Isaías 49
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Isaías 49
Wiersbe has an interesting comment for those of us who are Gentiles asking - How does this apply to the Gentiles? If God had not restored the people from the Babylonian captivity to Jerusalem, He could not have fulfilled His promises concerning the Messiah. You see God had already prophesied, that is predicted, through some of His prophets that Jesus would be born in Israel, accomplish His ministry there, and be crucified there. Had there been no Bethlehem, where would Jesus have been born? Had there been no Nazareth, where would He have grown up? Had there been no Jerusalem and no temple, where would He have taught, suffered, and died? And He did this for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews.
Isaías 49
Wiersbe - All of God's servants should be like prepared weapons. "It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus," wrote Robert Murray McCheyne. "A holy minister [servant] is an awful weapon in the hand of God."(Be Comforted - Isaiah). While this passage clearly refers to the Servant, the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, the truth is applicable to us who have placed our faith in Him, because by so doing we are IN CHRIST, hidden in Him (Col 3:3+) and so we can sing "Under His Shadow" by M A Spiller... "Under His shadow," with Christ alone Here, love He whispers in tenderest tone, Treasures unfolding, riches of grace Thus for life's battle my soul doth He brace. "Under His shadow," a near page of life. Opens before me, apart from the strife Oh! will Thou show me Master and King How I may glory unto Thee bring! "Under His shadow" may life be passed Daily and hourly on till the last, Then no more shadows, all shall have fled When we awake like Jesus our Head. Isaiah 49:3 He said to Me, "You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory." Isa 42:1, 43:21, 44:23, 52:13, 53:10 Zec 3:8 Mt 17:5 Lu 2:10-14 John 12:28, Jn 13:31,32, Jn 15:8, Jn 17:1,4 Eph 1:6 Php 2:6-11 1Pe 2:9 GOD'S SERVANT "ISRAEL" IS THE MESSIAH He said to Me - Yahweh addresses the Messiah, His Servant. He refers to Him as Israel, for He was representative of Israel and the fulfillment of all that Israel as God's Chosen People should have been to the heathen world. The Servant Israel will succeed in all the ways that Israel the nation had failed because of her continued rebellion, wanton whoring and unwavering unfaithfulness to her Husband Yahweh (Isa 54:5, Jer 31:32+). In defense of the fact that this is not the nation of Israel but the Servant (Messiah) is the description that this Servant Israel is “abhorred by the nation” (Isa 49:7), clearly indicating that this cannot refer to the nation of Israel as some suggest. While Young's commentary on Isaiah is a classic, it saddens my heart that he interprets this as "the true Israel" and thus the Church. The great theologian Calvin made the same mistake (I say that with deep humility and ready acknowledgment of Calvin's greatness) writing "In a word, the Lord honours by this name the Church, which is the spouse of Christ, just as the wife is honoured by bearing the name and title of her husband." Oswalt explains that "the term Israel is used not so much as a name as it is a parallel term to servant. It is as though the Lord had said, “You are my Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” Thus it is the function, not the identity, of Israel that is emphasized. This Servant is going to function as Israel. What was Israel’s task, as indicated throughout the entire book, from ch. 2 onward? To be the means whereby the nations could come to God. But how could a nation that could not find its own way to God, a blind, deaf, rebellious nation, show anyone else the way? This is the dilemma that the Servant has come to solve. He will be for Israel, and the world, what Israel could not be. Faced with Israel’s failure, God does not wipe out the nation; he simply devises another way in which Israel’s servanthood could be worked out: through the ideal Israel. (NICOT-Isaiah) Beloved, My Servant Israel is EMPHATICALLY not the Church! In the context this is Messiah. Notice how Isa 49:5-6 speaks of the Servant restoring Israel to God! Clearly, if one interpreted this as the nation of Israel, it would simply not make sense. So once again context enables us to make the correct interpretation (see Keep Context King). The nation of Israel had failed in her mission to be a light to the nations. Yahweh now summons His Servant Who will not fail in His mission! While the NAS does not begin with an "and", the original Hebrew text does have "and" as does the Septuagint ("kai" = and). What is interesting is that even Young comments on the fact that the Hebrew text has this "and" explaining that this and is "more than a mere continuation of the discourse; it serves rather to set forth the more detailed preparation of the servant for his public ministry." That is a fascinating comment by Young because he does see the present verse (Isa 49:3) as connected to the previous passages. What is fascinating about this is Young has this comment on Isaiah 49:1-2 "He who speaks with such compelling authority is the Messiah!" And yet here in Isaiah 49:3 he seems to disregard his previous comment in the immediate context which he interprets as clearly references to the Messiah, not Israel and not the Church! And keeping in mind that context is always "king" in interpretation, My Servant Israel is clearly in the context of Isaiah 49:1-2. Can you see the point? If one holds to allowing the context to guide the interpretation, it would be absurd to switch from Messiah in verses 1-2 and interpret My Servant Israel in verse 3 as the Church. It simply does not make good sense. The highly regarded Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament interprets My Servant Israel as the Messiah, not the nation and not the Chruch Isa 49:3 describes, without any figure, what Jehovah has made Him. He has said to Him (cf., Ps 2:7b): "Thou art my servant; thou art Israel, in whom (in quo, as in Isaiah 44:23) I glorify myself."