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The Servant is a Light for the Nations (Isa 49:1-13)
Isa 49:1-13 is the 2nd of 4 Servant Songs describing the Messiah Jesus (Isa 42:1-9; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12). Jesus:
- calls to the world (Isa 49:1),
- conquers with the truth of his word (Isa 49:2, 11:4; Rev 1:16, 19:15,21), unlike Cyrus,
- glorifies God and succeeds where Israel failed (Isa 49:3,4),
- redeems not only Israel, but the ends of the earth as a light for the nations (Isa 49:5,6),
- conquers the nations by his sufferings (Isa 49:7; 50:6; 52:14,15),
- triumphs worldwide, is vindicated by God (Isa 49:8-12), and inspires unprecedented joy (Isa 49:13).
The Jewish exiles felt forsaken by God (Isa 49:14). But their despair is offset by divine grace, like a mother who cannot forget her child (Isa 49:15,16). Though Jerusalem is destroyed by the Babylonians (Ps 74:3; 102:14), God will rebuild Zion (Isa 49:17,18; 44:26,28), and miraculous growth, expansion and recognition will result with ease (Isa 49:19-26).
Practical Application: Listen to what God will do for the nations through his Servant: "I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth" (Isa 49:6).
God's Repeated Self-Declaration: "I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob" (Isa 49:26).
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