Isaiah - Chapter 49

Isaiah 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. Isaiah 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; Isaiah 49.3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Isaiah 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. Isaiah 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. Isaiah 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. Isaiah 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. Isaiah 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; Isaiah 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. Isaiah 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. Isaiah 49.11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted. Isaiah 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. Isaiah 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. Isaiah 49.14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Isaiah 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. Isaiah 49.16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49.17 Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee. Isaiah 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. Isaiah 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. Isaiah 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. Isaiah 49.21 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? Isaiah 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. Isaiah 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. Isaiah 49.24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? Isaiah 49.25 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. Isaiah 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.

Isaiah : Chapter 49

The Mission of the Servant of the Lord in Isaiah 49

Chapter 49 of the book of Isaiah magnificently expands on the mission of the Servant of the Lord. What is the scope of divine salvation? This messianic text reveals the Servant's call to restore Israel and become a light to the nations. The chapter promises the return of the exiles and the comfort of Zion, thus illustrating God's unfailing love for his people.

Main Themes of Isaiah 49

Isaiah 49 addresses fundamental themes such as divine election, global evangelization, and God's faithfulness. These concepts invite us to reflect on our role in God's plan and our commitment to the mission of the Church. Together, let's examine five Bible passages that resonate with the glorious promises of this inspiring chapter.

Related Bible Passages

Luke 2:32: "a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory of your people Israel." This prophecy about Jesus reflects Isaiah 49:6, where the Servant of God is described as a light to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:47: "For thus the Lord commanded us: 'I will make you a light to the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" Paul and Barnabas quote Isaiah 49:6, applying the prophecy to their mission to the Gentiles.

2 Corinthians 6:2 : "For he says, 'I heard him in an acceptable time and in the day of salvation I helped him.' I tell you, now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation!" Paul quotes Isaiah 49:8, emphasizing God's promise to respond in due time within the context of the gospel.

Revelation 7:16-17: "They will never hunger again, they will never thirst again. Neither will the sun nor any scorching heat afflict them. For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will guide them to springs of living waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." This vision of heaven echoes the promises of comfort and provision contained in Isaiah 49:10.

Ephesians 6:17: "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." The image of the sword as the word of God can be linked to Isaiah 49:2, where the Servant's mouth is compared to a sharp sword, emphasizing the power of God's word.

Conclusion

Isaiah 49 reminds us that divine salvation is a call to light, restoration, and hope. As Christians, we are invited to participate in this sacred mission, bearing the light of Christ in today's world.