The subjects for today’s study are, verses 1-7 Israel the LORD’s servant. I believe it should read; Jesus the LORD’s servant, as we will see in a minute. Verses 8-26 Israel will be restored to Zion. Isaiah 49 and verse 1 reads.
Isa.49:1] Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
This is Jesus Christ speaking in the Old Testament. This first verse he speaks to the whole world. Jesus says he, the Father, mentions my name. Let’s first go back to Isa.7:14 and it reads.
Isa.7:14] Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Prophesied long ago by the prophet Isaiah, that the Christ would come. Immanuel means God with us. Now let’s go to Mat.1 and verse 20 reads.
Mat.1:20] But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
[21] And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Here we have Jesus being named while he was yet in the womb of Mary.
Mat.1:22] Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
[23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah. We heard in Mat.1:21 just now that Jesus, Emmanuel (God with us), is Savior.
Back to Isa.49 and verse 2 reads.
Isa.49:2] And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
Jesus’s appearance is described in Rev.1:16 and it reads.
Rev.1:16] And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
We see here that the two-edged sword comes out of the mouth of the LORD. It is the Word of God. Back to Isa.49 and verse 3 reads.
Isa.49:3] And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
Jesus is still speaking and says, the LORD said unto me. Jesus being his servant is justified by whom I (The LORD) will be glorified. Meaning because it was the LORD who sent him into the world. Let’s go to Zec.3 and verse 8 reads.
Zec.3:8] Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
Joshua is Jesus from Hebrew to Greek. BRANCH also is Jesus Christ. Back to Isa.49 and verse 4 reads.
Isa.49:4] Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
Then I, being Jesus, is speaking. What we have here is the first advent and the second advent being talked about between Jesus and the Father. Neither had come to pass during the prophecy of Isaiah as of yet. Christ did not fail in the first advent, and the judgement of his rewards is the second. Let’s go to Zec.9 and verse 9 reads.
Zec.9:9] Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
That was the first advent, fulfilled in Matthew 21:5. Now comes the second advent.
Zec.9:10] And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from river even to the ends of the earth.
At the second advent he comes with a rod of iron and not sitting lowly on an ass. Think not he said it was for nought or nothing, but that for great judgement or rewards. Let’s look closely at verse 4 one more time.
Isa.49:4] Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
We have two “vain” spoken of here. The first comes from H7385 taken from H7324 and we get the words Pour it out. He labored to Pour it out, his blood on the cross. The second Vain comes from H1892 taken from H1891 where we get the word expectation, the expectation of the second advent or the seventh trump. Let’s go to Heb.2 and read about his works for the first advent, and verse 14 reads.
Heb.2:14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
So, the expectation that there would be a second advent to justify his works. Isa.49 and verse 5 reads.
Isa.49:5] And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
An example of why it is so important to have God as our strength. Even Jesus counted on the Father for his strength, and he was God in the flesh. But notice here we have both Jacob and Israel mentioned in conflicting ways proving they are not being spoken to, but rather about.
Isa.49:6] And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
It is a light thing means it is an easy thing. To raise up all twelve tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel. We can see this is talking about the elect of the end times. But let’s look at this; for a light to the Gentiles. Let’s go to Luke 2 and verse 32 reads.
Luke 2:32] A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
And in Acts 13, verse 47 reads.
Acts 13:47] For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
[48] And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Now before we move on, I know it said that the Lord commanded “US” to be the light for the gentiles. Apostles means; Sent ones. Sent to show the world that the Christ has come and salvation on repentance is for the whole world. And in Galatians 3 verse 14 reads.
Gal.3:14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Back to Isa.49 and verse 7 reads.
Isa.49:7] Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
Thus saith Jesus Christ, Redeemer of Israel, his (the Father) Holy One. Notice he concludes with the second advent, given here by the words worship and faithful. The LORD is faithful, all that is written will happen exactly as written. And that they shall worship, all knees shall bow to him. This was how Jesus in the flesh could be strengthened by the LORD, all has been written in the Law and Prophets. Now, verses 8-26 is Israel to be restored to Zion. Isa.49 and verse 8 reads.
Isa.49:8] Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
The first advent brings salvation, the second will bring judgement. So, we have here the first advent. Jesus’s blood on the cross becomes the New Covenant. This verse is mentioned by Paul in 2Cor.6 and verse 2 reads.
2Cor.6:2] (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
The accepted time here and in Isaiah is speaking of the first advent, the time for salvation. We went to Hebrews once already to show the reason why he came in the flesh, let’s go back and read it all the way through to the end. Heb.2 and verse 14 reads.
