Chapter 49 begins with another summons to the “coastlands” to “Listen to me” (1; compare 41:1). However, this call to the peoples living on the edges (coastlands) comes not from the Lord but from the “servant” of the Lord (3, 5, 6). Even more intriguing, this servant, called “Israel” (3), is sent by the Lord to “bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him” (5). In other words, this servant of the Lord is an individual who the Lord uses to restore the nation to Himself and to a place of blessing among all the nations. This servant wants the news of this to be heard by the “peoples from afar.”
The servant begins by introducing himself: he was called by the Lord “from the womb” and given his name before birth (“from the body of my mother he named my name”—1). He was sent, like a “sword” or “polished arrow” to speak incisive words (2). The Lord protected him, hiding him “in the shadow of his hand” (2). His mission was to bring glory to the Lord who sent him: “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified” (4).
The servant of the Lord responds with a question that shows his perplexity at how things seem to turn out: “But I said, ‘I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord and my recompense with my God” (4). Evidently, the servant feels his labour was in vain, his mission unfulfilled. In fact, he was “deeply despised, abhorred by the nation” and by other “rulers” (7).
The Lord responds to his servant with comforting, uplifting words (5-12). The Lord’s purpose for his servant stands firm—he will be used by God “to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him” (5). In spite of the response of others, this servant is highly esteemed by God: “I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength” (5).
In fact, the Lord’s plans for his servant extend beyond the borders of Israel. He will not only “raise up the tribes of Jacob and bring back the preserved of Israel”, he will also become “a light to the nations, that my salvation might reach to the end of the earth” (6). This servant will have a global impact, bringing God’s salvation to those in distant places (“coastlands”). The Lord’s servant, once despised by his own people and the rulers of other nations, shall be exalted above all: “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” (7).
Reading Isaiah 49 from the perspective of the New Testament, it’s impossible to miss the truth that the “servant of the Lord” in Isaiah 49 is the Lord Jesus Christ. He was named before birth (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31) and hidden by in the shadow of God’s protective hand from the deadly clutches of Herod and Satan (Matthew 2:13-15: Rev 12:13-17). Though deeply despised by the national leaders of Israel (Luke 23:35), He was honoured in the eyes of the Lord (Matthew 3:17). Though it seemed He laboured in vain due to the hardness of hearts of those in Israel, His death brought about salvation for “the tribes of Jacob” and all “the nations” (6). One day all kings and princes—and every knee— “shall prostrate themselves” before Him (Philippians 2:10-11).
But the Lord is not finished explaining His plans for His faithful servant. Isaiah 49:8-12 look ahead to a time when it will be clear the servant of the Lord did not labour in vain. The Lord speaks of a coming “day of salvation” (8). He tells His servant that He will “keep” Him and give Him “as a covenant to the people” (8). The servant of the Lord will become the true and better Joshua, used by God “to establish the land, to appoint the desolate heritages” (8). He will be the true and better Moses, bringing out the enslaved captives: “saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’ to those in darkness, ‘Appear’” (9). As the true and better David, the Lord’s servant will be God’s Shepherd “to lead them and by springs of water to guide them” (10).
As a result, the people of God will be regathered to His land: “Behold these shall come from afar, and behold, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene” (12). As pictured in Isaiah 40 (the introduction for these chapters), the mountains will become roads and the “highways shall be raised up” to make safe passage home for God’s people (11).
Isaiah, seeing this glorious vision, breaks forth with a call to all creation to praise the God of Israel: “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains into singing. For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted” (13, see 40:1-2).
In the midst of this rejoicing and musical praise, the city of Zion speaks up to voice her complaint: “But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me” (14). The city of Jerusalem isn’t joining the celebration. Its walls and houses have been reduced to “waste” and “desolate places” (19). Its people have been decimated and exiled, leaving it “bereaved and barren” (21). Jerusalem (personified to represent the leaders and people) feels “forsaken” and “forgotten” (14).
How will the Lord respond to Zion’s lament? In the words of Isaiah 40:2, the Lord “speaks tenderly to Jerusalem” by asking and answering a poignant question: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you” (15). If it’s almost unthinkable that a mother would forget to have compassion on her newborn, it’s even more unthinkable that the Lord would forget Zion.
In fact, Zion is continually on the Lord’s mind, heart, and hands: “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me” (16).
The Lord affirms that a day is coming when the rebuilders (like Nehemiah) will enter the city and the “destroyers” will exit (18). The exiled inhabitants will return in such number that the city will be too small to house them: “The children of your bereavement will yet say in your ears: ‘The place is too narrow for me; make room for me to dwell in’” (20).
Seeing all her children crowding back into the city, Zion will ask where they all came from (21). The Lord’s answer is that He caused them to come, summoning the nations to “bring your sons in their arms and your daughters. . . on their shoulders” (22). The rulers of these nations (“kings” and “queens”) will be “foster fathers” and “nursing mothers”, humbly serving God’s purposes: “With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet” (23).
When all this happens, the Lord declares, Zion “will know that I am the Lord” (23). Zion will know the truth expressed in Isaiah 40:31: “those who wait for me shall not be put to shame” (23).
This grand and glorious reversal is indeed stunning and rare. As the Lord asks in verse 24: “Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be rescued”? Normally, the answer is no. But not this time: “For thus says the Lord: ‘Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children’” (25). Those who oppressed His people will be decimated and humiliated. “Then all flesh (not just Israel!) shall know that I am the Lord your savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob” (26).
Behold Your God
The Lord brings salvation to Israel and the Gentiles through the Servant of the Lord. It’s clear that the Saviour and Redeemer of Israel is the Lord, the Mighty One of Jacob (26). Yet, it’s also revealed that He brings His salvation through His Servant (6). This aligns closely with the New Testament teaching that God’s salvation comes to all through Christ, the Servant of the Lord. Through Jesus God’s salvation extends from Israel to “the end of the earth” (6; Acts 1:8).
The Servant of the Lord, though despised and rejected, will accomplish God’s saving purposes. Here in Isaiah 49 we get a preview of Isaiah 53 as we are told the Lord’s Servant will be “deeply despised” (7) but will be strengthened to bring God’s salvation to the world (5-6, 8). No wonder Paul, Apollos, Stephen and others could prove “from the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus” (Acts 18:28). Jesus is the Suffering, Saving Servant of the Lord.
The Lord deeply loves and constantly remembers Jerusalem—its people and place. Though a nursing mother could possibly forget and forsake her newborn child, the Lord will never forget or forsake Zion (15). For this reason, the Lord can declare, “your walls are continually before me” (16). For this reason, Jerusalem is promised a bright future where it is rebuilt from the rubble (17,19) and repopulated with the redeemed children of Israel (20, 22-23).
Here Am I
I will rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Servant of the Lord. It is both stunning and thrilling to see how exactly Isaiah’s words about the servant of the Lord were fulfilled in the life, suffering, and final victory of the Jesus. Jesus has come and brought God’s salvation to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Now we await the day when every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11). Rejoice in Him!
I will trust that God is not finished with Israel or Jerusalem. The Lord’s statement about never forgetting Zion is another reminder that He has Jerusalem and its people on His heart. Even more, the poetic words of verse 16 (“I have engraved you on the palms of my hands”) can be read as an allusion to the scars the Servant of the Lord carries in His body. Covenantal love!
Rick and Linda Reed 