Isaiah Lectures
Isaiah 49-55
Lecture # 9
I. Introduction: The Servant Songs of Isaiah
In Isaiah 40-55 is a series of songs that have fascinated scholars who have often termed them the “Servant Songs”. Not all scholars at present agree on how they should be viewed, but they have been deeply influential in the lives of countless believers (including my own) and are widely quoted in the Gospels as crucial to how Jesus saw His own ministry. They often designated as follows:
The Songs: description of the Task: Confirmation of the Task
42:1-4 42:5-9
49:1-6 49:7-13
50:4-9 50:10-11
52:13-53:12 54:1-55:13
One way to view these texts is (like Motyer and others, though I take a lot of what is below from Motyer’s insights) that in each song, a spiritual need cries out and a remedy if found in the servant. The servant is not a political figure. This is especially odd in light of chapter 48 where there is a need for one to guide Israel as she leaves Babylon, but the Spirit-endowed servant is an agent of divine revelation and of suffering that will release the world from its sins. The servant fills a void that is spiritual, not political. All four of these songs are seen by the Gospels as referring to Jesus and His ministry, but they are also, as Jesus is, models of leadership for us today.
II. The First Song: 42:1-4.
The first song is related to what went before it in Isaiah 40:27:
“Why do you say, “Jacob, and complain, O Israel,
My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God.”
As one continues to read into chapter 41 an answer to this complain from Israel is seen. All through chapter 41 the theme is repeatedly made that God does care, but then an unexpected added answer is given. The Spirit anointed servant will be the answer for a people who believe they are forgotten. The world is filled with people today who believe they are forgotten and are not important to God. God’s answer to such people is in the servant songs.
>>>>Let us read together Isaiah 42:1-4.
Q How do you see the Lord answering His people?
An = Justice will come on the nations of the earth, that have crushed Israel and seemingly not been judged but the servant will establish justice and righteousness all over the earth (42:1, 4). He will bring this justice though without might and calling attention to himself and the servant will do it gently (42:2, 3). As noted above the church has often seen this is a prediction of Jesus’ ministry. Look at Psalm 2:7 where the Psalmist called those who are anointed (most think this Psalm originally referred to the king) as God’s son. Luke 3:22 (see also Matthew 3:17, John 1:32-34 and Mark 1:9) saw this Psalm as referring to Jesus. >>>> Let us read Psalm 2:7 and then Luke 3:22 together.
We know Jesus was pleasing to God. As the Spirit fell upon Him as He began His ministry we see how the Gospels saw this Psalm and the passage in Isaiah. They saw it as looking forward to when the true “Son” would come.
Note: Notice what is put “on” the servant. It is God’s Spirit that is put on the Servant. Luke saw Isaiah text as applying to Jesus. In the first four chapters of his Gospel, Luke repeatedly mentioned the dynamic actions of the Holy Spirit. Luke clearly saw this Isaiah passage as a forecast of the Spirit being active in announcing Jesus through John (1:15; 1:67; 3:16), causing Jesus’ birth (1:35), helping others recognized who Jesus was (1:41; 2:25,26,27), anointing or baptizing Jesus (3:22) and leading Jesus into the desert or suffering (4:1, 2x) and finally energizing or empowering Jesus’ ministry (4:14). The understanding Luke has of the Spirit is very similar to what is found in the songs of Isaiah. For example, the Spirit empowers, but also leads the anointed one to the desert or to suffering and the suffering will have positive affect in the lives of others. However, if we apply this to ourselves an interesting question arises.
Q How does God become well pleased with us? Is it possible for us to be well pleasing to the Father?
An = First of all, if we are to be servants like the one in Isaiah and therefore to be like our Lord, then we too must be anointed by the Spirit. So how does that happen? F.B. Myers once said that if you want the Holy Spirit to be present in your ministry and life, be careful, but merely ask for it. It is a dangerous prayer. Oswald Chambers heard F. B. Myers say this and went back to his room and merely asked. God answered in a powerful way but took Chambers to “the desert” for four years (Luke 4:1-13) before He empowered Chambers’ ministry (Luke 4:14).
