Isaiah 49:1-3 – God’s Servant for the Nations
We will look now directly to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of the clearest prophecies of Christ’s coming will be in these next few chapters. Who is this of Whom this passage speaks? Is it Isaiah? Well, as we continue through the rest of the chapter, we can see it can’t possibly be — Isaiah never did these things. It is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Saviour not only for Israel, He is the Saviour for the nations. And this is why He calls out to them here in verse one. Why do we need to listen? Why do we need such a deliverer and such a Saviour? Who can make us right with God? Well, the only one who can is the Lord Jesus Christ, who became a real man. He was eternally God and continues to be. He became a man as well, and that’s what He continues to be.
God did not merely call Him, but He was prepared as well. Throughout the Scripture we see the Word of God identified as a sword, and in verse 2 we see this sword again. Not only does his mouth become a sharp sword, but in the shadow of God’s hand He has been hidden and made like a polished arrow. In the Old Testament He was, in a sense, hidden and only revealed to Israel by means of the prophets and by the types and shadows. And like an arrow Jesus pierces the hearts of enemies (Psalm 45). Some He conquers, some He brings to conversion. Every one of us who are in Jesus Christ have had our old hearts, our hard hearts, our cold hearts, our hearts of stone, our hearts of sin, our hearts of death pierced.
We see in verse 3 that He is commissioned by God. His commission is to glorify God. And how does He do that? By saving His people from their sin and destroying the wicked. At one time, Israel was the name of the one who struggled with God for the blessing (Genesis 32.24-32). How appropriate that this One should be also named Israel. He is the One who, far more than Jacob, struggles with God there at the cross and prevails. He struggles and does not let go, unlike you and I would have done. He struggles and He prevails, and He brings a blessing not for Himself, for the people whom He has loved from and into eternity.
Questions
- How is Jesus like an arrow?
- How is Jesus like Jacob?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the preaching and hearing of God’s Word tomorrow.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.