Sermon Questions

1. “In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of _________ I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a __________ to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners, ‘_____  _____,’ to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’ They shall feed along the ways; on all bare heights shall be their pasture
2. Identify the two books, the chapters, and verses that share these words? Out of Egypt I called my son
3. 
   
4. 
   
5. Through Abraham and his descendants, God intends to restore what was lost, making a ____________ that would shape the identity and _________ of His people (Hint: see sermon guide). 
6. Name the book and verse for these verses:
7. I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth
8. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.
9. You shall be my treasured possession among all peoples
10. TRUE or FALSE: The nations was Israel was called to be a kingdom of priests.
11. TRUE or FALSE: Israel’s ultimate problem was not geographic displacement but spiritual separation from God.
12. In the New Testament which author quoted the first Servant Song of Isaiah?
13. In the New Testament which author quoted the second Servant Song of Isaiah?

Discussion Questions

1. Discuss/Answer these questions after reading Isa 49:1-13:
2. What testimony does the servant of the Lord make in verses 49:1-3?
3. What complaint does the servant raise in verse 49:4?
4. What complaint do God’s people (i.e.; Zion) raise? See Isaiah 49:14 
5. What assurance does the Lord give to His people? See Isaiah 49:15-16
6. Pastor Winans expressed in his message, “being united with Christ means more than just receiving salvation—it means actively working alongside Him, showing that we are invited to participate in His mission of restoration”.
7. Have you received the offer of salvation from Jesus Christ? Have you repented of your sin, have you received His forgiveness, and do you accept Jesus as the Lord of your life?
8. If you know Jesus as your Savior, is your life being transformed by Him through the Holy Spirit?
9. Then discuss how you are living out the mission of restoration as an expression of your love for Him and as an act of obedience to Matt 28:19-20?
10. As a follow-up to question #2, read 2 Cor 5:20.
11. How are the messages of Matt 28:19-20 and 2 Cor 5:20 related?
12. What steps do you need to take to reconcile your life to these commands?
13. For Lenten consideration: Question 24 of the New City Catechism reads:  Question: “Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die?” Answer: “Since death is the punishment for sin, Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God. By his substitutionary atoning death, he alone redeems us from hell and gains for us forgiveness of sin, righteousness, and everlasting life.”
14. In your groups take each one of the truths in the answer and discuss how the truth has changed you:
15. Discuss the effect of our sin: The sacrifice that Christ paid for our sin.
16. Discuss the words “he alone redeems us”: “In no other name ... by which we must be saved”.
17. Discuss “everlasting life”: Are you preparing for everlasting life with Him?

Sermon Outline

To briefly recall the context of these chapters in Isaiah, the people of God had been exiled from their land by the Babylonians. The southern Kingdom of Judah was taken into exile, following the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple of the Lord. This displacement was deeply disorienting for God’s people, who found themselves uprooted from their homes and homeland. In the ancient worldview, such an event may have seemed to signal that Yahweh, the Creator of heaven and earth, had been defeated by the so-called victorious gods of Babylon. Amidst this turmoil, Isaiah 43–55 begins with words of comfort, as God speaks a message of redemption and hope. He reassures His people that He is still sovereign, that this exile is not outside His divine plan, and that He intends to restore them. This message, meant for a broken and scattered people, still resonates with us today. Last week, in the first Servant Song of Isaiah 42, we saw that the Servant’s mission is to restore God’s justice—bringing all things back into alignment with His perfect design and order. The Servant carries out this mission with great gentleness and humility, ensuring that even a bruised reed is not broken and a smoldering wick is not extinguished. Now, as we turn to Isaiah 49, we will gain a deeper understanding of who this Servant is and the nature of His mission. A unique feature of this second Servant Song is that it is spoken in the first person. Unlike previous passages where the Servant is spoken to or about, here, we hear directly from the Servant himself, as he declares his own mission in his own words. 

As we continue to explore and deepen our understanding of the Servant’s mission, we want to focus on two key questions. First, who is the Servant? Second, building on last week’s discussion, what is the nature of the Servant’s mission? Ultimately, we hope to conclude by recognizing that this mission is not just the Servant’s alone—it is a calling extended to us as God’s people, inviting us to carry it forward and actively participate in His redemptive work. 

Identity of the Servant 

Scholars have proposed various interpretations regarding the identity of the Servant. Some believe the Servant refers to the prophet Isaiah himself, while others suggest it represents the nation of Israel as a whole. Another perspective identifies the Servant as the Persian king Cyrus, who overthrew the Babylonian Empire. Others, however, look ahead to a future figure—an individual who could be described as the Redeemer or Messiah. Verse 3 provides a key insight into the identity of the Servant. 