...The Servant himself is called Israel. We call to mind here the expression in Mt 16:18, "Thou art Peter;" and the use of the name "Israel," as the individuation of a generic name, reminds us of the fact that the kings of a nation are sometimes called by the name of the nation itself (e.g., Asshur, Isaiah 10:5ff.). But Israel was from the very first the God-given name of an individual. Just as the name Israel was first of all given to a man, and then after that to a nation, so the name which sprang from a personal root has also a personal crown. The servant of Jehovah is Israel in person, inasmuch as the purpose of mercy, upon the basis of which and for the accomplishment of which Jehovah made Jacob the father of the twelve-tribed nation, is brought by him into full and final realization....In the present instance, where He is called distinctly "Israel," the fact is clearly expressed, that the Servant of Jehovah in these prophecies is regarded as the kernel of the kernel of Israel, as Israel's inmost centre, as Israel's highest head. He it is in Whom (i.e., on Whom and through Whom) Jehovah glorifies Himself, inasmuch as He carried out through Him the counsels of His love, which are the self-glorification of His holy love, its glory and its triumph. John Martin - Why is the Servant here called Israel? This cannot refer to the nation because the Servant is to draw that nation back to God. The Messiah is called Israel because He fulfills what Israel should have done. In His person and work He epitomizes the nation. (BKC) W A Criswell - It is clear that the Servant in this passage is Jesus of Nazareth, for He brings salvation to Israel as well as to the whole world. Hindson - Though He is called my servant, O Israel, it is clear that the national title is used as a designation for the Messiah who shall come forth from that nation. (King James Bible Commentary) Gilbrant comments "God names the Servant “Israel.” The Servant personifies ideal Israel, summing up in himself the servanthood that God intended for Israel. Thus He becomes God’s Israel, God’s Prince and Warrior, when natural Israel fails. God’s purpose in using Him is to bring glory to himself as He displays God’s divine splendor." (The Complete Biblical Library – Isaiah) NET Note - This verse identifies the servant as Israel. This seems to refer to the exiled nation (cf. Isa 41:8–9; 44:1–2, 21; 45:4; 48:20), but in Isa 49:5–6 this servant says he has been commissioned to reconcile Israel to God, so he must be distinct from the exiled nation. This servant is an ideal "Israel" who, like Moses of old, mediates a covenant for the nation (see Isa 49:8), leads them out of bondage (Isa 49:9a), and carries out God's original plan for Israel by positively impacting the pagan nations (Isa 49:6b). By living according to God's law, Israel was to be a model of God's standards of justice to the surrounding nations (Deut 4:6–8). The sinful nation failed, but the servant, the ideal "Israel," will succeed by establishing justice throughout the earth. Wiersbe - The Jewish nation was called to glorify God and be a light to the Gentiles, but they failed in their mission. This is why Messiah is called "Israel" in Isaiah 49:3: He did the work that Israel was supposed to do. Today, the Church is God's light in the dark world (Acts 13:46-49; Matt. 5:14-16), and like Israel, we seem to be failing in our mission to take the Good News to the ends of the earth. We cannot do the job very effectively when only five percent of the average local church budget is devoted to evangelism! (Be Comforted). Servant (05650)('ebed from 'abad = work in any sense) means a slave or bondservant. This noun is used of Messiah, Yahweh's Servant, four times in Isaiah 49 (Isa 49:3, 5, 6, 7). W E Vine adds that "Of prime significance is the use of My Servant for the Messiah in Isa 42:1-7; 49:1- 7; 50:4-10; 52:13-53:12. Israel was a blind and deaf servant (Isa. 42:18-22). So the Lord called My righteous Servant (Isa 53:11 = "My Servant will justify the many" cf Isa 42:6) The “servant” was not a free man. He was subject to the will and command of his master. But one might willingly and lovingly submit to his master (Ex 21:5), remaining in his service when he was not obliged to do so. Hence it is a very fitting description of the relationship of man to God." The Septuagint translates Servant ('ebed) with doulos which describes one who bound to another. Doulos conveys the idea of the slave's close, binding ties w/ his master, belonging to him, obligated (and desirous) to do his will, one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another, HIS WILL BEING ALTOGETHER CONSUMED IN THE WILL OF THE OTHER (Mt 8:9; 20:27; 24:45, 46). Jesus the Messiah was the ultimate Servant, the ultimate Doulos, declaring in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before He is to bear the sins of the world “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (Lk 22:42+). In Whom I will show My glory - Jesus is the "Israel" in Whom the Father would be glorified. The nation should have been and could have been, but she continually proved rebellious and unfaithful and failed to demonstrate to the pagan world a proper opinion of Yahweh! When the Servant accomplishes His mission of providing redemption of sinners who can now be reconciled back to the Father, the Father will be glorified and honored. This is repeatedly alluded to in the Gospel of John... “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”(John 12:28) Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. (Jn 13:31,32) Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. 