What The Servant Brings

WHAT THE SERVANT BRINGS

Scripture Text: Isaiah 49:1-6

Introduction: Isaiah 49 is somewhat cryptic; but with a little bit of study it becomes more easily understandable. Let’s just read the passage and then we will take a look at some other passages that will give us a better understanding of what we are reading. For example, some would say that these passages are about Israel. Their evidence might be verse 3. See Isaiah 42:1-7 (Page 547 in the NIV Application Commentary-Isaiah by Oswalt.)

Propositional Statement: Once we understand that Jesus is the Servant spoken of in Isaiah 49; we understand that Jesus’ ministry brings his followers the benefits of position, protection, and deliverance. To the disciples, Jesus remarked that “you don’t know what I am doing.” It was very hard for Peter especially, to accept that Jesus would be crucified. It is a strange concept that the shameful cross could be a glorious victory. A man who dies on a cross no less; bringing position, protection, and deliverance?

I. The Servant Jesus Brings Position When I say position, I mean calling and predestination. Just as Jesus the Servant was called and chosen; so we too are called and chosen. Can you imagine that you are commissioned?

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." (Romans 8:28-30, NASB95)

A. Called – verses 1A. "“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”" (Jeremiah 1:5, NASB95) The Servant has no doubt about his call.

B. Chosen – verses 2B. Select Arrow. Arrows are the tools of the trade for a hunter or for self or national defense back then. They are for a special purpose. The New American Standard says, “select arrow.” As the Servant was a “select arrow” so are we. The Bible says, "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”" (Romans 8:15, NASB95)

Being called and chosen in Christ means that ‘we can find the way that Christ wants us to live out our lives in the fulfillment of His will and calling. …. We can become aware of being a sharpened sword or polished arrow in his hand. This does not mean that we do something earth-shaking; but what may look like simple tasks have more significance. In fact, more significance than we might imagine. "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." (Titus 2:11-14, NASB95)

Transition: A characteristic of the verses here in Isaiah is that this is a summation of time. These events, as many prophetic passages occur over a large period of time. If we consider Isaiah 49 a prophetic summation of a large period of time; then we might immediately recognize the huge gulf of time between the prophecy that Isaiah gives about the servant, and the actual time that the Servant appears. There is not communication about the Servant for several hundred years between the prophecies that are uttered when prophets say “thus says the Lord;” and the New Testament revelation that “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Another interesting parallel idea is that the same gulf of time changes us from slaves to the law of sin and death; to a time of becoming “children of God” (or as some versions of the Bible say SONS.) We are no longer slaves; but sons. John 1:12 says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name," Galatians says, "So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God." (Galatians 4:3-7, NASB95)