Our series thus far has challenged us to have a big and high view of God. This chunk of Isaiah takes a microscope to who God is -- how He is full of grace, full of glory, how He is our Lord, how He is our saviour, how He is sovereign, how He is our good and holy God. We’ve been challenged personally — if God is who He says He is, and if we believe that this God is real and good and true - how will we live our lives differently?
In this chapter, we consider the simple question “Who is our Messiah, and what has been promised?” With everything we have learned about who God is, our study tonight puts all of that together in one promised servant. One commentator said of this chapter - “This chapter is full of our Lord Jesus Christ” - and that’s who we will be looking at.
(A) The chosen servant whose confidence is in God (Isa 49:1-4)
Isaiah 49 is one of four “Servant songs” in Isaiah that appear in the “Book of Comfort” from Isaiah 40-55. To understand this chapter, we need to remember the context of where we are in Isaiah. The figure of the Messiah appears here in the story of God bringing Israel back from afar after the Babylonian exile.
Isaiah 40 begins with words of comfort to a people in exile. Thus, in this section, the theme of God’s comfort through His redeeming work and Israel’s salvation is a repeated theme. As the chapters unfolds, God reveals His plan, which seems to take place through unexpected means. God’s people are able to trust His words and revelation because what He said in the past, He accomplished. Thus, as God speaks about what He will do, His people are also able to trust Him. Isaiah 42 directly references the Lord’s chosen servant with a similar language to what we see in Isaiah 49. In Isaiah 42 this servant is the saviour, a “covenant for the people, a light for the nations (Isa 42:6). Isaiah 43 talks about God saving His people for His own glory, He calls them to fear not.
Isaiah 45 talks about Cyrus, God’s instrument. We are in a section where the return from Babylonian exile has been described through the lens of God’s other “servant”, Cyrus the great of Persia. In some ways it would be easy to assume that God’s servant or Israel’s saviour refers to Cyrus, but curiously we see that not to be the case in Isaiah 49. In the previous chapter, Isaiah 48, we see who God is and what His desire for Israel is. He is the God of nations, of glory, of revelation, and of redemption.
By the time we reach Isaiah 49, we have a clearer picture of God’s plan that He will also enact through His servant. The covenantal God whom we have read about in earlier chapters, whom we know through His word, who has promised redemption to His people. He has called his Servant. This is God’s servant who is key in God’s redemption plan. We see in v5-6 that it is through this servant that the nations are saved. God’s servant, the promised Messiah, is speaking.
Jesus the Messiah calls out to “the coastlands” and the “peoples from afar”. His message goes out to those at the ends of the earth. His message of salvation is for all, not just Israel. We recall the start of the Book of Comfort in Is 40:1 - Comfort, comfort my people - instead of speaking just to Israel, the chosen servant addresses everyone - Jews and Gentiles alike. The ESV Study Bible says it well - “the prophetic horizon is broadening to reveal more and more nations claimed by God’s grace”. This really sets the stage for the rest of the passage later, but for now we have who is speaking, and who he is speaking to. Let’s look at what he says.
This servant was called from the womb — we see fulfilment of scripture and prophecy here as we come to understand that this servant is the Messiah Jesus Christ. We recall the story of Jesus Christ in the gospels and how an angel appeared to Mary and gave Jesus his name. Today, we read these verses and immediately think of Jesus, but to the original readers, they are slowly piecing together and understanding more about the unique characteristics of this promised One sent by God.
In Isaiah 49:2, This Messiah says that his mouth is “like a sharp sword” (Isa 49:2a) and “in the shadow of his hand he hid me” (Isa 49:2a). This mention of “sharp sword” refers to his word. He is like a carefully made polished arrow and hidden quiver (Isa 49:2b). This means that his words have power and authority. His words carry with them judgement, and by the power of his words the righteous and wicked shall be judged. He is like a carefully made and polished arrow. Some commentators match this to the sword, for enemies near and far (sword and arrow). Some commentators also think the line on being hidden in the quiver is a reference to the “hidden” years of Jesus, when He lived in obscurity. Whichever the case though, it is clear that God’s servant is chosen with purpose — to deal with the Lord’s enemies and to bring judgement.
Our God is a speaking God, and likewise His servant’s words are powerful. Consistently in Scripture, we see that our God is a God of words (c.f. Isa 11:4, Hos 6:5, Heb 4:12). His word is mighty to save, and to bring judgement on His enemies. We hold in our hands a powerful and precious Word. We would do well to handle it responsibly and read it well. How do we treat it? We are to read it well!
How are we to understand Isaiah 49:3? God also calls the Servant, “Israel”. In Isaiah 48, we see that Israel has failed and turned away from God. Judgment is promised for the wicked. As God sees the nation that has turned away from Him, He gives us a Messiah that takes the place of Israel and do what Israel is supposed to do. This Servant, Israel, restores the nation Israel. The ESV Study Bible explains, “The servant is the true embodiment of what the nation failed to be, namely, the one in whom I will be glorified.” There is something to be said that God’s promised Messiah is a servant. We often think of a saviour as a mighty king, as a strong warrior, as a ruler on high. That’s the picture of Cyrus the great of Persia that we got earlier in Isaiah 45 isn’t it? Yet God’s promised Messiah is His servant, humble and lowly. Do we see how God takes everything and turns it upside down? It is worth considering what we value, what we hold dear.
In Isaiah 49:4, we get a glimpse of the Messiah’s struggles, but also of HIs confidence. The Servant speaks of seemingly labouring in vain and spending strength for nothing and vanity. He works for the people’s salvation and redemption but seems to be met with rejection. Yet, He does not turn from God in unbelief. He is confident that He will be vindicated by God and He continues to hope. He accepts the fruitless effort and emotional toil, yet continues to be sinless and blameless before God. He has full confidence that His reward is with God.