3“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 “I (THE SERVANT) glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work (THE MISSION DESCRIBED IN ISAIAH 49) which You have given Me to do. 5 “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. (Jn 17:1-5) Isaiah 49:4 But I said, "I have toiled in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity; Yet surely the justice due to Me is with the LORD, And My reward with My God." I have toiled in vain - Isa 65:2 Eze 3:19 Mt 17:17 23:37 Joh 1:11 Ro 10:21 Ga 4:11 I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity - Lev 26:20 2Co 12:15 Yet surely the justice due to Me is with the LORD - Isa 53:10-12 Ps 22:22-31 Lu 24:26 Joh 17:4,5 2Co 2:15 Php 2:9,10 Heb 12:2 And My reward with My God Isa 40:10 Isa 62:11 NET Isaiah 49:4 But I thought, "I have worked in vain; I have expended my energy for absolutely nothing." But the LORD will vindicate me; my God will reward me. NLT Isaiah 49:4 I replied, "But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the LORD's hand; I will trust God for my reward." THE SERVANT'S FRUSTRATION But - Term of contrast. Note the strong contrast of previous verse where the Servant will show God's glory. Now He describes His feelings of futility. It is as if (at least initially) He is not able to bring glory to God. I said - The Servant (Messiah) is still speaking. Keil and Delitzsch note that in this verse "the speaker meets the words of divine calling and promise (Isa 49:3) with a complaint, which immediately silences itself, however (ED: AS SHOWN BY THE WORD "YET" WHICH MARKS A CHANGE OF DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE COMPLAINT)." J
Isaías 49
Wiersbe - As Jesus Christ ministered on earth, especially to His own people Israel, there were times when His work seemed in vain (Isa. 49:4). The religious leaders opposed Him, the disciples did not always understand Him, and those He helped did not always thank Him. He lived and labored by faith, and God gave Him success. (Be Comforted). THOUGHT - Perhaps this describes your ministry. You know you are in His will and yet you see no fruit. You have to remember that your Father is trustworthy and He will reward you in due time, if not this life, in the life to come. No work done for the Lord in His will and way will ever remain unrewarded! I have toiled in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity (Hebrew also means "breath, vapor") - NET translation says "I have expended my energy for absolutely nothing." During His earthly ministry the Messiah saw little return on the "investment" He mad into the people of first century Israel. We have alluded to this above quoting Jn 1:11+ where John states "He came to His own (ISRAEL = THE JEWS), and those who were His own did not receive Him." We get a glimpse of Messiah's frustration in Mt 17:17 when Jesus declared "You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you?” Oswalt comments "No Christian can read these words without relating them to the ministry of Jesus Christ. When He died, what had He accomplished? To all appearances, nothing. By every measure of the world, His life had been futile. Well could He cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46)." (NICOT-Isaiah) Vanity (01892)(hebel) means to vanity, emptiness, meaninglessness; idols. The first OT use refers to idols (Dt 32:21, cf 1 Ki 16:13, 26, Jer 8:19; Jeremiah 10:8, 15; Jer 14:22 Jer 51:18; Jonah 2:9; Ps 31:6), a fitting word picture for the worthlessness of idols! In Jer 2:5 Judah "walked after emptiness (hebel) and became empty" refers to Judah's pursuit of idols (cf similar use Jer 10:15, 2 Ki 17:15 "the followed vanity [hebel] and became vain [worthless]) Hebel refers to breath because of its transitory fleeting character, as in Job's figurative use "my days are but a breath." (Job 7:16, cf similar idea Ps 39:5, 6, 11; Ps 62:9; Ps 78:33 where hebel parallels behālâ from root bāhal "to hasten": Ps 94:11; Ps144:4) Hebel "generally appears in contexts where it is used as a simile emphasizing the transitory state of an object, never as descriptive of the biological function. A prime example would be "Humanity is like a breath (Ps. 144:4). Not only is breath ethereal and of short duration, but all things which breathe will die." (Gilbrant) Gilbrant notes that another sense is "the concept of "vanity" or "worthlessness" is a slight extension of the concept. Things which are transitory are not on a par with eternal concerns. Even things which are indeed desirable do not last, such as: wealth (if ill gotten, Job 27:12; Ps. 62:10; Prov. 21:6); physical beauty (Prov. 31:30); youth (Ecc. 11:10); trusting in human justice (Ecc. 10:11); and trusting in the notion of immediate divine retribution on earth (Ecc. 8:12f)." Vine's summary of hebel - First, the word represents human "breath" as a transitory thing: "I loathe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity [literally, but a breath] (Job 7:16). Second, hebel means something meaningless and purposeless: "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity" (Eccl. 1:2). Third, this word signifies an "idol," which is unsubstantial, worthless, and vain: "They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities …" (Dt. 32:21, the first occurrence). See SPIRIT usage notes. Warren Baker adds that hebel "refers to the vanity and ultimate emptiness and meaninglessness of all things in this life, whether they seem good or bad (Eccl. 1:2, 14; 2:11, 15, 3:19; 4:4, 7, 8; 5:7[6]; 6:2, 4, 9; 7:6, 15; 8:10; 9:9; 11:8). Combined with itself in the plural, it means absolute meaninglessness (Eccl. 1:2). Idols and the vain religious customs associated with them are all delusions (Jer. 10:3, 15). It denotes an empty, vain life (Eccl. 6:12). Used with the verb hāb̠al, it means to carry out vain talk or action or what is empty (Job 27:12). As an adverb, it means to talk in vain, emptily (Job 35:16). To walk after heb̠el means to go after or follow vanity (2 Ki. 17:15; Jer. 2:5). Anything obtained through evil is vain, such as wealth (Prov. 13:11)." (Complete Word Study Dictionary– Old Testament) Victor Hamilton on hebel in Ecclesiastes - the cluster of references found in Ecclesiastes (thirty-six). These may be grouped into several subdivisions. First are those passages in which the author states his inability to find fulfillment in work, both in his failure to be creative and in his lack of control over the privilege of free disposition of his possessions; this is "vanity": Eccl 2:11, 19, 21, 23; Eccl 4:4, 8; Eccl 6:2. Second are those verses in which the author struggles with the idea that the connection between sin and judgment, righteousness and final deliverance is not always direct or obvious. This is an anomaly about life and it is vanity": Eccl 2:15; Eccl 6:7-9; Eccl 8:10-14. The meaning of hebel here would be "senseless." Thirdly are those verses in which the author laments the shortness of life; this is vanity": Eccl. 3:19; Eccl 6:12; Eccl 11:8, 10. Life, in its quality, is "empty" or "vacuous" (and thus unsubstantial), and in its quantity is "transitory." (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament) Hebel - 62v - breath(5), delusion(2), emptily(1), emptiness(2), fleeting(2), fraud(1), futile(1), futility(13), idols(7), mere breath(2), nothing(1), useless(1), vain(3), vainly(1), vanity(19), vanity of vanities(3), vapor(1), worthless(2). Deut. 32:21; 1 Ki. 16:13; 1 Ki. 16:26; 2 Ki. 17:15; Job 7:16; Job 9:29; Job 21:34; Job 35:16; Ps. 31:6; Ps. 39:5; Ps. 39:6; Ps. 39:11; Ps. 62:9; Ps. 78:33; Ps. 94:11; Ps. 144:4; Prov. 13:11; Prov. 21:6; Prov. 31:30; Eccl. 1:2; Eccl. 1:14; Eccl. 2:1; Eccl. 2:11; Eccl. 2:15; Eccl. 2:17; Eccl. 2:19; Eccl. 2:21; Eccl. 2:23; Eccl. 2:26; Eccl. 3:19; Eccl. 4:4; Eccl. 4:7; Eccl. 4:8; Eccl. 4:16; Eccl. 5:7; Eccl. 5:10; Eccl. 6:2; Eccl. 6:4; Eccl. 6:9; Eccl. 6:11; Eccl. 6:12; Eccl. 7:6; Eccl. 7:15; Eccl. 8:10; Eccl. 8:14; Eccl. 9:9; Eccl. 11:8; Eccl. 11:10; Eccl. 12:8; Isa. 30:7; Isa. 49:4; Isa. 57:13; Jer. 2:5; Jer. 8:19; Jer. 10:3; Jer. 10:8; Jer. 10:15; Jer. 14:22; Jer. 16:19; Jer. 51:18; Lam. 4:17; Jon. 2:8 THE SERVANT'S CONFIDENCE Yet surely - Term of contrast. This marks an "about face" from the previous comment by the Servant regarding the vanity of His efforts, to His trust in Jehovah and His ability to bring about the Mission for which He was sent. And so the Servant is confident in His reward once the Mission is accomplished. Oswalt explains this next contrasting statement noting that "here is where the Servant’s certainty of calling and identity came into play. If it was true that the Servant would enter into the experience of humanity to the fullest extent, it was also true that he knew who he was and whose he was, and that he trusted God. This certainty is introduced by an even stronger particle of contrast than the opening disjunctive waw, But. That is the particle ʾākēn, Nevertheless, or “but surely.” Too often we miss the two-sidedness of what is being said here. On the one hand, we think that to admit feelings of futility is not to trust God. On the other hand, we often believe that if we really trusted God, we would never have feelings of futility. The Servant shows us that neither reality is incompatible with the other. Trust has ultimately to do with the final outcome, and of this the Servant is fully confident. It is God, the God who called him, equipped him, and is using him, who will make the final adjudication (mišpāṭ, justice) concerning the Servant’s work." (NICOT-Isaiah) The justice due to Me is with the LORD, and My reward with My God." - NLT paraphrases it "Yet I leave it all in the LORD's hand; I will trust God for my reward." Yet marks a change in tone of the statement. The former somewhat despondent declaration now shifts to a declaration of confidence that God is with Him and will vindicate Him and reward Him. Note the assurance He expresses -- MY reward with MY God. "God, not the world, not even the Servant, will make the final decision concerning the worth of that work....God is his judge, no other." (Oswalt) Keil and Delitzsch - In the midst of his activity no fruit was to be seen, and the thought came upon him, that it was a failure; but this disturbance of his rejoicing in his calling was soon quieted in the confident assurance that his mishpât (JUSTICE) (i.e., his good right in opposition to all contradiction and resistance) and his "work" (i.e., the result and fruit of the work, which is apparently in vain) are with Jehovah, and laid up with Him until the time when He will vindicate His servant's right, and crown his labor with success. The writer of Hebrews alludes to My reward with My God which He received at the end of His race... fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2+) Ortlund - Jesus saw the joy set before Him, He clung to it by faith, and that faith preserved Him in His arduous mission. (Preaching the Word - Isaiah) Isaiah 49:5 And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, And My God is My strength), formed: Isa 49:1 To bring Jacob back to Him - Isa 56:8 Mt 15:24 Ac 10:36 Ro 15:8 So that Israel might be gathered to Him - Mt 21:37-41 23:37 Lu 19:42 1Th 2:15,16 For I am honored in the sight of the LORD - Ps 110:1-3 Mt 3:17 11:27 17:5 28:18 John 3:35 John 5:20-27 Eph 1:20-22 1Pe 3:22 NET Isaiah 49:5 So now the LORD says, the one who formed me from birth to be his servant– he did this to restore Jacob to himself, so that Israel might be gathered to him; and I will be honored in the LORD's sight, for my God is my source of strength– (Isa 49:5 NET) THE SERVANT'S MISSION: ISRAEL RE-GATHERED And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant - This is still the Messiah speaking. In Isa 49:1+ He says He was called but here He says He was formed from the womb (JESUS' INCARNATION). The Servant (Messiah) acknowledges His mission which existed even from the womb, first to Israel and then to the world in Isaiah 49:6. To bring Jacob back to Him so that Israel might be gathered to Him - Jesus was sent by God to earth as Israel's long expected Messiah, and yet for the most part (except for a small believing remnant), the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah for they were looking for a conquering king, not a Suffering Servant (they "inverted" His two comings - because He was the Suffering Servant, He will return as the Conquering King of kings! The Cross before the Crown). John summarizes Jacob's response to the Messiah... He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:11-13+, cf Acts 13:46+) Israel should never think that God has forgotten His covenant people, an idea expressed in Isa 40:27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God”? This mission of the Messiah to the nation of Israel to bring them back to God is seen in both testaments... Isaiah 56:8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares, “Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered.” Matthew 15:24 But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Romans 15:8-9 For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision (JACOB = ISRAEL = THE JEWS) on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, “THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME.” Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law (JACOB - ISRAEL - THE JEWS), that we might receive the adoption as sons. Messiah's mission was clearly not completed at His first coming but will be fully accomplished at His Second Coming as described by Paul and Zechariah... (Zech 12:10-11+) I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. “In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. (Zech 13:1+) “In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity. (Ro 11:25-29+) For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery–so that you will not be wise in your own estimation–that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER (MESSIAH) WILL COME FROM ZION (HIS SECOND COMING), HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB (JACOB = ISRAEL = THE JEWS).” 27 “THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” 28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For I am honored in the sight of the LORD - Exactly why the Servant states He is honored in this context is somewhat difficult to discern. The NET note suggests that "one might interpret it as indicating purpose, 'and so I might be honored.'" Honored (glorified) (03513)(kabad) is a verb which means to weigh heavily, to be heavy, then to be honored or receive honor. As a result of the fact that the Servant (Messiah) will accomplish His mission of bring Israel back to God, He will be honored in the sight of Jehovah. As we see later (Isa 49:7), He will be despised and abhorred by Israel, the very ones His mission is to bring back to God! The Septuagint translates honored with doxazo which means to influence one’s opinion about another so as to enhance the latter’s reputation. Doxazo most often speaks of glorifying God, the Father or the Son. Certainly when Messiah completes His mission at the end of this age, at His Second Coming, when He returns as Israel's Deliverer (Ro 11:26-27+), He will be honored as in Revelation... And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. (Rev 5:9+) saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might (ishcus - same word ischus used for Lxx of Strength below) and honor and glory and blessing.” (Rev 5:12+) And My God is My strength - The Servant's strength to accomplish His Mission is from God. During His earthly ministry the Son emptied Himself of His divine prerogatives and submitted to the Spirit of God as His Source of strength as Peter described in Acts 10:38+ declaring "“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." Play Robin Mark's worshipful song Highly Exalted You were despised You were rejected Lord Those who passed by Even averted their gaze from Your sight Such was the suffering You bore for us Led like a lamb, lamb to the slaughter You spoke not a word Chose to be silent Lord You did no wrong Nor was deceitfulness found in You Yet by Your wounds our salvation has come Yet by Your suffering our freedom is won Chorus For God has highly exalted Your name He has enthroned You on high Jesus, the name above all names – 2times Led like a lamb, lamb to the slaughter You spoke not a word Chose to be silent, Lord You did no wrong Nor was deceitfulness found in You Yet by Your wounds our salvation has come Yet by Your suffering our freedom is won Isaiah 49:6 He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth." It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant 2Ki 3:18 20:10 I will also make You a light of the nations - Isa 42:6 60:3 Lu 2:32 Joh 1:4-9 Ac 13:47 26:18 So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth - Isa 11:10 24:14-16 46:13 52:10 Ps 98:2,3 Lu 24:46,47 NET Isaiah 49:6 he says, "Is it too insignificant a task for you to be my servant, to reestablish the tribes of Jacob, and restore the remnant of Israel? I will make you a light to the nations, so you can bring my deliverance to the remote regions of the earth." (Isa 49:6 NET) THE SERVANT'S MISSION: SALVATION TO THE GENTILES He says - Now God the Father is speaking to His Servant, the Messiah. It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant - NET = "Is it too insignificant a task for you to be my servant." "The question is purely rhetorical; it does not imply that the servant was dissatisfied with his commission or that he minimized the restoration of Israel." (NET Note) The NLT is a good paraphrase for it shows the Servant's role not just to the nation of Israel but to the Gentile world... He says, "You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." (Isa 49:6NLT) To raise up the tribes of Jacob - NET = "to reestablish the tribes of Jacob" This is a picture of the Servant bringing about salvation of the tribes of Jacob ( See Scriptures above). Wiersbe - Our Lord could not minister to the Gentiles until first He ministered to the Jews (vv. 5-6). Read carefully Matthew 10:5-6; 15:24; Luke 24:44-49; Acts 3:25-26; 13:46-47; and Romans 1:16. When our Lord returned to heaven, He left behind a