The Lord’s Servant, Our Savior • 03.16.25
The Lord’s Servant, Our Savior
Isaiah 49
How should I respond to the knowledge of God’s plan?
- Worship the Servant
- Wait on the Servant
Good morning! My name is Jack Flaherty and I serve as one of the pastors here at Harvest. It is a privilege to be able to open the Word of God with you this morning as we continue studying the prophetic writings of Isaiah. Two things as we begin. First, 4th and 5th graders and dismissed for class. Second, the rest of us can turn in our Bibles to Isaiah 49. Ushers will get you a copy.
I had the privilege to teach our 2nd-3rd graders last week. Their lesson was summarizing the message of the prophets to God’s people in Israel and Judah. I found the lesson content helpful in considering the three main things the prophets communicate: 1) warning 2) repentance, and 3) hope. I’d argue nearly any verse in all the prophetic writings could get into one of those three categories. The OT prophets can be intimidating to dive into, but I think this threefold reality ought to help us! It also helps as we consider what we’re going to be looking at today.
Though the whole book has snippets of each three categories, it increases in hope as we go. We see this play out as we move to a new section today focusing in on YHWHs servant who deals with sin and brings renewal Last week we saw in Isaiah 48 warning and repentance with a mixture of hope, this week we will see hope with a mixture of warning and repentance. The increased hope comes from emphasis on the LORD’s Servant, who we ultimately know to be Jesus Christ.
Thus our message is titled the LORD’s Servant, Our Savior. However but I want to issue a clarifier here about “our savior” as I imagine at least three audiences who might hear this sermon. Allow me to use “Selection Sunday” for NCAA March Madness to illustrate these groups. First audience is the saints of Christ. You have already submitted your life to him. He IS your savior. You are like member of the team that has been selected for the Big Dance! However, the journey for your one shining moment has just begun. In this text there is opportunity to gain a greater love for his work in saving you and respond with an increased devotion and deployment on mission. Second audience is those who might have a false confidence using “our savior.” As was addressed last week you have an apathetic faith, living a life not marked by fruit of following the One you claim to be your Savior. You are like a fan who cheers and gets pumped up and uses language like “we/us” but you’re not on the team. Today there is an opportunity to listen and see you need to take the step of truly committing to the Savior. Third audience is those who knowingly would not say “my savior” either because you don’t want to, don’t think you need to, or maybe you are still in the investigating stage. You are like the member of a team who is out the outside looking in, for sure not worrying about bracketology. Let me beckon you as Isaiah does to LISTEN and PAY ATTENTION. Today could be the day you meet your Savior! If you’re not sure where you sit, ask God to make it clear and help you respond appropriately.
That’s our subtitle and orienting question today: “How should I respond to the knowledge of God’s plan?” This idea comes right from the text. Look to v1 “Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar.” Hear the imperative of Isaiah? LISTEN UP! Gain knowledge! Who? Coastlands not meaning oceanfront property but clarified with the parallelism of peoples from afar. That means not just Israel and Judah but you and me!
Then twice towards the end of the chapter we see some “so that” statements which are meant to call us to action. First one is v23 “then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.” This message we are to listen to ought to produce a knowledge of the Lord and an understanding that the shame train doesn’t arrive for those who wait on God. Then secondly in end of v26 “and all flesh shall know that I am the Lord your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Might One of Jacob.” Isaiah almost can’t get enough descriptive titles of this incredible YHWH who sends His Servant to be our Savior. And this is not something he wants to be a top-secret mission, but rather one that is known by all humanity.
Let’s listen up to this plan and respond rightly! Today we’ll discuss two responses, first one comes from the first 13 verses. Let’s read Isaiah 49:1-13 together. Though most Bibles have a header after v7, important to know those are man inserted titles, thus they are in italics. It seems best to include this as one section as you’ll notice v1 and v12 continue similar thoughts that bracket the information. There is a call for creation and peoples from afar to listen up. And then v13 we see what the right response of creation who gained that knowledge should be. SING! BREAK FORTH! Let it loose in worship. That’s our first response to the knowledge of God’s plan…
- Worship the Servant (v1-13)
I’ll confess to you that each one of these verses is worth its own meditation, but we cannot cover each of them in too much depth today. But I do think we will find it helpful to break it down just a little bit more. Specifically as we evaluate the HOW response, which is worship, we need to get to the WHY response. Do I worship just because it says so? In a sense yes, we do what God’s Word says. But also God graciously tells us WHY. And even beyond that there is a more detailed WHAT this worship looks like. So let’s work our way through it in a couple sub sections. Why worship the Servant? Because he is the one…
- who does the heavy lifting (v1-7)
Let’s see what is said of the servant in v1-7. First, he is set apart before birth by the Lord in v1. Then in v2 we see beautifully potent poetry as Isaiah is dropping bars! It says that his weapons of warfare are words form his mouth. He will come not with military might but with power of words. Like a sharp sword he will work up close and like a polished arrow he will work at a distance. Though hidden in the hand and in the quiver until the time is right, he will be released as v3 says to bring glory to God. This servant of the Lord apparently seems to have labored in vain in v4. Immediate context makes sense as Israel is going into exile in Babylon after all. But the v5-6 make it clear the Servant is also distinct from Israel because this individual restores the nation. Seems clear he is the idealized individual of what the nation ought to do corporately–that is, be a kingdom of priests who represents YHWH to the nations. This Servant will restore not just Israel but the world. TOO SMALL! This Servant ain’t just bringing Israel back, though that is the first order of business, he is the one who will be a light for all nations salvation to the ends of the earth! In fact literally its “to be my salvation” to the ends of the earth. We read as we continue to v7 though initially despised and abhorred he will ultimately be highly regarded and publicly vindicated. He accepts suffering and frustration knowing God will reward
This is incredible stuff! This Servant according to v7 is the 2x Holy One that God chooses and uses to restore his people and all peoples. But who is this Servant? This is ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, God the Son Incarnate. Yes the Servant is spoken of by Isaiah to remind them of their hope in God’s plan to save them from the problem of Babylon, but even deeper than that he is spoken of by God the Spirit to call us to a saving knowledge of God’s plan to deal with the problem of sin. Jesus was known before foundations of the world 1 Peter 1:20 and his given name was told by angels to Mary and Joseph when in the womb. Jesus in the waits since Gen 3 but as Rom 5 says at the right time while we were still sinners Christ showed up. He came not with sword but with words of repentance and teachings of love and holiness at his first Advent. Even though he might have looked like he labored in vain dying without a physical kingdom established he will indeed be vindicated and all knees bow to him and all kings pay homage. The task is not just bringing exiled Jews back to promised land BUT delivering all who would place their hope in the Lord from their enslavement to sin! Talk about heavy lifting!
Jesus embodies Israel in experience yet is even greater. Simeon says of Jesus at the beginning of his life at the temple as a baby in Luke 2:32 that he will be a light to the Gentiles. This reality is also quoted after his earthly life by Paul in Acts 13:46-49 “46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. Jesus is the one to do the heavy lifting of proclaiming light to Jew and Gentile and then commissioning those who come after him to spread this same message.
What an announcement of God’s greatness hundreds of years before its complete fulfillment! This is why we worship the Servant! What does it look like specifically to respond in worship to the one who does the heavy lifting? First off, for those who have not surrendered to this Savior, do so! HE will be vindicated. He invites you with this loving reminder of his ability to handle the weighty things of reality. So turn from whatever other light weight thing and look to Him. I mean seriously if we think about it, what problems come up in your life? Family relationships, sickness, financial needs, sin struggles? What things do you ask to lift those weights? How’s that going? Jesus is presented to us as the one who does the heavy work and then some. Trust him!
I think it interesting that the words for glory in Hebrew relate to weight and in Greek relate to light and both are at play in v6. Jesus is the Servant who provides the bright shining hope to guide our path and does the heavy lifting to get to the dark, dangerous, desperate ends of the earth and rescue us and bring us home. This is a Servant who is carrying out the will of God in the strength of God by the authority of God to the glory of God. For those who do call Jesus Savior, much you factor in his salvation to the daily activities of your life? Is he a small and dark factor or a bright and big one?
