←Isaiah 49→BSB

In This Chapter 3 people 10 places 30 terms

People

Israel 11 Jacob (Patriarch) 8 Jeshurun (Israel)

Places

    Key Terms

    Holy 5 Treat With Honor and Respect 4 Salvation 4 Covenant 4 Salvation (Rescuer) 3 Mighty (Ruthless) 3 Strength 2 Save (Help) 2 Well-Established 2 Delight 2 Arrow Bring Honor and Glory on Oneself Be Worthy of Honor Salvation (State) Save (Restore) Salvation (Physical) Salvation (Deliverance) Save (Rescue) Salvation (Means) Saving (Means) Be Holy Holy (Pure) Holy Thing Most Holy Place Holiness Holy (Devout) Hallow Sanctuary Covenant (NT) Covenant of Salt

    The Servant and Light to the Gentiles

    (Acts 13:42–52)

    ⓘ This has traditionally been regarded as the second...

    This has traditionally been regarded as the second of four suffering servant songs (see study note on 42:1–4). The suffering role of the promised servant becomes increasingly clear (see also 50:4–9; 52:13–53:12).
    ⓘ God intended to rescue the Israelites from exile....

    God intended to rescue the Israelites from exile. However, the question remained: How could sinful Israel again become the servant of the Holy One? God would make a way for Israel’s sin to be atoned for and their fellowship with him to be restored. That way would be the promised servant, who would come for Israel and for all peoples. This servant was introduced in 42:1–9, but in this passage he becomes the central focus.
    1Listen to Me, O islands;†pay attention, O distant peoples:
    The LORD called Me from the womb;from the body of My mother He named Me.2He made My mouth like a sharp sword;He hid Me in the shadow of His hand.He made Me like a polished arrow;He hid Me in His quiver.3He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel,in whom I will display My glory.”
    4But I said, “I have labored in vain,I have spent My strength in futility and vanity;yet My vindication is with the LORD,and My reward is with My God.”
    5And now says the LORD,who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,to bring Jacob back to Him,that Israel might be gathered to Him—for I am honored in the sight of the LORD,and My God is My strength—6He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant,to raise up the tribes of Jacob,and to restore the protected ones of Israel.I will also make You a light for the nations,to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”†
    7Thus says the LORD,the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel,to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation,to the Servant of rulers:
    “Kings will see You and rise,and princes will bow down,because of the LORD, who is faithful,the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”

    8This is what the LORD says:

    “In the time of favor I will answer You,and in the day of salvation I will help You;†I will keep You and appoint Youto be a covenant for the people,to restore the land,to apportion its desolate inheritances,9to say to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’and to those in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’They will feed along the pathways,and find pasture on every barren hill.
    ⓘ Like a shepherd, the Lord in his mercy...
    • Like a shepherd, the Lord in his mercy will lead the returning exiles beside cool waters; he promised to comfort them and tend to their needs (see also 40:11; Ps 23:1).
    • level paths . . . highways: The Lord would open up the way of salvation.
    10They will not hunger or thirst,nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them.†For He who has compassion on them will guide themand lead them beside springs of water.11I will turn all My mountains into roads,and My highways will be raised up.12Behold, they will come from far away,from the north and from the west,†and from the land of Aswan.”†
    13Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth;break forth in song, O mountains!For the LORD has comforted His people,and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.
    14But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me;the Lord has forgotten me!”
    15“Can a woman forget her nursing child,or lack compassion for the son of her womb?Even if she could forget,I will not forget you!16Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;your walls are ever before Me.17Your builders† hasten back;your destroyers and wreckers depart from you.18Lift up your eyes and look around.They all gather together; they come to you.As surely as I live,” declares the LORD,“you will wear them all as jewelryand put them on like a bride.
    ⓘ The population explosion would reach beyond Israel to...
    • The population explosion would reach beyond Israel to include the members of foreign nations who turn to the Lord (see 56:6–8; Rev 7:9).
    • more room: The expanded population would require space far beyond the traditional boundaries of the land of Israel (see also Zech 2:4).
    19For your ruined and desolate placesand your ravaged landwill now indeed be too small for your people,and those who devoured you will be far away.20Yet the children of your bereavementwill say in your hearing,‘This place is too small for us;make room for us to live here.’
    21Then you will say in your heart,‘Who has begotten these for me?I was bereaved and barren;I was exiled and rejected.So who has reared them?Look, I was left all alone,so where did they come from?’”

    22This is what the Lord GOD says:

    “Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations,and raise My banner to the peoples.They will bring your sons in their arms†and carry your daughters on their shoulders.23Kings will be your foster fathers,and their queens your nursing mothers.They will bow to you facedownand lick the dust at your feet.Then you will know that I am the LORD;those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”
    24Can the plunder be snatched from the mighty,or the captives of a tyrant† be delivered?

    25Indeed, this is what the LORD says:

    “Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away,and the plunder of the tyrant will be retrieved;I will contend with those who contend with you,and I will save your children.26I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh;they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine.Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD,am your Savior and your Redeemer,the Mighty One of Jacob.”