Isaiah 49:3 –³And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified has become my strength.” 

This suggests that the Servant represents the nation of Israel as a whole, collectively embodying the Servant of the Lord. However, certain details in the text raise questions about this interpretation, indicating that the answer may not be as straightforward as it initially seems. 

·        Verse 1 also provides an important detail about the Servant’s identity, stating that he was born of a woman. 

Isaiah 49:1 – ¹Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. 

While some might interpret this metaphorically, it raises an important question—does this suggest that the Servant is an individual rather than the entire nation? If the Servant was personally called from the womb, this could indicate a more specific identity beyond Israel as a collective whole. 

·        Could the Servant be an individual? Based on the mission described in verse 5, this seems like a strong possibility. 

Isaiah 49:5 –⁵And now the Lord says—he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, 

Not only does the verse affirm that the Servant was formed in his mother’s womb, but it also reveals his purpose—to restore Israel. This distinction suggests that the Servant is not the nation itself but rather someone set apart to bring redemption to Israel. 

·        The idea that the Servant is both born of a woman and tasked with restoring Israel challenges the notion that the nation could save itself. This suggests that the Servant is not Israel as a whole but rather an individual. However, verse 3 explicitly refers to the Servant as "Israel," which raises an important question: How can an individual bear the title of Israel? 

What we propose is that the Servant represents an idealized Israel—everything the nation was called to be but failed to fulfill. The Gospel writers also interpret the Servant in this way, seeing him as the true embodiment of Israel’s mission and purpose. A clear example of this can be found in the Gospel of Matthew. When King Herod learned of Jesus’ birth, he ordered the massacre of all young boys in Bethlehem. Joseph, warned in a dream, fled with Mary and Jesus to Egypt. After Herod’s death, they returned, settling in Galilee. Matthew draws a significant parallel in this journey, quoting from the Old Testament to reveal a deeper connection between Jesus and Israel’s story. 

Matthew 2:15 – ¹⁵This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” 

At first glance, this passage may seem straightforward—Jesus, as the Son of God, is simply returning from Egypt to the north. However, when we examine the original prophetic context from which this quote is taken, we see that Matthew is making a deeper theological connection. His understanding of Jesus' identity goes beyond a simple fulfillment of events; he is intentionally linking Jesus to the broader story of Israel, revealing a greater significance in how Jesus embodies the role of the true Servant. 

Hosea 11:1 – ¹When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 

Hosea is referring to God’s deliverance of His people from Egypt during the Exodus. Remember Yahweh’s words in that event: "Israel is my son, and I am delivering my son out of bondage." Hosea reflects on this historical reality, emphasizing that God brought His son—the nation of Israel—out of Egypt. However, Matthew takes this further, declaring that Jesus fulfills this passage in a deeper way. He presents Jesus as the true embodiment of Israel’s calling, the one who fully realizes what the nation was meant to be. In this sense, Jesus is the Servant, the idealized Israel, carrying out the mission that Israel itself failed to complete. As one commentator puts it... 

The Israel of verse 3 is Messiah, the servant who embodies all that historic Israel should have been. – Raymond Ortland Isaiah 

If Jesus is the fulfillment of all that Israel was meant to be but failed to become, then we must ask: What was Israel’s original calling? What was God’s purpose for His people? 

To understand this, we need to look at the context in which that calling was given. In the opening chapters of Genesis, we see that God’s good creation falls into sin. The first eleven chapters, culminating in the Tower of Babel, paint a picture of humanity turning away from God’s goodness. So, how does God respond to this widespread rebellion? He initiates a plan of redemption by calling one man and his family—Abraham. Genesis 12 marks this pivotal moment. God chooses Abraham as the foundation of His solution to humanity’s brokenness. Through Abraham and his descendants, God intends to restore what was lost, making a covenant that would shape the identity and mission of His people. 

Genesis 12:2-3 – ²And I will make of you a great nation...³and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 

In the midst of global rebellion, God calls one man and his family, establishing a plan to restore the blessing that humanity had turned away from. Through this man, his descendants, and the nation that would emerge from them, God intends to bring redemption to the world. This restoration connects back to the very beginning—Genesis 1—where God creates humanity in His image, blessing them with the command to "be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and exercise dominion." Abraham’s family eventually grows into a nation while in Egypt. Joseph leads Jacob’s family there, and over time, they multiply and become a great people. When they fall into bondage, God delivers them, leading them to Mount Sinai. There, He descends upon the mountain and declares His covenant: "I will be your God, and you will be my people." At Sinai, God reveals Israel’s calling—to be blessed and, in turn, to be a blessing to all nations. He entrusts them with a mission, setting them apart for a purpose that extends beyond themselves. He declares... 