Heb.2:14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
[15] And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
[16] For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
[17] Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
[18] For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
To succour is to cry with a loud and strong voice. The Lord Jesus cries with a loud voice our innocence before the Father because we have repented and his blood covers our sins. This was how Jesus became our Savior. Planned long ago in God’s word, let’s get back to Isa.49 and verse 9 reads.
Isa.49:9] That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.
While Jesus was in the tomb he went to the other side of the gulf (Luke 16:19-31) and freed many of the prisoners (1Pet.3:19). Let’s go to Luke 4 and verse 16 reads.
Luke 4:16] And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
[17] And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Jesus was given the book of Isaiah.
Luke 4:18] The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
[19] To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
[20] And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. [21] And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Jesus closed the book and said “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” But notice that in verse 19 it has a period after Lord. Let’s go to Isa.61 and verse 1 reads.
Isa.61:1] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
The trinity spoken of here, the Spirit of the Father, and the me being Jesus Christ the Son.
Isa.61:2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Jesus stopped at the acceptable year of the LORD with a period. Not the case as we just read above, it has a comma. What we have here is both advents, Jesus was correct in stopping there and saying “This day has this been fulfilled in your ears”, for that that was spoken was indeed fulfilled. The first advent promised in Isaiah had come to pass, but the second is yet to come. Thus, the difference between the Period and the Comma. Back to Isa.49 and verse 10 reads.
Isa.49:10] They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
Now we have the second advent. Let’s go to Rev.7 and verse 16 reads.
Rev.7:16] They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
[17] For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
We can see so far, we have been studying that there are two advents. Back to Isa.49 and verse 11 reads.
Isa.49:11] And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.
He will provide a way for all his mountains, the nations, it is called repentance and faith in the Son of God.
Isa.49:12] Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.
The land to the north is Esau or Russia, and this land of Sinim is China. Now for these that are from the west, we would need to go to the Euphrates and look west.
Isa.49:13] Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
For all who call themselves by His name, Christians. For all nations including those Christians in Russia and China who are his afflicted. Afflicted means; My troubled ones, my children.
Isa.49:14] But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
Jerusalem is Zion, they are saying. Now, think about this, those who read his word know that the LORD will never leave or forsake his children. These in Zion are either unbelievers, maybe of the Jewish doctrine, or Christians who are weak and never study his word.
Isa.49:15] 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 I not forget thee.
The LORD knows how forgetful his children are, but he will never forget them. Written right here for them to read. Also written in Psalms 103 and verse 13 reads.
Psa.103:13] Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
[14] For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
He remembers that we are but flesh. Back to Isa.49 and verse 16 reads.
Isa.49:16] Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
We learn in the first two chapters of Job that God is our wall that surrounds and protects us from Satan. Let’s go to Exodus and hear another promise from the LORD. Exo.13 and verse 9 reads.
Exo.13:9] And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
Between thine eyes, our minds. You must study the law for it to be in your mouth, to teach others. These are our works, to study them and DO them. Back to Isa.49 and verse 17 reads.
Isa.49:17] Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.
The LORD shall draw the destroyer out of thee, when you return unto the LORD. As an individual or as a nation.
Isa.49:18] Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.
The LORD is swearing by himself. He says “Look up” open your eyes to the world and keep them open to what is going on in the world. Look for the signs and prophecies that come to pass.
Isa.49:19] For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.
Waste is empty and desolate is uninhabited. What we have here is a crowded place. The ones that swallowed them up are the false teachers and are destroyed in the fire.
Isa.49:20] The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.
[21] Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?
We are speaking to those who have overcome Satan at the sixth trump. They feel they have lost their children, but we have the millennium.
Isa.49:22] Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
The gentiles shall bring their children back to them on their shoulders. Of course, we are talking about those gentiles who are believers and have overcome also.
Isa.49:23] And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
We shall not be ashamed, because we know that 6 comes before 7, and we will wait on the LORD for the seventh trump.
Isa.49:24] Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
[25] But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
The LORD has sworn this, and he will judge the evil and will deliver out of the hand of the evil all his children. Showing us here that the millennium is also a time for salvation.
Isa.49:26] And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
Woe to those on the wrong side of this battle between good and evil. The LORD will prevail and his word will come to pass exactly as it is written. Verses 1-7 were written to show us that Jesus was given strength through the word of God. and that we also should receive our strength through his word. Savior has been added to the list of his names given in verse 7. I hope the fact that we have two advents was learned in today’s study. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible