Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 49

Verses 1-4

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 49

THE MESSIANIC SERVANT AS REDEEMER

(Isaiah 49:1 to Isaiah 57:21)

SALVATION THROUGH THE SERVANT OF JEHOVAH

Vs. 1-4: ISRAEL AND THE SERVANT VIEWED AS ONE

1. The appeal of the Servant is to all men (Jew and Gentile) - even to the ends of the earth, (vs. 1-a; comp. Isaiah 45:22).

2. From the womb of His mother, Jehovah has called- the Servant by name, (Matthew 1:21).

a. Making his mouth like a sharp sword - hidden in the shadow of Jehovah’s own hand, (vs. 2a; Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 30:31; Revelation 1:16; Revelation 2:16; Revelation 19:15; comp. Hebrews 4:12).

b. Making Him as a polished shaft - ready to be drawn from the quiver of Jehovah, (vs. 2b; Habakkuk 3:11).

3. Elsewhere referred to as "David" (Ezekiel 34:23), the Servant (Christ) is here called "Israel"; He always identifies Himself with His chosen people, (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15; comp. Numbers 24:8) - with Israel in the Old Testament, and with His church in the New, (Acts 8:3; Acts 9:1; Acts 9:4).

a. He is ever the Head of His covenant-community (in both the Old Testament and New) - they being His body (Ephesians 1:22-23), bride (Isaiah 62:5; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:21-32), house (Hebrews 3:1-6; Hebrews 10:21; 1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 2:5), temple (Ephesians 2:20-22), holy nation (Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 14:21; 1 Peter 2:9), and people for God’s own possession, (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:2; 1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 1:18).

b. What many fail to see is that the covenant-community in the Old Testament and New are ONE in the special relationship of covenant-fellowship that they sustain to Christ - a relationship that is rooted in divine grace and maintained through the obedience of faith, (Ephesians 2:11-19).

4. From every observable indicator of Israel’s response to Him, our Lord’s labor toward her APPEARED to be in vain - His effort wasted, (vs. 4a; Matthew 23:37-39; John 5:39-40).

5. But, He left the result in the Father’s hands -trusting Him for a just recompense of His faithful service, (vs. 4b; 1 Peter 2:21-23; Philippians 2:9-11).

Verses 5-7

Vs. 5-7: THE SERVANT’S SUCCESS

1. The incarnation of the Son of God is to the end that He, as the Messianic Servant, may do the Father’s will, (vs. 5).

a. His task involves an earnest effort to bring Jacob back to God. (Isaiah 11:12; Isaiah 14:1; Isaiah 44:23; comp. Matthew 4:17; Matthew 15:24).

b. He will so faithfully execute the Father’s will as to be glorious in the eyes of Jehovah (Isaiah 52:13; Philippians 2:9-11) - though the people who have despised, disregarded and broken the ancient covenant reject Him, (Isaiah 53:3; Psalms 22:6; Luke 18:31-33).

c. The faithful Servant will find adequate strength for His task in the faithfullness of His God; and Israel will ultimately be brought back!

2. The exhibition of divine love, as He pleads with His erring people to repent and return to God, will be but a small part of the Servant’s role in God’s purpose, (vs. 6a).

a. He will also be given as a Light - to illumine the hearts and minds of the Gentiles, (vs. 6b; Isaiah 42:6-7; Isaiah 60:3).

b. Thus, He will accomplish, representatively, what the nation had refused to do; He will be the instrument, and messenger, of salvation to all men - to the ends of the earth! (vs. 6c; John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:4-6; 1 Timothy 4:10).

4. Divine encouragement is given the faithful Servant by Jehovah - the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, (vs. 7a).

a. He will be despised of men, (Isaiah 50:6-7; Isaiah 52:14-15; Isaiah 53:3; Psalms 22:6).

b. He will be abhorred by the covenant-nation - considered an abomination to them, (Luke 23:18-23; Psalms 2:1-3; Acts 4:24-28).

c. He will submit Himself to the authority of civil government (which He Himself established) - humbling himself to become a servant of rulers (Matthew 17:24-27), and refusing to manifest His messianic power in self-defense, (Matthew 26:52-53).

d. But, because Jehovah is faithful to His elect Servant, He will be exalted in the earth (vs. 7b) - kings arising, in awe, at His presence (Isaiah 52:15), and princes bowing before Him in worship, (Isaiah 19:21-23; Isaiah 66:23).

5. The manifestation of Messianic glory will be a startling revelation to a world so long characterized by superstition, fear, darkness and alienation from God!

Verses 8-13

Vs. 8-13: A DAY OF SALVATION

1. The "acceptable time" wherein Jehovah heard the cry of His faithful Servant may refer to what is mentioned in Hebrews 5:7.

a. It refers to His resurrection, (comp. Psalms 2:7; Acts 13:32-33; Romans 1:4; Ephesians 1:19-23).

b. Since He here identifies Himself very closely with Israel, the same will be true of the nation when it turns back to Him in the expectancy of faith.

2. The "covenant" reference suggests the restoration of the Theocratic rule over the nation with which it was originally identified, (Isaiah 12:2-3; Isaiah 33:16-22; Isaiah 45:17; Isaiah 59:16-21; Isaiah 60:1-11; Isaiah 63:5; Isaiah 61:10; Isaiah 62:1).

3. Closely associated with this "salvation" (Romans 13:11; Hebrews 9:28) is:

a. The return of Christ, in power and kingly glory; (Matthew 24:29-31).

b. The resurrection of saints, (vs. 9a; Isaiah 42:7; Isaiah 61:1; comp. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

c. The removal of enemies, (Matthew 24:37-41; Matthew 13:24-30; Matthew 13:36-43).

d. The restoration of Israel, (Romans 11:25-29).

e. The establishment of Messianic rule - a universal dominion of blessedness, justice, equity, righteousness and peace, (Revelation 11:15-18).

f. And the sharing of Messianic glory with His faithful people, (Romans 8:17-18; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Colossians 1:27; Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 4:13; 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Peter 2:3). The Lord will make adequate provision for the needs of His people, (vs. 9b-12).

a. For their physical sustenance, (vs. 9b-10; comp. Psalms 23:5; 1 Samuel 25:6-9).

b. Also for their prosperous return to the land of their fathers, (vs. 11-12).

5. Such a glorious prospect calls forth a summons to "the heavens", the earth, and the mountains to REJOICE and BREAK FORTH INTO SONGS OF JUBILANT PRAISE! (vs. 13; comp. Zephaniah 3:14-17; Zechariah 2:10-12).

Verses 14-23

Vs. 14-23: ASSURANCE FOR A DESPONDENT ZION

1. In miserable self-pity, the inhabitants of Zion complain that the Lord has both forsaken and forgotten them! (vs. 13; Isaiah 40:27; comp. Isaiah 54:8).

2. But, in reality, the Lord’s love for His people far exceeds that of a mother for her sucking child; He will NEVER forget His beloved people! (vs. 15; Isaiah 44:21).

3. In fact, the Lord declares that He has so "graven" Zion upon His hands that her walls are constantly before Him, (vs. 16; comp. Song of Solomon 8:6-7; Isaiah 62:6-7).

4. Verses 17-21 renew the promise that the outcasts of Israel will be gathered back to their own land.

a. Children, of which Israel was not even aware, will be returned to her - while her enemies are moved far away, (vs. 17-18a, 19).

b. Her offspring will be like the ornaments with which a woman decks herself, and like the beautiful girdle with which a bride fastens her attire (vs. 18b).

c. As God brought forth a mighty nation from one man (Abraham), so will He give to the tiny remnant of Israel a numerous progeny, (vs. 20-21; Isaiah 51:1-3; Isaiah 54:1-3).

1) She who has been desolate and barren will, obviously, be perplexed by the sudden revelation of such a multitude of children!

2) Who hath begotten me these? Who brought them up? Where were they?

5. Jehovah answers that the Gentiles will fear and reverence the Jewish nation, (vs. 22-23) - giving them assistance, (Isaiah 43:6; Isaiah 60:3-4; Isaiah 60:10; Isaiah 60:14; Isaiah 45:14).

a. Unity and peace will prevail, (vs. 23a; Isaiah 52:8).

b. Then will Israel know that those who wait on Jehovah, her God, will never have cause for shame, (vs. 23b; Isaiah 43:14; Isaiah 60:16; Isaiah 25:9; Isaiah 26:8; Psalms 37:9; Psalms 25:3, Joel 2:27).

6. As in verse 14, the doubts and apprehension of Israel are again expressed in verse 24.

7. The Lord assures Israel of both His ability and readiness to deal with her enemies and to save her children, (vs. 25; Isaiah 14:1-2; Jeremiah 50:33-34; Isaiah 29:5; Isaiah 29:20; Isaiah 33:22; Isaiah 35:4).

8. The day of the Lord’s vengeance upon His enemies, and those of His people, will be such an extraordinary day that "all flesh" will acknowledge Jehovah, "the Mighty One of Jacob", as the Saviour and Redeemer of His people, (vs. 26; Revelation 19:15; Isaiah 63:3; Ezekiel 39:7).