let’s ask the Lord to turn the light on for us. Let’s we learn to love and lean upon the Lord who is the light of the nations.
Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio https://www.cbcfindlay.org/a-light-for-the-nations/
[i] Though many of the verbs in this passage are in the past tense, this is what is known as “the prophetic perfect.” In other words, the fulfillment of the prophecy is so certain that it is as if it had already happened.
[ii] Isaiah 41:8; 44:1, 21. Some have proposed that Isaiah himself was the Servant. Others point to Isaiah 44-45 to indicate the Cyrus was the Servant (see Ezra 6:3, Isaiah 44:28; 45:1.
[iii] The Gospel of Matthew makes the same connection: the Servant in Isaiah is Jesus Christ. See Isaiah 42:1-4 and compare it with Matthew 12:10-21.
[iv] Matthew 20:28
[vi] See https://www.cbcfindlay.org/the-lord-of-the-letdowns/
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