believing remnant of Jews that carried on His work. We must never forget that "salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). The Bible is a Jewish book, the first believers and missionaries were Jews, and the Gentiles would not have heard the Gospel had it not been brought to them by Jews. (Be Comforted). And to restore the preserved ones of Israel - NET = "restore the remnant of Israel" Restore is shub/sub and translated in Greek with epistrepho. The restoration involves conversion and salvation (How? See Scriptures above). The Septuagint has "to turn (a return to God) the dispersed of Israel." Oswalt astutely observes that "Here the Lord makes the astounding statement that the task of restoring Israel to himself is not a large enough task for the Servant. He is of such a nature, calling, and preparation that he should be given a larger task: saving the world!" (NICOT-Isaiah) I will also make You a light of the nations (Gentiles) - According to tradition, Light was one of the names of the Messiah. [Isa 9:1-2; Isa 49:6; Isa 60:1-3; Mal 4:2; Lu 2:32]. Earlier Isaiah records Jehovah's similar declaration... “I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations (Isa 42:6) Paul quoted this verse in Acts 13:47+ “For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’” Toussaint writes that "This Old Testament passage (Isaiah 49:6) has at least three applications—to Israel (Isa. 49:3), to Christ (Luke 2:29-32), and to Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles." (Bible Knowledge Commentary) Paul's quote shows that he clearly understood God's intention for the Jewish nation to be a light to the Gentiles, which was ultimately fulfilled by THE MESSIAH, the Light of the world (Jn 1:9, Jn 8:12) Instead of quoting his own commission to the Gentiles given to him on the road to Damascus, he chose to quote God's commission of all Jews as found in the Old Testament. In rejecting that commission, the Jewish leaders who listened to Paul not only rejected the Gentiles and Paul, but they rejected God Himself. As a result, Paul turned to the Gentiles, who immediately "began rejoicing and glorifying the work of the Lord." (Acts 13:48) The result? "The Word of the Lord spread through the whole region." Yes, the nations are responsive to the Gospel, if we will only bring it to them! Below is a thought of how you can be a co-laborer with Paul and all the missionaries of all the ages in bringing God's Gospel of salvation to the lost souls, especially in the spiritually dark 10-40 window. Give it some thought, and in eternity future, I can guarantee you will not regret it! THOUGHT - YOUR PRAYERS ARE SAFELY STORED IN A BOWL - Revelation 5:8+ which describes "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." Now observe carefully that the next verse (Rev 5:9+) describes "men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation." Can you not see the relationship between supplications in verse 8 and saved souls in verse 9? Clearly and mysteriously, our prayers for hidden people groups (see Ralph Winter in 1980 when there were 16000 hidden people groups) today will be effective in bringing souls to eternal salvation. Would you not consider storing up for yourself treasure in heaven daily for the rest of your life (Mt 6:20+)? Can I encourage you to take a step of faith and believe that God will hear your prayers for hidden people groups and that one day in eternity you will meet those for whom you have been praying day after day, year after year? And here is an easy way to pray for the hidden people groups daily - bookmark Joshua Project or download the APP from Joshua Project and select daily notifications and you will receive a daily text reminder with the name of the hidden people group for that day. (see also Global Prayer Digest) Now even if I forget to read the full entry for the people group of the day, the APP allows me to never miss a day praying for lost souls who have never heard the Name of Jesus (Acts 4:12+) and His saving Gospel (Ro 1:16+). This is your "once in a lifetime opportunity!" Praying for souls is something we can only do now on earth and is an exciting, rewarding way to redeem the time on earth for heaven! Indeed, if you (energized by the Spirit) pray now, your time in time eternal will be marvelously impacted by the presence of those you took time to pray for in time temporal! Don't procrastinate! Don't delay! Bookmark the siteand/or download the Joshua Project APP today. If Paul were speaking to us today he might say something like this "So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith." (Gal 6:10+) Today is your "opportunity of a lifetime!" May our Father in Heaven grant you amazing grace by His Spirit to be energized and motivated to intercede for peoples you have never seen but will one day see in the presence of the Lamb Who Alone is Worthy (1 Th 2:19-20+). Amen. Faith asks no signal from the skies, To show that prayers accepted rise, Our Priest is in his holy place, And answers from the throne of grace. “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:3+) Henry
Isaías 49
Wiersbe adds that Isaiah 49:10-12 " look beyond the deliverance from Babylon in 536 B.C. toward the future glorious kingdom. The Lord will call the Jewish people from the ends of the earth and gather them again in their land (Isa. 14:1–3; 35:6; 40:11; 43:19)." (Be Comforted) They will not hunger or thirst - God provides for all their needs. Is this not what our God does for all of us today in Christ? As Paul discovered after experiencing times of plenty and times of hunger, God's provision was sufficient Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him Who (CONTINUALLY) strengthens me.(Php 4:11-13+)
Isaías 49
Wiersbe writes "So sing the people of God as they contemplate their future deliverance (Isa 49:13), but the people of the Captivity and those left in “the desolate inheritances” are not so happy. Instead of singing, they are complaining. The Lord assures them of His love by comparing Himself to a compassionate mother (Isa 49:14–23), a courageous warrior (Isa 49:24–26), and a constant lover (Isa 50:1–3)." (Be Comforted)
