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.
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;
3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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;
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.
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.
11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.
12 Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.
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.
14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
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.
16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
17 Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
The 49th chapter of the book of Isaiah in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible represents a pivotal moment in the narrative of the Prophet Isaiah. This chapter is a profound proclamation of God's unwavering commitment to His chosen people, the Israelites, even in the face of their ongoing disobedience and unfaithfulness. It is a chapter full of hope, promise, and divine reassurances.
At the beginning of the chapter, Isaiah introduces a figure referred to as the Servant of the Lord. This figure is portrayed as a chosen instrument of God, whose mouth is likened to a sharp sword and who is hidden in the shadow of God’s hand (Isaiah 49:2). This Servant is appointed to bring Israel back to God and to be a light to the Gentiles, to bring God’s salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6). Many Christian interpretations identify this Servant with Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who fulfills these roles perfectly. The Servant's mission is not only to restore Israel but also to bring God's salvation to all nations.
The chapter then moves on to address the anxieties and fears of the Israelites. They feel abandoned by God because of their exile. However, God responds with a powerful declaration of His unfailing love. He asserts that He could never forget His chosen people, just as a mother could never forget her nursing child (Isaiah 49:15). This potent imagery evokes the depth and intensity of God's love and commitment to His people. It assures the Israelites that, despite their circumstances, they are not forgotten, and their restoration is imminent.
Isaiah 49 further promises the restoration of Israel. God promises to make the desolate cities inhabited again (Isaiah 49:19). The nations that oppressed Israel will come bowing down to them, acknowledging Israel as God's people (Isaiah 49:23). The chapter ends with a divine promise that those who hope in the Lord will not be disappointed. This promise of restoration was not just physical or political but also spiritual. It signified the renewal of their covenant relationship with God, their return to the Promised Land, and the restoration of their national and religious life.
Theologically, Isaiah 49 is significant in several ways. First, it reinforces the concept of God's sovereignty. Despite the Israelites' disobedience and the nations' arrogance, God's plans and purposes prevail. He is in control of history, directing it towards His predetermined ends. Second, it underscores the concept of God's grace. Despite their sins, God is committed to restoring the Israelites because of His covenant with them. His love for them is not based on their worthiness but on His grace. Third, it highlights the concept of God's universal salvation. Through the Servant, God's salvation will reach the ends of the earth, showing that God's love and salvation extend to all people, not just the Israelites.
Isaiah 49 also has practical implications for believers today. It encourages us to trust in God's faithfulness and promises, even in difficult times. It reminds us that God's plans are not thwarted by human failure or opposition. It assures us of God's unfailing love, which is not based on our performance but on His character. It also challenges us to be instruments of God's salvation, like the Servant, bringing God's light and love to those around us.
In conclusion, Isaiah 49 is a chapter of hope and assurance, promising God's unfailing love, restoration, and salvation. It presents a God who is faithful to His promises, powerful over history, gracious in His love, and universal in His salvation. It encourages us to trust in this God and to be instruments of His saving work in the world.
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