Exodus 19:5-6 – ⁵You shall be my treasured possession among all peoples...⁶and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. 

This is a divine calling—to be a holy nation, a people set apart and consecrated to receive God’s word, walk in His ways, and align their lives with His justice. By doing so, they would experience His blessing and flourish as a people. But their purpose extended beyond themselves. They were also called to be a kingdom of priests. A priest’s role includes mediating God’s blessings to others. Within Israel, the Levites served as priests, bringing God’s blessings to the other eleven tribes. But here, God expands this idea—He declares that the entire nation is to be a kingdom of priests. If priests mediate God’s blessings, then Israel’s role as a kingdom of priests means they were to extend His blessings to the whole world. Their calling was to be a people set apart, not for their own sake, but to act as a conduit of God’s grace to all nations. Does this not echo God’s promise to Abraham—that through his descendants, all nations would be blessed? Now, at Sinai, God affirms this mission, declaring Israel to be His treasured possession. But this phrase does not simply mean they are His favorites. In the original language, this term is deeply rooted in the context of a covenant or treaty. The meaning of treasured possession carries a significant responsibility, which is... 

In a treaty, “treasured possession” designates an individual who is specially selected as the ambassador of the king – one who can be trusted to represents the king’s interests. – Carmen Joy Imes From Servitude to Service 

In Hebrew, the word segullah refers to someone chosen as a special representative or ambassador. In the context of treaties and covenants, segullah signifies a people set apart to represent God's interests to the world. When God calls Israel His treasured possession, He is appointing them as His ambassadors among the nations, tasked with fulfilling the promise and commission originally given to Abraham. This is why the apostle Paul, in Romans, emphasizes that the Israelites were entrusted

 with the very words of God. They were called to be a holy nation, not for their own sake alone, but to reflect God's truth and mediate His blessings to the world. 

Romans 3:2;2:19 – ²The Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God...¹⁹to be a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness. 

This was their calling to be a light to the nations. To understand the commission of the servants, you have to understand the original commission to Israel, to Abraham and his family, which they failed at. They were sent to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests, to be God's ambassadors as his treasured possession among all the peoples. Just as the Israelites needed someone who could fulfill their calling, we need the same thing. 

Mission of the Servant 

Just as the Israelites needed someone to fulfill the mission, they could not complete, we too need someone to live the life we could never live. The Servant steps into this role, carrying forward the commission that Israel failed to uphold. In verse 8, it is declared that the Servant will be given as a covenant to the people, embodying and fulfilling God’s promise. 

Isaiah 49:8 –⁸Thus says the Lord...I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people. 

The mission of the servant is to be a covenant to the people. Because the original covenant that God made with the mission of the Servant is to be a covenant to the people because the original covenant that God made with Abraham and his descendants had been broken. Israel’s failure led to exile, and the covenant needed renewal. The Hebrew Scriptures spoke of a new covenant—one in which the hearts of the people would be transformed. This is the very covenant Jesus refers to in the upper room when he tells his disciples, “This is the cup of the new covenant.” When we hear the word covenant, it helps to think in terms of relationship. The Servant comes to restore the relationship that had been broken, to renew the partnership between God and His people. Jesus steps into this mission, ensuring that all nations are invited back into relationship and partnership with God. The first part of this mission is to restore the descendants of Abraham according to the flesh—the tribes of Jacob, the remnant of Israel. The Servant’s task begins with bringing them back, fulfilling the promise of redemption and renewal. 

Isaiah 49:6 – ⁶“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 

The phrase "bring them back" is more than just returning from Babylon to Jerusalem. The real issue wasn’t merely their physical exile—it was the sin that led them there in the first place. Simply returning to their land wouldn’t resolve the deeper problem; their hearts needed to be made right with God. Jesus addresses this very issue, offering the true solution: “Have faith, that your sins may be forgiven.” Israel’s ultimate problem was not geographic displacement but spiritual separation from God. Jesus comes not just to bring them back to their homeland but to restore them through the forgiveness of sins. However, His mission does not stop with Israel alone. The Servant is also sent as a light to the nations, ensuring that the salvation He brings is not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles. His redemption is for all people, extending beyond Israel to embrace the whole world. 