Isaías 49
Wiersbe - The Bible emphasizes the fatherhood of God, but there is also a “motherhood” side to God’s nature that we must not forget. God is compassionate and comforts us as a mother comforts her children (66:13). Isaiah pictures Israel as a nursing child, totally dependent on the Lord who will never forget them or forsake them. Even these may forget, but I will not forget you - Now he proposes a very unlikely possibility, that a mother might forget her offspring. But such an event is very unlikely. Even more unlikely is that God would ever forget Israel. In fact God flatly states that it will not happen. NET Note -The argument of v. 15 seems to develop as follows: The Lord has an innate attachment to Zion, just like a mother does for her infant child. But even if mothers were to suddenly abandon their children, the Lord would never forsake Zion. In other words, the Lord's attachment to Zion is like a mother's attachment to her infant child, but even stronger. Moody Bible Commentary - even these may forget, for the love of a woman for her child is not as sure or consistent as the love that the Lord exhibits toward His people. God will never forget Zion. Other Scriptures repeatedly affirm God's faithfulness to not forget or reject His people Israel... Isaiah 44:21-22 “Remember these things, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant, O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me. “I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” Moody Bible Commentary - The call to remembrance is reinforced by God’s assurance that He will not forget His special servant, His chosen nation. The Lord summons Israel to return.
Isaías 49
Wiersbe - God formed Israel (Isa. 44:21, 24), forgave His people their sins (Isa 49:22; see Isa 43:25), and is glorified in them (Isa 44:23). He speaks to His people and is faithful to keep His Word (Isa 49:26). Jeremiah 31:20+ “Is Ephraim (USED HERE FOR ISRAEL) My dear son? Is he a delightful child? Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him, I certainly still remember him; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him,” declares the LORD. NET Note comment - "Is Ephraim a dear son to me or a child of delight?" For the substitution of Israel for Ephraim and the plural pronouns for the singular see the note on v. 18. According to BDB 210 s.v. h] 1.c the question is rhetorical having the force of an impassioned affirmation. See 1 Sam 2:27; Job 41:9 (41:1 HT) for parallel usage. Moody Bible Comment on Jeremiah 31:18-20 - Jeremiah ended this section by recording the grief, shame, and contrition Ephraim (Israel) will express when she is restored to the Lord. Though she had behaved like an untrained calf she will return to the Lord, repent, and be instructed. God in turn will remember Israel, because the Lord’s heart yearns for His people (has great compassion) and will have mercy on them when Israel returns to their Father (cf. Jer 31:9; Hos 2:16–23; Ro 11:28–29). Romans 11:28; 29+ From the standpoint of the gospel they (ISRAEL) are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they (ISRAEL) are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (ametameletos). Comment - In English irrevocable means incapable of being retracted or revoked. Laying aside all you have been previously taught, consider this question this passage inspires - Is God finished with His Chosen People Israel as is being taught more and more even in evangelical circles? What does God's Holy Word say? Oswalt - One might assume, then, that the next point would be to say that God is like those mothers. In fact, that is not the case. The truth is that while most mothers cannot forget the children of their wombs and breasts, some do. We have only to think of the recurring stories of mothers standing passively by while their boyfriends abuse the mothers’ children. But whatever the failures of mothers, God does not forget! God’s attachment is more than a mother’s. The prophet asks us to think of a mother’s attachment and then go one step farther. That is what God’s attachment to us is. Much the same point is made in Ps. 27:10: “If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up.” We must never allow our sense of God’s offended justice to obscure the truth from our eyes that he is love. Earthly love, as wonderful as it is, may cease, but his love has no limits whatsoever. (NICOT-Isaiah) Spurgeon on maternal love - "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will not I forget thee." The affection of a right-minded mother for her tender and helpless offspring is one of the strongest that is experienced by human beings. But, though strong, very strong, it may, alas! give way. It is, at best, only a creature's love, and therefore changeable; while that love which is exercised by God towards His believing children is, like Himself, unchangeable. These words prove, and were designed to prove, most conclusively, that the love of the Divine Father towards His adopted sons and daughters is not a fluctuating or changing thing. What other, or what lower interpretation can we put upon the words, "YET WILL NOT I FORGET THEE?" Comment - Normally in ancient times a slave would bear the brand mark of the master, but here we see an act of ineffable divine condescension in which the Master inscribes the servant's name on His palm. Charles
Isaías 49
