Old Testament for January 15, 2023

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Isaiah 49:1-7
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This is the second of four Servant Songs in Isaiah (the others may be found in Isaiah 42, 50, and 53).  The Servant is speaking of his call from God, which originated even before he was born, while he was still in the womb.  Although the Servant is named Israel, his audience extends beyond the people of Jacob and Israel.  This Servant is speaking to islands, and to:

  peoples, from afar.

He was given a powerful mandate from Yahweh.  The metaphors used to describe the Servant’s mission are heavily militaristic — his mouth is like a sharp sword; he is like a polished shaft (i.e., an arrow), who is kept close in a quiver.  Presumably, Yahweh is waiting for the opportune time to unleash his “weapon.”

But Yahweh is very clear in his affirmation of the Servant’s usefulness to him:

He said to me, “You are my servant;
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

Nevertheless, the Servant expresses a sense of ambivalence about his effectiveness and ministry: 

But I said, “I have labored in vain.
I have spent my strength in vain for nothing;
yet surely the justice due to me is with Yahweh,
and my reward with my God.”

This brings us to the question of the Servant’s identity.  One interpretation is that the Servant represents the entire nation of Israel/Judah.  Historically, we know that they experienced defeat and exile — the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.; the Southern Kingdom of Judah in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians.

This might explain their sense of futility and failure.  And yet despite this disappointment, the Servant proclaims that Yahweh will bring justice and will reward him.

However, the Servant seems to be more particular and individual than corporate.  We are told that from the beginning, his purpose was to restore the fortunes of his people:

Now Yahweh says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob again to him,
and to gather Israel to him….

But again, his mission extends beyond Israel, to include all people: 

 Indeed, he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel.
I will also give you as a light to the nations,
that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”

This Servant’s salvation is not exclusively for Israel; his mission is inclusive of all people everywhere.  He is to be the light to the nations.

Yahweh is the Redeemer of Israel, but he is also God of all nations.

This is the paradox of the Servant — Yahweh has chosen to accomplish his salvation through this Servant, who is despised and abhorred by the nations.  So complete is his success that one day even royalty shall worship the God of Israel:

“Kings shall see and rise up;
princes, and they shall worship;
because of Yahweh who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

APPLY:  

Once again, when we read Isaiah, we find ourselves torn between two perspectives.  On the one hand, there are references here that can be set in the historical context of an oppressed nation that rises from the ashes and becomes a beacon of hope and worship for all nations.  There is the hope that a restored Israel will become a light to the nations.  

On the other hand, the Christian expositor can’t help but note the Messianic tone in this passage.  In fact, it is hard not to see hints of the ministry of Jesus as the Servant in the Servant Songs.  Here specifically, we see the parallels:

• The Servant is called from the womb; the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that the Son of God is to be conceived in her womb. John’s Gospel goes even farther, and speaks of Jesus’ preexistence from before the beginning of creation.
• Jesus says of himself:  For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
• Jesus also says of himself that he is the Light of the world (John 8:12).

This is a reminder that the nation of Israel has a unique role in the salvation history that includes all nations. Israel’s calling as the Servant of God was filled with great achievement as well as apostasy and failure.  From the ashes of their defeat, they were invariably restored.  And from this nation, the Messiah of all nations was born.

Our Messiah suffered as the Servant, and through his death and resurrection brought salvation for all.

RESPOND: 

This prophecy from an ancient Hebrew prophet comes alive for me — that these promises are for me, and for all of us!

But I’m also profoundly aware that even the Servant in this passage experienced discouragement in his ministry.  In a strange way, I find that very comforting.  The times in which I live are uncertain internationally, nationally, and in my own denomination.  I wonder sometimes if my own ministry has made a difference, though I’ve had “successes” from a human point of view, as well as failures.

I’m grateful that success ultimately doesn’t depend upon me, but upon God.

Lord, throughout the annals of history, one message becomes clear to me — no matter what our disappointments and failures, your plan for history is redemption and salvation.  When I get discouraged, please remind me that you are Lord of history, and will cause all things to work together for good.  Amen. 

PHOTOS:
“Song of the Servant” uses this photo:
“crown of thorns” by .brioso. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.

