Isaiah 49:1-7
Reflect
This is the second out of four of the ‘Servant Songs’.
Some commentaries see the suffering servant as someone other than the Christ of the New Testament and it really does seem unclear in verses 1-4. But then verses 5-7 clarify that this passage is more about Jesus the Servant of God. It is He who is God’s chosen instrument. It is He who is a light of glory for Israel and a light of revelation for the Gentiles (Luke 2:32). It is He who is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, He is both the power and the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:23-24). It is He who is despised and abhorred by the nations (Isaiah 49:7). It is He who fulfils the promise of God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to make them a blessing to all the earth. In the midst of His disappointment and discouragement (v 4), He is reminded that He must do what God has called Him to do: redeem the lost, save the sinner, rescue the fallen, restore the tribes of Jacob, be a light to the Gentiles, and bring God’s salvation to the ends of the earth.
Karen Alksne
Pray
- Pray for Pastor Lyle, his family and ministry.
- Pray for Eric Peters, Facility Manager; Custodians, Adit Gamble, Stan Goodnough and Anne King; Maintenance, Joe Richards.
- Pray for our Church Board members: Barbara Whidden, Bee Stiansen, Cam Klapstein, Darryl Sparling, Gerhard Hiob, Julie Leverette, Matt Barker, Matt Chute, Mike Pedde, Nick Mitchell, Seth Jansen, and Tyler Elmgren.
- Pray for our office staff: Robin Radke and Naomi Voss; Bookkeeper Lynette Carlson.