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 This is what the Lord says:

“In the time of my favour I will answer you,
    and in the day of salvation I will help you;
I will keep you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people,
to restore the land
    and to reassign its desolate inheritances,
⁹ to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’
    and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’

“They will feed beside the roads
    and find pasture on every barren hill.
¹⁰ They will neither hunger nor thirst,
    nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them.
He who has compassion on them will guide them
    and lead them beside springs of water.
¹¹ I will turn all my mountains into roads,
    and my highways will be raised up.
¹² See, they will come from afar—
    some from the north, some from the west,
    some from the region of Aswan.”

¹³ Shout for joy, you heavens;
    rejoice, you earth;
    burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
    and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

We have seen that, in this passage, God is still speaking to His ”servant” (who we know to be Jesus), promising to strengthen Him for the work of Redemption, the establishing of the New Covenant.

As the passage flows joyfully on, the words have a familiar feel. They are reminiscent of other texts in Isaiah where a ‘second exodus’ is envisaged, with God delivering the captives from Babylon, and providing for them and guiding them on their journey home.

But the context demands that it is much more than this. It must refer to the Messiah’s greatest work of liberation: the freeing of spiritual prisoners through His death on the Cross, and the great ingathering to His Kingdom. Note the allusion to verse 10 in Rev.7:17, showing the relevance to Gentiles also. This is a reason for worldwide and universal joy (13).

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves… Col.1:13.

 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9.

Paul was sent, by Jesus, to the Gentiles: …to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Acts 26:18.

Thank God, this process of releasing darkness-bound prisoners continues, and the Kingdom of Christ grows apace.

 This is what the Lord says:

“At just the right time, I will respond to you.
    On the day of salvation I will help you.
I will protect you and give you to the people
    as my covenant with them.
Through you I will re-establish the land of Israel
    and assign it to its own people again.
⁹ I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’
    and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’ (New Living Translation).’

As we saw yesterday, God is speaking to His Servant, the Messiah, promising to help Him on that day when He establishes the New Covenant through His own blood. How could Jesus go through all the sufferings He had to endure on the Cross – both physically and spiritually? The Book of Hebrews tells us that:

…by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. Hebrews 9:14.

Jesus had God’s ”help”, just as He had promised centuries earlier.

We need to take today’s passage in conjunction with Isaiah 42:5-7. Tom Hale’s comments on that passage should be born in mind as we read this one:

‘In these verses, God addresses His servant directly. He says: ”I will…make you to be a covenant for the people (all people) and a light for the Gentiles (verse 6). Only Jesus could ”be a covenant” uniting God and mankind (1 Timothy 2:5); His own blood sealed that covenant (Mark 14:23-24). Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s covenant with David (see 2 Samuel 7:12-17…); He was also, by His death, the maker of a new covenant, which superseded the old (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:20; Hebrews 8:8-13). Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.1041.

 This is what the Lord says:

‘In the time of my favour I will answer you,
    and in the day of salvation I will help you;

In verses 8-13 God continues to speak to His servant, the Messiah, promising to help Him at the time He offers up His life for the ”salvation” of the world. But what I note in particular at the beginning of this next section is a reference to Jesus’ prayer life. His ‘religious life’ is a great example to us, not to mention an encouragement and inspiration also. If Jesus was answered in God’s time, we can’t expect that it will be any different for us.

Billy Graham said, “Never forget that God isn’t bound by time the way we are.”

“Many times I have been driven to prayer. When I was in Bible school I didn’t know what to do with my life. I used to walk the streets…and pray, sometimes for hours at a time. In His timing, God answered those prayers, and since then prayer has been an essential part of my life.”

 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7.

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ ⁴¹ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. Luke 22:39-22

This is what the Lord says—
    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 stand up,
    princes will see and bow down,
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
    the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

As we have previously noted the universe standing up in God’s presence, so we now see ”Kings” standing in the presence of Christ.

To my mind, this passage is resonant with the introduction to the fourth and final ‘Servant Song (52:12-15), with its message of a great reversal for the rejected (crucified) suffering Servant:

See, my servant will act wisely;
    he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
¹⁴ Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
    his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
    and his form marred beyond human likeness—
¹⁵ so he will sprinkle many nations,
    and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
    and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Isaiah 49:7 reads like this in ‘The Message’:

God, Redeemer of Israel, The Holy of Israel,
    says to the despised one, kicked around by the nations,
    slave labor to the ruling class:
“Kings will see, get to their feet—the princes, too—
    and then fall on their faces in homage
Because of God, who has faithfully kept his word,
    The Holy of Israel, who has chosen you.”

I have regularly recommended Tom Hale’s excellent Old and New Testament commentaries. I’m quoting him again today because I think this is excellent:

‘Here the Lord addresses His servant, the Messiah, one who was despised and abhorred by the nation (Israel). Here we get our first suggestion that the Messiah would be rejected by His own people – which, of course, turned out to be true. He is called the servant of rulers; Jesus was subject to earthly rulers, such as Herod and the Roman emperor. But in the end, the rulers of the world will rise up in respect and bow down in submission before God’s servant, the King of kings and Lord of lords. This has yet to come true but one day it surely will, because God has chosen His servant and God is faithful to His word (see Philippians 2:9-11).’ Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.1050.