We think about the times we see in the gospels that Jesus was frustrated with his disciples in Matthew 17, and even being forsaken on the cross. Jesus was no stranger to pain, suffering and fruitlessness. But unlike the nation of Israel, this true Israel did not turn away from God in unbelief. In everything he trusted God: “Yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God.” Jesus persevered by putting his faith in God, trusting that He would sustain his work.
Have you thought about your own ministry? Have you tasted this suffering as you do the work that we have been called to as Christians? Maybe you have sought to be obedient and have only been met with rejection? Some here serve in church and know firsthand what pain, fruitlessness and even despair looks like.
Isaiah 49 shows us that we should not be surprised when we are met with rejection and persecution when we live as God has called us to — Jesus himself faced it. It is a good and godly thing to be treated in the same way Christ was treated. This gives us a model for response — we respond humbly and gently, fully reliant on God for our hope and strength. Some of you here serve in church and know exactly how this feels. Take heart — be like Christ. In everything trust God — my right is with Him, my recompense with my God.
(B) The Lord’s servant who will save the nations (Isa 49:5-6)
We also see God’s salvation plan widening, as He seeks to save not just Israel, but the nations, through Jesus Christ. God instructs the Messiah to bring His people back (Isa 49:5). This echoes Isaiah 49:1-4, called from the womb — this is Jesus’ purpose, by God’s design. This also echoes Exodus, where this same God heard the cries of His people, and came to save them to himself to be His people. God’s salvation plan is for His people to be brought back to Him, for them to be gathered to Him. He desires a relationship with His people, He desires to dwell with His people, He desires to be with His people. Friends, do we see how merciful this is? That God would look at a people who has turned away from Him, a people who is hard-hearted, and send His servant to bring them back to him?
See the LORD’s heart to be with His people! How does this happen? God will achieve this through His Messiah (Isa 49:5b) and strengthens His Servant.
Isaiah 52:13-53:13 helps us understand what it means here that “I am honoured in the eyes of the LORD”. God’s people will be gathered through the death of this Servant, Jesus Christ. Our iniquities are laid on Christ. He was wounded, stricken and pierced for our transgressions. By His wounds we are healed. This is why Jesus is honoured in the eyes of the LORD. Jesus’ death was important because this is how the LORD achieves His plan. This is how God achieved His plan to bring the disobedient nations back to Him!
In Isaiah 49:6, we see that God’s salvation plan will be achieved through Christ alone! Later in Romans 11:11, both Jews and Gentiles are saved. We see that the grafting in of the Gentiles has been God’s salvation plan all along. By the same death and resurrection that Jesus died, mercy, salvation and hope are extended to all. He will gather all peoples and desires to know and dwell with them, and for them to know HIm.
Hear Jesus’ call in John 8:12. This is God’s salvation plan! Is this the first time that you have heard it? How will you respond to it? This is exactly what Christians believe. We all are like the nation of Israel — disobedient, rebellious and sinful. By God’s measure, we all deserve death and judgement by God’s word. But God sent his chosen servant to save us if we would put our faith in Him and believe that He alone has come to bear our sins. We can come freely to our God, we are counted righteous by Jesus’s death and resurrection. We have the light of life and no longer walk in darkness. Would you trust in Jesus today?
For those of us that have heard this, does this no longer thrill our soul? Do we brush it off as something that we know? Does the beauty of Jesus Christ stir our hearts to worship God? Does the merciful sacrifice of Jesus cause us to give thanks for what has been done in our lives? This good news of Jesus who has come to save is the best thing we can reflect on, meditate, cling to for encouragement and hope! Do we give thanks to God for this?
How many of us are struck by this gospel ambition that God desires for the nations to be saved? What are we striving for? Perhaps we have been distracted by good things that are actually lesser things — jobs, money, family, etc. What would it look like if you lived with this same conviction that the gospel is for all the nations? What are you talking about with your non-Christian friends? Friends, if the gospel is the most wonderful thing we have, why aren’t we talking about it with our non-Christian friends? Consider spending time tonight praying for our non-Christian friends. Think hard about how we can apply it today.
(C) The despised servant of rulers who is the redemption for the nations (Isa 49:7)
Here, the LORD is speaking to the Messiah (Isa 49:7). The LORD here is described as “the Redeemer of Israel”. The Messiah is “his Holy One” who is “deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers”. He is also the one who is faithful!
Firstly, we are in a section where the return from Babylonian exile has been described through the lens of God’s other “servant”, Cyrus of Persia in Isaiah 45. He is mighty and victorious. Yet in our passage today we see another servant of the Lord who is not Cyrus — one who is a servant, one who laboured in vain, one deeply despised. As we’ve seen in this passage, this servant Jesus is honoured in God’s eyes, and is greatly exalted before all. The heart of God’s salvation plan is exactly as Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 1:27–31: “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.””
Praise our God who is almighty and wise!
Secondly, do we see that at the end of all of this, God points us back to His faithfulness in Isaiah 49:7b: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” Jesus is the fullest picture of God’s faithfulness to His people. We talked about what it would look like to consider Christ and this is how. We look at what God has promised, and look at what Christ has done. This is how we have a high view of God. This is how we know his glory. Our passage this evening is about Jesus Christ himself and what He promises to bring and do, and Jesus is himself the fullness of all of God’s glory and goodness and righteousness. All that we have read so far culminates in God’s chosen servant of Jesus Christ, who is himself the redemption for the nations. Praise God for his gift of grace to us.