A second thing is recognizing this announcement would have both confronted any pride in Israel, reminding that it’s not just about them AND would have been an affirmation of the nations that they matter too. This passage has so many mission implications, even as we just prayed for church support missionaries today, this passage stirs up our worship in needing to go and share the message of hope offered only through him! If you’re on the team share it! Go listen to Pastor Chris and Pastor Nicks most recent podcast episode and be encourage. Be ready for June Mission Emphasis. Get about inviting one person to church each month. Pray for chances to share this light with the nations as Paul and Barnabas saw in this passage the commission to do.
A third thing is seeing the reminder that this servant though he did this incredibly heavy thing, he wasn’t universally recognized. The v4 discouragement is interesting…and v7 hiddenness of kingdom work is in play here. Christians labor and sometimes don’t see much fruit. When feeling like you’re not seeing evangelistic success or that you have been weighing God heavy in the right way but not sure the fruit is where you want it to be, this thing just wont go away that I wish would, this problem isn’t easier, etc., know that Jesus is truly human and can empathize with us. See this passage to remember he will be rewarded in the end as will all who follow him.
Which brings us to another WHY of worshipping. Servant isn’t just powerful to do the heavy lifting but is compassionate and shows mercy. Worship the Servant…
- who has compassion on his people (v8-13)
The explanation of the servant’s ministry continues in v8-13. In v8 we see this language of “in the time of favor” likely meant to recall Lev 25 year of Jubilee which is marked by celebration, forgiveness, and rest. Then in a beautiful poetic picture in v9-11 we see he provides springs of water for thirst and food on the way. We see hints of the Exodus wilderness wanderings as have come up often in Isaiah. Been tough times but God gonna move. The people come from way far away! Syene might be southern Egypt might be China but idea is the ends of the earth! This Servant is compassionate to all these people! That’s what’s highlighted in v10 where the word pity is the same as compassion in v13. And what is the response to the compassion of the Servant leading his people home at just the right time? According to v13 PRAISE!
Charles Spurgeon said of v13 “Isaiah’s joy is too great to give praise with his own tongue, so he called the mountainous masses of inanimate nature to express the greatness of God’s love and tender mercy in comforting his people…in the words ‘the Lord has comforted his people’ we see first they are a special people who belong to the Lord and enjoy his special love. Second we see they are a people who need to be comforted. God doesn’t give blessings that are unnecessary and his people have great need of his comfort at many time sin their lives. Third the Lord is the one who gives the comfort we need.”
These are those who ARE God’s people. Again, a chance for you to consider have I responded to the call to come out of darkness? Have I responded to trust his timing and favor and provisions, however they look in my eyes, are better than anything I could ever ask for? As a reminder, who is this we are talking about? This is Jesus! He offers love and mercy on even when they deserve punishment. He blesses the lowly. He is the fulfillment for these exiles and for all who are afflicted & comforted by his compassion. Look how John applies v9-10 this to the second coming of Jesus.
Revelation 7:13-17.13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
These are those who suffered and died for serving Jesus YET they are experiencing the promised compassion. This will be fulfilled for all who recognize Jesus is OUR Savior. Kirk Franklin song we used to dance to in the van about this and got me so excited thinking about the realities of heaven! This picture shows us what is to come in God’s kingdom established. Bad things we have in this world now will not last forever. We wait on those patiently but also fight hypocrisy and apathy not by saying let me knock out a spiritual to-do list NOR by trying to get an A+ on the spiritual to-don’t list. We wait successful, fighting sinful desires, discouragement, attacks form the enemy, lack of fruit, etc. by worshipping the Servant! Place our attention on what he has done and what he will do for those who rightly say “that OUR Savior.”
He is worthy of our worship because he’s done the heavy lifting, and he offers compassion to his people. But that’s not all he does for his people. Lets keep reading in Isaiah 49:14-26. Our second response to knowledge of God’s plan…
- Wait on the Servant (v14-26)
This point may get covered faster but it is equally as important in this microwave, millisecond, algorhythmically inclined, ‘what have you done for me lately’ reality we live in in the west. We need to hold our horses and wait on the Servant. Really what we are saying here is placing all our chips on Jesus. Going all in in the office bracket for team Jesus and not looking back. What we see here is that the servant will win and he will not forget to bring his people with him to the winners circle. Again, as we consider the HOW response of waiting, lets reinforce the WHY of waiting. And even beyond that a more detailed WHAT this waiting looks like. We wait on the servant first because he is the one…
- who does not forget his people (v14-21)
We already covered this a bit with v4 and v7. The Servant himself understood there would be a time gap, yet God would not fail. However, God’s people here question this comfort that ought to be like the cool other side of the pillow. We see v14 they wrestle with thinking this plan for God to send his Servant seems too good to be true, that they’ve sinned away their blessing. But God doesn’t give this picture to taunt them but to tame their heart and give them hope. In fact to win their hearts with this reminder of his fatherliness and husbandry. He is compassionate as we saw in v10, 13, and just read in v15. He reassures his people that is they will just wait on its going to alright. In fact in v23 he says when we got the knowledge of what God is going to do, we can trust that waiting on him will not bring them shame, With vivid and tender promises of Lord’s unfailing love and swirling metaphors in v15-21 Isaiah movingly depicts God’s remembrance showing Israel is still his bride and mother of his children.