And now the Lord says—
    he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
    and gather Israel to himself,
for I am honoured in the eyes of the Lord
    and my God has been my strength—
⁶ he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
    to restore the tribes of Jacob
    and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
    that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

God is going to use Jesus, not only to bring the Jews back to Himself – great as that is – but to bring in the Gentiles also.

God may have greater things in store for each one of us than we can ask or envisage. Perhaps we have too ”small” a vision of what He could do through us? I think of a book title from some years past: ‘Give up your small ambitions.’

‘Verse 6 has been called the Old Testament version of Christ’s ”Great Commission” (Matthew 28:19-20). This mission of the servant involves not only Christ but His followers as well. Paul quoted verse 6 and applied it to himself and Barnabas – and, by extension, to all believers (see Acts 13:46-47). The commission Jesus received from the Father has been given to us also (John 20:21). We too are to be lights in the world (Matthew 5:14-16), witnesses to the ends of the earth (see Acts 1:8). Tom Hale: Applied Old Testament Commentary, pp.1049,1050.

And now the Lord says—
    he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
    and gather Israel to himself,
for I am honoured in the eyes of the Lord
    and my God has been my strength—
⁶ he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
    to restore the tribes of Jacob
    and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
    that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth

How could Jesus go through all He did, in order to fulfil prophecy and be the Jewish Messiah, and Saviour of the world? How could He face the rejection, the scorn, the mockery, the discouragement, and ultimately the suffering of the Cross? The answer is that He became so human that He needed the power of the Holy Spirit for every aspect of His life and ministry. So, of course, do we. We can take great encouragement from reading the book of ‘Acts’ and seeing how the church did the same things in the world that Jesus did, when that church received power from on high (Acts 1:8); when they were anointed by the same Spirit who came upon Jesus.

 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10).

Here is the key to keeping going when the wind beats mercilessly against you. If God is your strength you need never lose heart.

He said to me, “You are my servant,
    Israel, in whom I will display my splendour.”
⁴ But I said, “I have laboured in vain;
    I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,
    and my reward is with my God.”

There is encouragement here for every church leader (‘servant’) who has thought: ‘What am I doing? What’s it all for? Will there be anything lasting to show for all my efforts?’ Jesus – the ‘Servant of the LORD’ – can identify with such emotions. However, He also points the way to transcend the downward drag of our negative feelings. Look at the final two lines of verse 4. We need to commit our way and our work to God, knowing that lasting fruitfulness comes from Him alone.

In ‘the Message’ we read:

But I said, “I’ve worked for nothing.
    I’ve nothing to show for a life of hard work.
Nevertheless, I’ll let God have the last word.
    I’ll let him pronounce his verdict.”

 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58: emphasis mine).

I also noticed in today’s text the juxtaposition of the words:

He said…But I said…

The challenge is to believe what God says about us and our ministries, and not what we say or think or feel. We regularly give credence to lying emotions.

PRAYER: Lord, please help us to always speak in line with the truth of your Word.

He said to me, “You are my servant,
    Israel, in whom I will display my splendour.”
⁴ But I said, “I have laboured in vain;
    I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,
    and my reward is with my God.”

In the early part of chapter 49 we can maybe see some parallels with Jeremiah (or with his experience) But I have found Barry Webb’s comments on this passage very helpful. Here they are:

‘Like Jeremiah…he meets with opposition which brings him close to despair – but carries on anyway, trusting God to reward him (4). But just as we are beginning to think he must be Jeremiah or some other known prophet, he is referred to in a way which explodes all our categories and puts him in a class of his own:

You are my servant,
    Israel, in whom I will display my splendour. (3).

His name is Israel! But how can this be, since, as we have already seen, a key aspect of his mission is to restore Israel to a proper relationship with God (5)? We are forced to look back to the tentative conclusion we reached in chapter 42, that he is a figure who embodies all that the nation of Israel was called to be, and therefore one who is truly worthy of the name – God’s perfect Servant. As such he is far greater than Jeremiah, or any other Old Testament prophet for that matter. He is the prophet par excellence.‘ (‘Isaiah’, pp.193/4).

   …in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow
    and concealed me in his quiver.

Following his birth, and dedication in the temple, Jesus lived a fairly anonymous life until He was thirty years old. That is apart from one appearance in the temple when He was 12. He pretty much had thirty hidden years, followed by three years of intensely powerful public ministry.

It sems to me, and I understand it, that many leaders in the church secretly (or not so secretly!) covet a high profile. But how many want the (potentially) years of hiddenness it may take to prepare for such a role? As I read the Bible, it strikes me that God has done some of His most strategic work in people, at His ‘university of the desert.’ To have ‘private education’/’personal tuition’ provided by the Lord Himself is a precious gift. But it has to be said that it takes patience to endure the hidden years in the wilderness.

It should also be noted that not all obscurity is preparation for prominence. Many people will be called to serve in ‘hidden valleys’ all their lives, and if it is God’s call, it is something to be embraced, not resisted.

‘To pursue obscurity is simply to resist the magnetic pull of self-promotion and platform building and ”influence” that plagues so much of the contemporary culture, including the contemporary Christian culture…the better part of righteousness lies, as our Lord reminded us, precisely in its hiddenness and secrecy before our heavenly Father…’ R. Lucas Stamps.