Second, notice in verses 1, 3, and 4 the servant is to bring forth and establish justice. What this meant for Jesus could be seen in two ways. He died for our sins so that God could forgive us and still remain just because the payment for our sins was placed upon Jesus. The other way is to see how Jesus began to demonstrate in His ministry that God cared for those who were seemingly forgotten and those whom the world despised. His ministry did not cater to the wealthy or religious elite, but to the poor, the hungry, the sick, those heavy laden with illness, demon possession and sin. He brought what was “appropriate’ to those who thought God had forgotten them. For the word “justice” in Hebrew means doing what is appropriate. What is appropriate for those who believe they are forgotten? The answer is in the work of Jesus predicted by the Prophet Isaiah.
This then becomes our focus if we are to well pleasing to Him. He “lost His life” sacrificially for us and He reached out to and ministered to people who did not have financial, political and religious power. We too should serve sacrificially and to those the world thinks is useless. If we do this, then we will be a delight to the Lord. Our career may suffer and we make not have the prestige we as humans so deeply crave, but Jesus was a servant to those who thought the Lord had forgotten. This is how to be well pleasing to God, but not in the eyes of our fellow human beings.
Notice that in verse 2 and 3a another key element is shown to us as to how Jesus was a delight to His Father and how we can be the same. He was gentle with the weak and did not focus on Himself but on others. So many times ministers or priests shout aloud their own importance (you must address them with proper deference or titles) and are very short, or quick tempered, or even impatient with those whose hope is about to be extinguished and about to give up. The patient ones are the ones who are pleasing to the Lord.
Notice the last verse speaks of the message of hope going world wide. The message is to go beyond the current believing community. It is to go beyond the Holy Land or Israel; it is go outside of the church to the lost in the entire world. If we wish to be pleasing to the Lord we must be involved with expanding the rule of the kingdom of God beyond the borders of the present day church. We must do evangelism with those the world has forgotten and who feel forgotten.
>>>> Let us read Isaiah 42:5-11 together.
We will look briefly (due to time constraints) at how these verses confirm what was said in 42:1-4. Remember, each song is followed by a portion that expands on the message of the song. In this first song, in verse 6 the servant is called a “light unto the nations”, expounding on verse 4 where the promise was made to bring justice to the whole earth and to distant islands. In verse 7, the servant brings justice in the form of opening the eyes of the blind, setting free the captives from prison and releasing those in a dungeon who sit in darkness (see Luke 4:18-19 and Isaiah 61:1,2; Matthew 4:12-16 and Isaiah 9:1,2). The Gospels clearly saw Jesus reaching out to the forgotten ones. In verses 10-11, new songs are sung because new songs are always sung when new acts of salvation come to God’s people (Luke 2:13-14). When a new revival would fall upon the church we see in church history that God’s people start singing new songs. The true servant portrayed in Isaiah does not shout about himself, but causes singing to occur about God, songs of joy. Think back how many times in the Gospel after Jesus helped some poor ill person that praise of God would irrupt. It is so tempting to direct that praise to ourselves as servants of God and then we take ourselves out of the role of the servant songs. The only person we are serving is ourselves.
III. The Second Servant Song: Isaiah 49:1-6.
>>>> Let us read Isaiah 49:1-6 together.
Q When did God call the servant?
An = Again, if we look at the Gospels (for instance, Luke 1:35 or Matthew 1:18-21) we see Jesus as fulfilling this verse. If God has called us to ministry He made that decision before we were born. It is not our decision, but His. As we read in verses 2-4 we see that when called the servant (and we see this true of Jesus as well in Luke 2:51-52) He also shaped the servant when he was young. The servant is also said to have fought weariness due to long labor. Both of these were true of Jesus and both should be true of a real servant of God.
First, He will use our background and upbringing to set us up for the exact task He has appointed for us. We should never despise our past for its toughness, sorrows, hardships or deprivations. They can be used to “sharpen the sword in the shadow of His hand” (49:2). It is often the hard times in upbringing that God can use to sharpen us and it is done in a shadow or in a seeming hidden darkness. However, that is the work of His hand. He is preparing us to understand those we will labor hard for.
Second, we should expect long and hard labor and not get discouraged for our reward will be from the very hand of God (49:4). Ministers who complain of hard work and want an easier life have not yet understood the call portrayed in Isaiah. We are to be shaped as arrows for long distance use and as swords for close personal work. God wants us sharp and select and often only in “the shadow” of His hand can this be accomplished.