Isaiah 49:6 – ⁶“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 

The mission given to Abraham—to be a light to the nations—and the calling of Israel to be God’s treasured possession were both left unfulfilled. Yet, what they failed to accomplish, Jesus completes. The salvation of the Lord was never meant to be confined to a single land or people; from the beginning, the call was to go out into all nations. The redemption brought by Jesus is not limited to humanity alone—it is the restoration of all things. His work of renewal extends to the entire creation, as even heaven and earth rejoice, and the mountains break forth into singing. 

Isaiah 49:13 – ¹³Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! 

What Jesus accomplished is not just the forgiveness of sins for humanity—it is the renewal of all creation, bringing forth a new heaven and a new earth. But what does this mean for us? As we noted last week, Matthew quoted the first Servant Song. The second Servant Song, however, is referenced by the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 6. Paul draws on this passage to emphasize a crucial truth: the Servant is given as a covenant to the people. That covenant signifies relationship and partnership. Paul highlights that being united with Christ means more than just receiving salvation—it means actively working alongside Him, showing that we are invited to participate in His mission of restoration. 

2Corinthians 6:1-2 – ¹Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ²For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” 

This is the language of partnership. When we are restored to Christ—when we repent, receive forgiveness, and are washed clean—we are not only given the assurance of eternal salvation but also called into a mission. Being a Christian is more than just turning away from sin; it means surrendering every area of our lives to the Lordship of Christ, aligning ourselves fully with His calling. In Christ, our purpose is to partner with God. However, it is possible to have faith in Christ—to believe in the Servant who has fulfilled all things—yet remain unchanged in our daily lives. Paul emphasizes that we must reorient ourselves entirely around this divine partnership. As Paul speaks about collaborating with God, he quotes Isaiah 49, saying, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation, I helped you.” What’s remarkable is the very next line in Isaiah: “I have given you as a covenant for the people.” This underscores that salvation is not just about personal redemption—it is also a call to actively participate in God’s ongoing work of restoration. 

2Corinthians 6:1-2 – ¹Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ²For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” 

Paul is emphasizing his message with great clarity, driving home a crucial point that he introduced just a few sentences earlier. Remember, in the original text, there were no chapter or verse divisions—this is all part of a continuous thought. Here is the key idea Paul is building upon. 

2Corinthians 5:20 – ²⁰Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

Therefore, we are partners with Christ, collaborating with Him in the fulfillment of Isaiah 49, which ultimately declares, “I have given you as a covenant to the people.” Paul’s message is clear—Jesus has fulfilled the mission of Isaiah 49, and now, through union with Him by faith, that mission is entrusted to us. Peter reinforces this idea when he calls believers God’s treasured possession. In biblical terms, to be a treasured possession means being chosen by the King to represent His interests in the world—to serve as His ambassadors. In the New Testament, this same commission, first given to Abraham and Israel, fulfilled in the Servant, is now extended to us. We have inherited the very mission God gave to His people at Sinai. Do we see our lives through the lens of this mission? Do we find our meaning and purpose in it? Representing God is not just a part of life—it is our life. It shapes everything we do. It means stewarding the resources God has given us for His Kingdom purposes. When we have more, we can do more for His Kingdom. It means using positions of influence to serve, uplift, and advocate for the weak, the poor, and the marginalized. This is not an easy calling. Isaiah 49 makes it clear that even the Servant Himself faced great difficulty. If it was not easy for Jesus, we should not expect it to be easy for us. Yet, just as He remained faithful, we are called to follow in His steps, carrying forward His mission in the world. 

Isaiah 49:4 –⁴But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.” 

Do you hear the frustration? Do you sense the despair? Jesus was the perfect servant—he followed God flawlessly and represented the Father to the world without fault. Yet, how was he received? The religious leaders rejected him and sought to kill him. His own hometown, the people he grew up with, those who knew him best turned against him and even tried to throw him off a cliff. The crowds rejected him. At one point, he turned to his disciples and asked, "Are you going to leave me too?" As his life neared its end, one of his closest friends denied him three times. He was crucified alone, crying out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And yet, from the suffering of the perfect servant arose a Kingdom that will never end. Even 2,000 years later, we continue to witness the blessings of his perfect obedience—God himself, advancing the Kingdom he promised. Keep trusting in the Lord. The world may see our lives as insignificant, but nothing is ever lost to God. 

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