No metaphor can exhaust the depth and riches of love of God. ZION is personified as a woman, which is common to refer to country or place in feminine form, who reps Jerusalem. God address Israel as husband addresses a wife. He understands what’s going on and will lovingly speak to it. Israel will feel forgotten, and exile will cause pain. But the Servant says though it may have seemed like God left, and in fact her children did leave the nest for a time in exile, but God never abandoned her and the children are coming home en masse!
The rhetorical question in v15 has an obvious answer BUT even if a compassionate mom forgets her baby YHWH won’t forget his people. For v16 says He has engraved their name on his hand. They are his! This nation will be restored. Amazing picture in v17 of God’s children/builders fleeing captivity while enemy/oppressors flee Zion. It says in v18 Zion should look and see the children returning who will be like an ornament and in fact v19-20 there are so many they overflow the city. The children come home saying there is not enough room. And we see Zion question in v21 where did they come from? They are true children who join the family by faith in the Father and not by DNA. These blessings are gifts brought by the Spirit not products of people’s fruitfulness or deserved rewards. The place of desolation has become place of celebration! Not only does this contrasts apparent doom of Babylon but is something we look forward to as well!
Why do is say that? Well the reality is only a small amount faithful remnant actually return from Babylon. It seems to be a prophetic vision beyond when Cyrus sends them home. Rather the description here better reflects a time when God’s servant draws the nations to himself, gathering a people whose number is greater than stars in the sky and the sand on the seas as promised to Abe in Gen 12. Knowing that John quotes this chapter in Revelation 7 it would seem right to apply the context of this overflow there where a multitude from every tribe, tongue, nation, and language who too great to number are around the throne of the Lamb! This looks to the New Jerusalem and the New Heavens and New Earth, a city which is said to be 1400 miles long, wide, and tall. The city grows to accommodate the children of God! Literal or not it’s a big and a real place where real restored people really return and experience the blessings of God in the presence of their Servant and savior Jesus Christ!! We can wait on the Servant because God does not forget and promise restoration for all who trust in Him!
But we don’t always feel that way. We are not the most patient. Those who don’t know the Lord we know its hogwash that things don’t get better just by belief. I’d say though a bit cynical that’s approximately right. Except the peace the surpasses understand on the inside and the joy that remains even in trials. Those who think they know the Lord are challenged to consider if faith is sincere here. Where am I turning when I’m stuck in sin, discipline, silence, suffering? Do you wait on the God who does not forget? For the believer in the room, especially those of us from the western world whose minds work more in milisections than minutes let alone days or decades, do we trust the Lords timing of when he will make all things right? Even now it at times seems this deliverance is far off as we have all these promises of union with Christ and benefits and blessings it offers yet we don’t see a fully realized kingdom. We get what it means to be laboring and not see much. TO be hated and yet know there will be praise. But if the Servant went through it for us, and promises there are blessings coming to us, we got time to wait.
Promise after promise says God is the only hope and he will never leave or forsake us. We see examples over and over and over in the Bible and yet we fall into the same trap. The unfolding plan of God is one that takes waiting. We should respond with patient waiting BECAUSE God doesn’t forget. We have to beat it into our brain. SO now that you know it, what’s the next step? Remind yourself of from God’s Word and the myriad of examples that God doesn’t forget. His timing is perfect even when it doesn’t seem possible and trusting brings blessings in this life or the next, that leave our mouths hanging opening in awe and asking questions like Zion in v21. Is there something in your life you are waiting on? Look to Jesus and find comfort!