Q How is 49:2 tied to 42:2? (This is question for pondering on your part)
Q What is the purpose of the call?
An = We are to bring back His people, those already in church, to the Lord and to be a light to those who are outside of the church (49:5-6). This purpose is carefully given in the context of chapter 48:1, 4, 18, and 22. There the church (or Israel) rejected the Lord. However, individuals came back to the Lord through the prophets and through the ministry of Jesus. All Israel did not respond to Isaiah, nor to Jesus’ ministry but some did. As Jacob the man was the first to be called Israel, not the clan of Abraham from which Jacob the sinner came originated, so God will call the true Israel, often one by one back to Himself.
Notice the text admits that God’s servants do get discouraged (49:4-6). It is not a sin to feel your toil has been in vain. Often the result of hard and long labor is discouragement. So how does one become a good servant and deal with discouragement or despondency? It seems Isaiah 49 would say the key is to remember five things.
1. We are to remember to focus on how God views our life. We are to remember this is what is truly important (49:4b, 5b). Our reward is with Him and not with outwards success.
2. We are to remember we are called (49:5a). We have to remember that He chose us for ministry before we came out of the womb, and He has been working on us and sharpening us since then.
3. We are to remember our goal (5b). Our goal is to be honored in His eyes and let Him be our strength. We delight the Lord when we wait for Him to be our strength (Isaiah 40:29-31). See also 42:1 in that we are His chosen ones who are a delight to His eyes and not the eyes of the world or the church.
4. Repeat step 1. (5c) and return again to how God sees it. God always repeats what is important. We often have to back again and again, and reevaluate our lives by remembering that He is the One we are to please, not the world or our self image.
5. Finally, we need to remember that it will be God who will expand our efforts from the church to the world (49:6b). Isaiah 9:2 says those walking in darkness saw a great light but later in Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6 the prophet says we are to be a light to the nations as well. Similarly in Luke 2:32 and Matthew 28:19 we are to be a blessing to the church but also to the “nations”. We are to remember that our work will go beyond what we can conceive. It will go beyond our immediate church or group. This will not be our doing but God’s. Jesus ministered primarily in Judea, but affect is now world wide. “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end…the Zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:7).
>>>> Let us read Isaiah 49:7-13 together.
Q How do these verses confirm the call?
An = These verses are absolutely beautiful and truly the main emphasis is on the call. When God has called us it will come to pass because the One who calls will also empower those He called. However, as one reads the nuance of 49:1-6 or even 49:7b there is a shadow lingering. Those who have been in true ministry know it is there. We have to be willing to be spent, to be discouraged, (49:4) but also to be despised by the powerful (49:7). Surely, Jesus was given the shadow and cup to bear and if we are to be as effective and as helpful as He then we too must bear the cup.
IV. The Third Song: 50:4-11.
>>>> Let us read together 50:1-3, then 49:14, and 22.
Q Has Israel believed?
An = See also 40:27 and 48:8 where as a whole Israel, or the church, has failed to believe. Only at brief times has 48:18-19 come true. So in contrast to the “many” is the obedience of the “one”.
>>>>Lets read together Isaiah 50:4-5.
Note: The second and third songs are autobiographical (the same is true of the first song the language is put in the 3rd person). In this song the emphasis is not on the call from the womb but on the daily way the servant was instructed. It was done personally. The servant is one who listens, who does not draw back or holds back but gives himself or herself to the instruction God desires to give them. God opened their ears and made them able to obey. Many ministers or priests hold back and believe they are smarter than God’s Word because of their education. Some attempt to do His will in the flesh. The servant Isaiah’s described was different. He was teachable.
>>>>Let us read together Isaiah 50:6-9.
Note: Verse 6 picks up the theme of the shadow mentioned above in chapter 49. If we review Jesus’ life, it was His obedience to the will of His Father that brought Him rebuke and persecution from the powerful, and it will be the same in our lives. Our obedience will make us a delight to the Lord but it could cause us to be disgraced in the eyes of the world. We will be mocked and spit upon (by those in power) but that is never the end of the story. The Sovereign Lord will help us and He, not us, will see to our vindication. Our detractors will fade away (50:9). This same theme is in Psalm 13 where in verses 1-4 there is grief but in verses 5-6 a decision has been made to trust. The servant songs describe what Jesus did and try to frame what we should be and let take place.