Old Testament for January 19, 2020

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Isaiah 49:1-7
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This is the second of four Servant Songs in Isaiah (the others may be found in Isaiah 42, 50, and 53).  The Servant is speaking of his call from God, which originated even before he was born, while he was still in the womb.  Although the Servant  is named Israel, his audience extends beyond the people of Jacob and Israel.  This Servant is speaking to islands,  and to:

  peoples, from afar.

He was given a powerful mandate from Yahweh.  The metaphors used to describe the Servant’s mission are heavily militaristic — his mouth is like a sharp sword ; he is like a polished shaft (i.e., an arrow), who is kept  close in a quiver.  Presumably, Yahweh is waiting for the opportune time to unleash his “weapon.”

But Yahweh is very clear in his affirmation of the Servant’s usefulness to him:

He said to me, “You are my servant;
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

Nevertheless, the Servant expresses a sense of ambivalence about his effectiveness and ministry: 

But I said, “I have labored in vain.
I have spent my strength in vain for nothing;
yet surely the justice due to me is with Yahweh,
and my reward with my God.”

This brings us to the question of the Servant’s identity.  One interpretation is that the Servant  represents the entire nation of Israel/Judah.  Historically, we know that they experienced defeat and exile — the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.; the Southern Kingdom of Judah in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians.

This might explain their sense of futility and failure.  And yet despite this disappointment, the Servant proclaims that Yahweh  will bring justice and will reward him.

However, the Servant seems to be more particular and individual than corporate.  We are told that from the beginning, his purpose was to restore the fortunes of his people:

Now Yahweh says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob again to him,
and to gather Israel to him….

But again, his mission extends beyond Israel, to include all people: 

 Indeed, he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel.
I will also give you as a light to the nations,
that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”

This Servant’s  salvation is not exclusively for Israel;  his mission is inclusive of all people everywhere.  He is to be the light to the nations.

Yahweh is the Redeemer of Israel, but he is also God of all nations.

This is the paradox of the Servant — Yahweh  has chosen to accomplish his salvation through this Servant, who is despised and abhorred by the nations.  So complete is his success that one day even royalty shall worship the God of Israel:

“Kings shall see and rise up;
princes, and they shall worship;
because of Yahweh who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

APPLY:  

Once again, when we read Isaiah, we find ourselves torn between two perspectives.  On the one hand, there are references here that can be set in the historical context of an oppressed nation that rises from the ashes and becomes a beacon of hope and worship for all nations.  There is the hope that a restored Israel will become a light to the nations.  

On the other hand, the Christian expositor can’t help but note the Messianic tone in this passage.  In fact, it is hard not to see hints of the ministry of Jesus as the Servant in the Servant Songs.  Here specifically, we see the parallels:

• The Servant is called from the womb; the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that the Son of God is to be conceived in her womb. John’s Gospel goes even farther, and speaks of Jesus’ preexistence from before the beginning of creation.
• Jesus says of himself:  For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
• Jesus also says of himself that he is the Light of the world (John 8:12).

This is a reminder that the nation of Israel has a unique role in the salvation history that includes all nations. Israel’s calling as the Servant of God was filled with great achievement as well as apostasy and failure.  From the ashes of their defeat, they were invariably restored.  And from this nation, the Messiah of all nations was born.

Our Messiah suffered as the Servant, and through his death and resurrection brought salvation for all.

RESPOND: 

This prophecy from an ancient Hebrew prophet comes alive for me — that these promises are for me, and for all of us!

But I’m also profoundly aware that even the Servant in this passage experienced discouragement in his ministry.  In a strange way, I find that very comforting.  The times in which I live are uncertain internationally, nationally, and in my own denomination.  I wonder sometimes if my own ministry has made a difference, though I’ve had “successes” from a human point of view, as well as failures.

I’m grateful that success ultimately doesn’t depend upon me, but upon God.

Lord, throughout the annals of history, one message becomes clear to me — no matter what our disappointments and failures, your plan for history is redemption and salvation.  When I get discouraged, please remind me that you are Lord of history, and will cause all things to work together for good.  Amen. 

PHOTOS:
“Song of the Servant” uses this photo:
“crown of thorns” by .brioso. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.

