So as we commence chapter 49, and so pass into the central section, we immediately hear His voice in the spirit of prophecy, calling upon us to listen to Him. In the Gospel of John He is introduced to us as “the Word”, the One in whom the whole mind of God is expressed; and at the transfiguration the voice out of the cloud said, “Hear ye Him.” So we are not surprised that prophetically He should say, “Listen... unto Me”. What might surprise and might well surprise an attentive Jewish reader, is that He should address His call to the “isles”, and to “peoples from afar”, for the word, we understand, is in the plural, indicating the distant nations, and not the people of Israel. But so it was; and thus at the start of this new section it is intimated that what He has to say, and what He will accomplish, will be for the benefit of all men and not only for the people of Israel.
His words will cut like a sword and pierce like an arrow when He comes forth from the Divine quiver, for He shall appear as the true Servant of God and the true Israel; i.e., “Prince of God”. As the earlier chapters have shown the national Israel had been called to serve God but had failed completely. This true Israel is declared to be called from the womb, made a “polished shaft” to fly unerringly as directed, and in Him, Jehovah says, “I will be glorified.” We can now say, In whom He has been glorified, and in whom He will yet be glorified in a supreme and public way.
And then, in our chapter, comes verse 4. How often it has been the case in this fallen world that the servants of God have had to taste the bitterness of defeat and apparent failure. Indeed it seems to have been the rule rather than the exception. The supreme example of this is found in our Lord Himself. He came, as the Apostle Paul states, “A Minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers” (Rom. 15:88Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: (Romans 15:8)); but, rejected by “the circumcision”, His mission from that standpoint was marked by failure. He did indeed labor, but it was “in vain”. His strength was put forth, but “for naught”. Thus it was to all appearance, and according to the judgment of man.
“Yet”, says the Messiah, “surely My judgment is with the Lord and My work with My God.” His labor, His work, the exertion of His strength was not in vain, for God had entrusted to His Servant a task far deeper and wider and more wonderful than being just “a Minister of the circumcision”, as we shall find intimated in our chapter, though we must travel into the New Testament to get a full view of its greatness.
Into that full light we today have been brought, so that with full hearts we can take up the little hymn that begins,
His be “the Victor’s name”,
and go on to sing,
By weakness and defeat,
He won the meed and crown;
Trod all our foes beneath His feet,
By being trodden down.
Chapters 49:5-51:16
The copyright for this material is assigned to Scripture Truth Publications. Used by permission.