Untitled Sermon

The Task of the Servant

v.1 Listen, hear this: There is a life in the Spirit before birth, where the Lord called me. Even before I was born, I had a special identity in the Lord.

The language is similar to that of the calling of the prophet Jeremiah (), and of the Apostle Paul ().

and note.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Note: God’s creative act (see ; ) is the basis of his sovereign right (see ; ) to call Jeremiah into his service. “I knew you” God is saying, I chose you. The Hebrew verb is “chosen” as in ; . “…I set you apart,…” I consecrated you (see also ; ; ; and note). I appointed you. The Hebrew for this verb is not the same as that in verse 10, but both refer to the commissioning of the prophet. A “prophet” literally, is “one who has been called” to be God’s spokesman (See ; and notes). “Nations” Although Judah’s neighbors are probably the primary focus, Judah herself is not excluded. (See , and chapters 46-51.

9 I took you from the ends of the earth,

from its farthest corners I called you.

I said, ‘You are my servant’;

I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

10 So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

and note.

43:1 But now, this is what the Lord says—

he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

Note: God made the nation Israel as surely as he made the first man and woman (See and note.).

15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased

16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man,

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

The Task of the Servant

"He made my mouth like a sharpened sword"

See

16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,

with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;

with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

Isaiah 49:2b

...in the shadow of his hand he hid me;

"in the shadow" means protection.

In the Lord's protected hiding place, I hid.

51:16

16 I have put my words in your mouth

and covered you with the shadow of my hand—

I who set the heavens in place,

who laid the foundations of the earth,

and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’ ”

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

"...he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver."

An arrow is an offensive weapon. Look at . We must take up the shield of faith, with which we can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. As His servant, I am a polished arrow, used to bring truth and light into falsehood and darkness. I will serve as a light in the darkness.

As a polished arrow, I will either remain concealed in his quiver, as in peace time, or I will take a stand for the Lord in dark places. I will deliver his message of Jesus Christ, given as the Savior of the World.

As a polished arrow, I will go where the Lord sends me. I am his to use as he sees fit.

I may be an arrow of judgment: -14 "I will bend Judah as I bend my bow and fill it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and make you like a warrior's sword. Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south, ...

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor."

"my servant, Israel,"

"servant" cannot mean the nation of Israel, since in v. 5, this servant has a mission to Israel. Rather, the Messianic servant is the ideal Israel through whom the Lord will be glorified. He will succeed where the nation of Israel failed.

"in whom I will display my splendor." HOW? Through the redemption he will accomplish.

He speaks of the Joy of the Redeemed in chapter 35.

(NIV)

3 Strengthen the feeble hands, [Mission]

steady the knees that give way;

4 say to those with fearful hearts,

“Be strong, do not fear;

your God will come,

he will come with vengeance;

with divine retribution

he will come to save you.”

5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened

and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,

and the mute tongue shout for joy.

Water will gush forth in the wilderness

and streams in the desert.

7 The burning sand will become a pool,

the thirsty ground bubbling springs.

In the haunts where jackals once lay,

grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

8 And a highway will be there;

it will be called the Way of Holiness. [Only the redeemed could use it.]

The unclean will not journey on it;

it will be for those who walk in that Way;

wicked fools will not go about on it.

9 No lion will be there,

nor will any ferocious beast get up on it;

they will not be found there.

But only the redeemed will walk there,

10 and the ransomed of the Lord will return.

They will enter Zion with singing;

everlasting joy will crown their heads. [They will be pursued not by wild animals, but by gladness and joy.]

Gladness and joy will overtake them,

and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

The LORD spoke my identity to me. He said, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.

Who am I? I am a servant of the LORD, a follower of Christ, a disciple, a learner, one in whom the LORD will display his splendor, his glory.

How will the LORD display his glory in me? Through the redemption he will accomplish.

But I said, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the LORD'S hand, and my reward is with my God."

Just as the nation Israel had labored in vain, so Christ would encounter strong opposition during his ministry and would temporarily suffer apparent failure. The "suffering servant" theme is developed in the third and fourth of the four servant songs: 50:4-11, and 52:13 to 53:12.

Four Servant Songs in Isaiah:

1. 42:1-4

2. 49:1-6

3. 50:4-11

4. 52:13-53:12

"Yet what is due me is in the LORD'S hand, and my reward is with my God."

Perhaps referring to the spiritual offspring of the servant (see ) -- Jews and Gentiles alike who believe in Him (vv. 5-6).

Reward: In any case, he will be vindicated and rewarded.

16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:

He appeared in a body,

was vindicated by the Spirit,

was seen by angels,

was preached among the nations,

was believed on in the world,

was taken up in glory.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

Isaiah 49:5

5 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 honored in the eyes of the Lord

and my God has been my strength—

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

"my strength"

(NIV)

2 Surely God is my salvation;

I will trust and not be afraid.

The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation.”

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

A prophecy of release from captivity in Babylon and from the greater captivity of sin, from spiritual and moral bondage.

Isaiah 49:6

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 you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

Together with ; , this verse is sometimes called the "great commission of the Old Testament." It is quoted in part by Paul and Barnabas in .

47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

"light for the Gentiles"

Christ is the light of the world (; ; ).

Christians are to reflect his light ().

(NIV)

12:1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.

2 “I will make you into a great nation

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.”

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

(NIV)

5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,

6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

"those...I have kept" probably referring to the remnant.

Isaiah 49:7

7 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 rise up,

princes will see and bow down,

because of the Lord, who is faithful,

the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

(NIV)

17 This is what the Lord says—

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

“I am the Lord your God,

who teaches you what is best for you,

who directs you in the way you should go.

18 If only you had paid attention to my commands,

your peace would have been like a river,

your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

This reaction to the servant is similar to that of 52:15. Former oppressors bow before a restored Jerusalem in 60:14.

"chosen you"

10 (NIV)

8 “But you, O Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

you descendants of Abraham my friend,

9 I took you from the ends of the earth,

from its farthest corners I called you.

I said, ‘You are my servant’;

I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

10 So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

Isaiah 49:8

8 This is what the Lord says:

“In the time of my favor 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,

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

Quoted in part in (NIV)

2 For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,

and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

The background for this verse is probably the Year of Jubilee (61:1-2; ). The return from exile will bring the same restoration of land for the people as that year of liberty did.

It was under Joshua that the land had been divided among individual tribes and families (). The Messianic Servant will be a new Joshua -- as well as a new Moses (see vv. 9-10, which echo Israel's deliverance from Egypt and her desert experiences under Moses during the period of the exodus.).

Isaiah 49:9

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.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

Isaiah 49:10

10 They will neither hunger nor thirst,

nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them.

He who has compassion on them will guide them [as a shepherd]

and lead them beside springs of water.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

This whole verse is also a picture of heaven according to .

16 Never again will they hunger;

never again will they thirst.

The sun will not beat upon them,

nor any scorching heat.

17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;

he will lead them to springs of living water.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

The 23rd Psalm (ESV)

23:title A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.

(NIV)

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

15 He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.

17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,

21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ ”

24 “I tell you the truth,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.

25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land.

26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.

27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.

29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.

30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

(NIV)

61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

[NB This is the point where Jesus cuts off his reading of the prophecy. It is the year of the LORD'S favor, not the day of vengeance of our God.]

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the Lord

for the display of his splendor.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.