Old Testament for January 15, 2017

Start with Scripture:

Isaiah 49:1-7

CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This is the second of four Servant Songs in Isaiah (the others may be found in Isaiah 42, 50, and 53).  The Servant is speaking of his call from God, which originated even before he was born, while he was still in the womb.  Although the Servant  is named Israel, his audience extends beyond the people of Jacob and Israel.  This Servant is speaking to islands,  and to:

  peoples, from afar.

He was given a powerful mandate from Yahweh.  The metaphors used to describe the Servant’s mission are heavily militaristic — his mouth is like a sharp sword ; he is like a polished shaft (i.e., an arrow), who is kept  close in a quiver.  Presumably, Yahweh is waiting for the opportune time to unleash his “weapon.”

But Yahweh is very clear in his affirmation of the Servant’s usefulness to him:

He said to me, “You are my servant;
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

Nevertheless, the Servant expresses a sense of ambivalence about his effectiveness and ministry: 

But I said, “I have labored in vain.
I have spent my strength in vain for nothing;
yet surely the justice due to me is with Yahweh,
and my reward with my God.”

This brings us to the question of the Servant’s identity.  One interpretation is that the Servant  represents the entire nation of Israel/Judah.  Historically, we know that they experienced defeat and exile — the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.; the Southern Kingdom of Judah in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians.

This might explain their sense of futility and failure.  And yet despite this disappointment, the Servant proclaims that Yahweh  will bring justice and will reward him.

However, the Servant seems to be more particular and individual than corporate.  We are told that from the beginning, his purpose was to restore the fortunes of his people:

Now Yahweh says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob again to him,
and to gather Israel to him….

But again, his mission extends beyond Israel, to include all people: 

 Indeed, he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel.
I will also give you as a light to the nations,
that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”

This Servant’s  salvation is not exclusively for Israel;  his mission is inclusive of all people everywhere.  He is to be the light to the nations.

Yahweh is the Redeemer of Israel, but he is also God of all nations.

This is the paradox of the Servant — Yahweh  has chosen to accomplish his salvation through this Servant, who is despised and abhorred by the nations.  So complete is his success that one day even royalty shall worship the God of Israel:

“Kings shall see and rise up;
princes, and they shall worship;
because of Yahweh who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

APPLY:  

Once again, when we read Isaiah, we find ourselves torn between two perspectives.  On the one hand, there are references here that can be set in the historical context of an oppressed nation that rises from the ashes and becomes a beacon of hope and worship for all nations.  There is the hope that a restored Israel will become a light to the nations.  

On the other hand, the Christian expositor can’t help but note the Messianic tone in this passage.  In fact, it is hard not to see hints of the ministry of Jesus as the Servant in the Servant Songs.  Here specifically, we see the parallels:

• The Servant is called from the womb; the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that the Son of God is to be conceived in her womb. John’s Gospel goes even farther, and speaks of Jesus’ preexistence from before the beginning of creation.
• Jesus says of himself:  For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
• Jesus also says of himself that he is the Light of the world (John 8:12).

This is a reminder that the nation of Israel has a unique role in the salvation history that includes all nations. Israel’s calling as the Servant of God was filled with great achievement as well as apostasy and failure.  From the ashes of their defeat, they were invariably restored.  And from this nation, the Messiah of all nations was born.

Our Messiah suffered as the Servant, and through his death and resurrection brought salvation for all.

RESPOND: 

This prophecy from an ancient Hebrew prophet comes alive for me — that these promises are for me, and for all of us!

But I’m also profoundly aware that even the Servant in this passage experienced discouragement in his ministry.  In a strange way, I find that very comforting.  The times in which I live are uncertain internationally, nationally, and in my own denomination.  I wonder sometimes if my own ministry has made a difference, though I’ve had “successes” from a human point of view, as well as failures.

I’m grateful that success ultimately doesn’t depend upon me, but upon God.

Lord, throughout the annals of history, one message becomes clear to me — no matter what our disappointments and failures, your plan for history is redemption and salvation.  When I get discouraged, please remind me that you are Lord of history, and will cause all things to work together for good.  Amen. 

PHOTOS:
“Song of the Servant” uses this photo:
“crown of thorns” by .brioso. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.