>>>>Let us read together Isaiah 50:10-11.
Q How do these verses confirm the task mentioned in verse 9?
An = Verse 10 teaches us that if we obey or trust Him when walking in personal darkness we will be blessed. In verse 11 we see that we will be judged if we stay in the darkness and through the rough times turn to the occult as many do when faced with difficulties.
V. The Fourth Servant Song: 2:13-53:12.
The fourth song has a great two fold confirmation piece tied to it: chapters 54 and 55. In addition, in this song the suffering that is hinted at in 49:4, 49:7 and 50:6 is finally expanded. The wounding and bruising of the one who bore the sins of others is high-lighted, as well as the reason for it. The chapters after the song portray a double task or affect: the church (Israel) is called into a covenant of peace in 54:10 and the whole world is called into an everlasting covenant in 55:3. This is a longer song so it might help to have an outline of it:
A. Exaltation and humiliation: 52:13-15
B. Suffering observed and misunderstood: 53:1-3
C. Suffering is explained: 53:4-6
D. Suffering is voluntary and undeserved: 52:7-9
E. Exaltation through sin-bearing suffering: 52:10-12
Notice, exaltation begins and ends the song, but the center is filled with suffering. The Christians in the early part of 20th century in America used to sing a song: “You cannot wear the crowd unless you first bear the cross.”
>>>>Let us read together Isaiah 51:9.
Note: The prophet asked a question about how the power of the Lord was to be revealed. He asked how Satan or evil (Rahab or the monster) would be destroyed. The answer is that it would be done by God and how He would do it is answered in the fourth song.
>>>>Let us read together Isaiah 52:12-15.
Note: There is movement in these verses. There is an up-down-up aspect to them: up in 13, down in 14 and up again in 15. This so similar to the life of our Lord: see Philippians 2:5-11.
>>>> Let us read together Philippians 2:5-11
This aspect of up-down-up is often in Scripture: for example see the life of Joseph or the life of David. It is to be true of us as well.
>>>>Let us read together 53:1-7.
Note: This describes our Lord’s life and ministry. It does us good to remember this and realize that He chose to do this; He chose to drink the cup. How does one bear tough times or react to the things people do to us, the blue print is in these seven verses. We are not to be victims, but strong, because we chose to be His servants and to follow the path of His heart. We know what it will bring: some exaltation, but also suffering that precedes the final victory. The crowd loved Jesus at first, but before that last day when every knee will bow and every tongue would confess Him as Lord, laid the Cross.
>>>>Let us read together 53:8-10
Note: In verse 10, the prophet again points out it is the Lord’s plan that must be enacted not our own. We have to be careful we do not become silly martyrs looking for pain. It is the Lord who lays the blows on us. We do not seek it. If we are not seeking pride in our suffering then we will reap His affects: “He will see his offspring and prolong his days the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.”
>>>>Let us read together 53:11-13.
In God, suffering is never in vain. God calls His servants to be taught, to labor long, to bear the shadow in our youth, but it will end well. Others will be blessed. So many today miss the main point, it is aiming at greatness but aiming at helping others. Then the reward is in God’s hand and most of all we begin to participate in the very nature of God’s Son. We begin to see life from His perspective. We gain the joys that often a mother or father knows: that real joy is seeing others gain righteousness by our knowledge (11) because we were willing to “bear” things for our children and pray for them (12b).
The chapters that follow this great song are beautiful commentary and the purpose of what God would do through the life of Jesus and through Him, also in His servants. It is on the basis on His work that the great call can be made to the world in 55:7-13.
>>>>Let us read together 55:7-13.
Note: As ministers we should be willing to bear the shadow of suffering but never to do so without hope and confidence. We must remember though that the call is from Him, not from within ourselves. It will not be just our pain that brings it about; our pain is our part in joining with Him in the dignity of service. It is His Word, His action that will bring it about, not us or our suffering. Our work, if it is in Him, will bear fruit because of His Word, His Words, not our words from our mouths, will accomplish what He desires.
>>>>Re-read Isaiah 55:11-13.