Isaiah 49
Good stuff. Spring semester's over, got plane tickets to AMI (thank you CKL!!!), and God is faithful as usual!
Verse 1-4: Ok, at this point, I don't know if Isaiah is speaking, or if there's some major prophecy stuff going on where this is Jesus speaking, or if I have no idea what's going on. But I'm pretty sure there's some Jesus prophecy stuff going on. I think it's important to note that this starts off with somebody telling the coastlands (other nations) to here what's about to be said. So whoever this "chosen servant" is, he is clearly THE CHOSEN ONE. I like to see verse 4 as Jesus speaking. He has labored so much, completely spent Himself on that road to Calvary, bloody, exhausted, and it all seems to be in vain as the people on the side, who cheered for Him and worshiped His name only a few days ago, look upon Him in pity, fear, criticism, and hopelessness. And yet in spite of all of this, the King chooses to find comfort and recompense in His God.
Verses 5-7: This is such an epic part. Once again, I can't really tell if God is speaking to the prophet Isaiah or if this is some prophecy thing about Jesus, but I'm gonna go with the latter. So in the previous chapters, there have been numerous references about some chosen servant that will redeem fallen Israel; the lost will return, and it will once again become a kingdom where God is pleased to dwell. But WOWIEZ, verse 6... The redemption of one chosen nation is not enough! The redemption of all nations and kingdoms of this world... that will have to do. WOW. I love this verse. And in verse 7, I think it's once again referring to Jesus. He may be God's chosen one, but we mustn't forget that He is humble and hated by the world (John 12:13-14, Philippians 2:1-8, John 15:18-25). But at the right time, He will come in all His glory, and then everything in a creation will know (Philippians 2:9-11). He is worthy of it all!