Wiersbe - They will be like beautiful bridal ornaments, not decrepit refugees from Captivity. Sadly commentators like Young, whose work is usually considered a classic, continue to veer away from the literal interpretation of the text. And so Young writes (and quotes Calvin) - "The true beauty of the Church is found in the work of grace in the hearts of believers. “But the true dignity of the Church is internal, so far as it consists of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and of progressive faith and piety” (Calvin)." THOUGHT Let us repeat it until it is ringing loudly and clearly in our ears! Isaiah 49 is NOT speaking of the Church People but of the Chosen People, those Jews who are true Jews, not just circumcised in flesh but in heart (Ro 2:28-29+), those who have had the eyes of their hearts opened and the veil removed that had caused their spiritual blindness, so that they might recognize Yeshuah as their Messiah, Savior, Redeemer and Lord, and repent and return and receive Him by grace through faith (cf Zech 12:10-14+, Zech 13:1+). Jehovah HAS NOT FORGOTTEN THEM NOR REJECTED THEM! Keil and Delitzsch - "Jehovah pledges His life (chai ʾănī, Lxx - zoe ego) that a time of glory is coming for Zion and her children....The population which Zion recovers once more, will be to her like the ornaments which a woman puts on, like the ornamental girdle (Isaiah 3:20) which a bride fastens round her wedding dress." Isaiah 49:19 "For your waste and desolate places and your destroyed land-- Surely now you will be too cramped for the inhabitants, And those who swallowed you will be far away. For your waste and desolate places - Isa 49:8 51:3 54:1,2 Jer 30:18,19 33:10,11 Eze 36:9-15 Ho 1:10,11 Zec 2:4,11 10:10 And those who swallowed you will be far away - Isa 49:17,25,26 Ps 56:1,2 124:3 Pr 1:12 Jer 30:16 Jer 51:33,44 Eze 36:3 NET Isaiah 49:19 Yes, your land lies in ruins; it is desolate and devastated. But now you will be too small to hold your residents, and those who devoured you will be far away. ESV Isaiah 49:19 "Surely your waste and your desolate places and your devastated land-- surely now you will be too narrow for your inhabitants, and those who swallowed you up will be far away. NUMBER OF RETURNING JEWS WILL CROWD THE LAND For - Probably this opening "ki" is best not seen as causal, but as marking a continuation of Jehovah's oath in the previous verse. Oswalt proposes "It is as though he says, “Think of those vast, empty wastelands, peopled by nothing except thorns and briers—now there will not be room enough for everybody.” (Ibid) Your waste and desolate places and your destroyed land - THIS IS THE BAD NEWS! This describes Israel's appearance as a result of her enemies trampling over her for centuries. Young - The desolation now present will pass, and the time will come when Zion will be too narrow to contain all her inhabitants. Surely now you will be too cramped for the inhabitants - THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS! NET - "But now you will be too small to hold your residents." The city and the nation will be crowded in this glorious future day. This reminds me of how God does things when He does them as expressed by Paul in Eph 3:20+ "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us." He is the same in our lives as NT believers as He will be to Israel when He restores her "far more abundantly" then they could ask or think! Moody Bible Commentary - The city that was once abandoned will now be bursting at the seams to the point that Zion will be confused about where all the people have come from (Isa 49:19–21). This is referring to the restoration of Zion in the millennial kingdom, not to the return from Babylon.
Isaías 49
Wiersbe - There are times when you wonder if God really cares about you, but He assures you that you are not forgotten. You are His beloved child (v. 15; Ps. 27:10), and He will never forget your name (v. 16). ----------------------- E Stanely Jones - Isaiah 49:16 says: "Behold, I have graven you on the palms of my hands." We are not chalked on God's hands, nor painted on; we are graven. If we were chalked or painted on His hands, He could wash His hands of us. If we are graven on His hands, however, as a sculptor engraves a name in granite, then we are literally on His hands forever. ----------------------- Wiersbe - God is compassionate and comforts us as a mother comforts her children (66:13). Isaiah pictures Israel as a nursing child, totally dependent on the Lord who will never forget them or forsake them. The high priest bore the names of the tribes of Israel on his shoulders and over his heart (Ex. 28:6–9), engraved on jewels; but God has engraved His children’s names on His hands. The word “engraved” means “to cut into,” signifying its permanence. God can never forget Zion or Zion’s children. Zion seems like a forsaken and barren mother, but she will be so blessed of God that there will be no room for her children! They will be like beautiful bridal ornaments, not decrepit refugees from Captivity. Once again, the prophet looked ahead to the end of the age when the Gentiles will honor Jehovah and Israel, and kings and queens will be baby-sitters for Israel’s children! ----------------------- Kimberly L. Clayton- We are not forgotten. We are inscribed on the palms of God's hands. Every day in Washington, D.C., people visit the Vietnam Memorial, searching for a name etched into the wall bearing so many names. They trace their fingers over the letters, touching something deeper than name alone. Not forgotten. Remembered. Inscribed. Still, not all names are there, for even our best memorials are limited. Not so the palms of God: every name is written, everyone is included. What joy to find your own name and names of those you love on God's outstretched palm! Might tattoos be an apt metaphor for God's inscribed hands? Indeed, people who get tattoos often want to indicate membership in a group, a way of life; or to make permanent note of an event or a person. However, an ink is being developed today that makes tattoo removal easier and less painful. Our loyalties, our loves change. Not so with God. The covenant holds. We are inscribed on the palms of God's outstretched hands, hands that guide us toward freedom and welcome us home. Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Feasting on the Word – Year A, Volume 1: Advent through Transfiguration. -----------------------