God doesn’t leave it there though. He continues his compassionate explanation of why they can continue to wait on in v22-26, There is loving inclusion of the nations who submit to God and participate in this waiting and also there is a warning that anyone stepping to Zion will be crushed because YHWH. He won’t break promises and allow anyone in the way, His plan will have a glorious end. We wait on the servant because he is the one…
- who saves through judgement (v22-26)
This may seem a curious phrase. Borrowing from Dr Jim Hamilton Jr who argues this is a unifying theme of the whole Bible and that it particularly stands out here. He says “Salvation and judgment balance one another. The reality of judgment should keep us from thinking of God in purely sentimental terms as though he were a grandfatherly buddy who just lets things go. The reality of salvation should likewise keep us from thinking of God as merely a terrifying, vengeful judge. Those who flee to him will be saved, but those who do not fear him will be judged. Salvation always come through judgment and, in particular salvation for all believers of all ages is made possible by the judgment that falls on Jesus at the cross.” I think what we have here is a picture of this balance, a mix of warning and hope. The Servant says he offers salvation for those who submit, and he offers judgment for those who resist his rule.
We see v22 reads like earlier in Isaiah where a signal ushered in nations of world to attack Judah now it reads like reversal where signal raised to have nations of world return exiles. This is not banner of war but banner of return. This is possible in part looking to Cyrus and Persians who sent Israel back and aided financially but seems something more as v23 shows kings and queens as foster parents lovingly carrying kids on shoulders and in their arms. They bow down as act of submission and faith. God is known and does not putt his people to shame! Another rhetorical question v24 but God answers he is the greater power who can do what seems impossible. There is an emphasis in v25 as Hebrew uses pronoun when not needed to emphasize God’s care. The Redeemer of Israel also won’t let his people be shamed and wont let those who oppose go unpunished. This gruesome depiction in v26 shows that nations will drink self-destruction.
Again this happens in part to the enemies of God when returning from exile but it seems something grander happening here. I think this is what is in Jesus mind as he refutes those who opposed his ministry in the gospels. We have a specific example Matthew 12 and Mark 3 but I think Luke captures it best in Luke 11:21-23 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Jesus is the Servant who binds the strong man, releasing his people from not just physical captivity but spiritual exile. He desires that his banner, which is the gospel proclamation will spread to the ends of the earth so that Jewish and Gentiles alike are called to be saved and enter into his New Heavens and New Earth. Yet this saving of some means judgment of others. The judgement is on you or on the Redeemer who paid the price. Are you a part of this work in your waiting OR are you opposing this work. Either way, we have a date with this Servant coming one day. No matter the relationship this is unavoidable as this passage emphasizes that this salvation through judgment will be made know to all flesh!
The servant accomplished salvation through judgment for God’s glory in a way that baffles the world. All flesh will know that YHWH alone is Savior and Redeemer and Mighty One. This servant is Jesus Christ. And as we close this morning I want to take us to one more NT passage of Paul quoting Isaiah 49:8. Here we see how this reality of Servant is summed up. Paul finishes talking about the God sending the one who knew no sin so that in him we might be the righteousness of God and be made to be ambassadors for him. We join his team and called to share his mission. Then he appeals to this church to not hear this message and gain this knowledge in vain.
2 Cor 6:1-2 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Paul says if you hear this message of Gods plan to save, join the team! Don’t sit as an outsider or selection day nor as fan who misses the true blessings of being a child of God. The call is to respond NOW. In this favorable time, be saved! Widen your hearts to the Lord and see now is the day of salvation! Place your trust in the Servant, that he may be your Savior.
Also stated here for those who are on the team, who do say “Our Savior, is that we are to be about worship AND waiting on him. Paul says he is working together with Jesus in the mission of spreading his message of the gospel. Sometime later read the rest of 2 Cor 6 and see the greater context of calling us not just to work together with Jesus but not put any obstacle in the way of our mission to make our Savior known. Like the Servant himself, it will take hard things like enduring, going through affliction, calamity, beatings, hunger, and yet by purity, knowledge, patience, love, trust, through the power of God though we are carried home. How are you responding to the knowledge of God’s plan today? I pray you worship & wait on Jesus Christ.
Pray