Isaiah 49

  I taught the ladies Sunday school class this morning and did not have enough time to cover the lesson. I will post the outline here as a study guide if you would like to go through it yourself.

   Isaiah 49 is one of four Servant Songs in the book of Isaiah. It is a song or poem about the Messiah. Our lesson covered verses 1-17.  In verses 1-6 Christ is speaking to the world and saying what the Father said to Him. In verses 7-12 the Father speaks to the Son. In verses 13-17 God reassures His people. The fulfillment of each verse can be found in a verse in the New Testament.

Christ speaks to the world 

"Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from afar."

1. The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowls of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Fulfilled in Luke 1:31)

2. He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword ((Hebrews 4:12) In his quiver hath he hid me. (Colossians 1:26-27 hidden until the time was right)

3. [The Father said to the Son] Thou art my servant in whom I will be glorified. (John 17:4)

4. I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain. (Matthew 23:37)

5.Though Israel be not gathered, yet will I be glorious (Acts 2:38-39) My God shall be my strength. (Luke 22:43)

6. [The Father said to the Son] I will give thee a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth. (Luke 2:28-32)

The Father speaks to the Son

7. To Him whom man despised, to Him whom nations abhored, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship. (Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 19:16)

8. I will preserve thee, and give thee a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate places. (Acts 13:46-48; Ephesians 2:12)

9. That thou mayest say to the prisoners, go forth, to them that are in darkness. (Luke 4:17-21) Their pastures shall be in high places (Matthew 5:6)

10. They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat or sun smite them . . .by the springs of water shall he guide them. (Revelation 7:16-17)

11. I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted. (John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3-4--There is one straight level road to heaven which is the same for all people)

12. They shall come from afar. . . from the north . . . west. . .and land of Sinim (we would say Timbucktoo. Revelation 7:9-10) 

God reassures His people

These verses break into singing and could be considered the chorus

13. Sing O heavens, be joyful, O earth. This verse reminds us of the song, Joy to the World, which was based on Psalm 98. We think of it as a Christmas song but what Isaac Watts had in mind when he wrote it was the Second Coming. It reaches the climax in the fourth verse, "No more let sin and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found."

14. The Lord hath forsaken me, my Lord hath forgotten me, (Matthew 27:46)

15. Yet will I not forget thee. (John 14:16-18)

16. I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands. (John 20:27 The engraving tool that wrote your name on His palms was a nail. He looks at His hand and sees your name.)

17. Thy destroyers [enemies] and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee. (1 Corinthians 15: 26, 55-57) "Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Isaiah 49:1-17 can be summed up in one verse, John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."