Servant songs of Isaiah - Song 2

The Servant Songs of Isaiah- Song 2

Laindon Bible Study23rd May 2012

The Servant Songs of Isaiah - Song 2 2

Our five studies (God willing)St

udy

1

Introduction &

Background

Stud

y 2

Song 1Tone of Service

Stud

y 3

Song 2Origin of Service

Stud

y 4

Song 3Basis of Service

Stud

y 5

Song 4Results of

Service

23rd May 2012

Reminder – our key question:What does it take to be God’s servant?

Reminder – our key question:What will it take for us to be God’s servant?


Song 1:Tone of service

A one slide recap Study 2• ESV heading for Song 1 a good summary: ‘The Lord commissions his special servant’• Core of the song is chapter 42 verses 1-4, but with an addendum in verses 5-7• Ultimate fulfilment our Lord Jesus Christ, as seen by its quotation in Matt. 12 v 18-21• Historical fulfilment (the servant that people of day could “Behold”) was Hezekiah:

– The contest between the servants of Sennacherib and God’s servant Hezekiah (2 Chron. 32 v 9-10,16)– The historical heart of Isaiah (36-39), which immediately precedes the songs section, all about Hezekiah– The pattern of his life – a spiritual revival, a special passover, scorned/derided and his life threatened

• The tone of our Lord’s service: – He did not desire to make himself known, rather he wanted to speak about his Heavenly Father (Master)– He displayed eloquence without screaming, clarity without loudness & distinction without showiness– He did not shriek or call aloud, the soundness of his arguments did not rest upon sound (volume)– He provided gentle encouragement to his listeners, fanning the dying embers back into flame

• The witness of his God-given powers was a light to both Jews and Gentiles• We too must “not strive; but be gentle... patient, in meekness” (2 Tim. 2 v 24-26)• Key summarising words (which epitomise the tone of service): meekness, calmness,

gentleness, quietness, patience, endurance, encouragement and compassion

23rd May 2012


SongIsaiah reference (minimum)

Service theme

Servant’s situation

Servant’s response

God’s provision

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] Tone

Divinely selected – v 1

Not discouraged – v 4

Delighted in – v 1

Two ch. 49 v 1-6 Origin Laboured/spent – v 4

Submission – v 1/5

Strengthened – v 5

Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Basis Smitten/ ashamed – v 6

Resolve – v 7

Helped – v 7/9

Four ch. 52 v 13 – ch. 53 v 12 Results Cut off

– v 8Satisfaction – v 11

Prolonged – v 10


Service theme

Servant’s situation

Servant’s response

God’s provision

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] Tone

Divinely selected – v 1

Not discouraged – v 4

Delighted in – v 1

Two ch. 49 v 1-6 Origin Laboured/spent – v 4

Submission – v 1/5

Strengthened – v 5

Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Basis Smitten/ ashamed – v 6

Resolve – v 7

Helped – v 7/9

Four ch. 52 v 13 – ch. 53 v 12 Results Cut off

– v 8Satisfaction – v 11

Prolonged – v 10

The Four Servant Songs table 1

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Inte

nsity

Inte

nsity

Inte

nsity


The Four Servant Songs table 2


Direct quotes in

NTQuotations

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] 1 42 v 1-4 cited Matthew 12 v 18-21

Two ch. 49 v 1-6 1 49 v 6 cited Acts 13 v 47

Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Nil No citations

Four ch. 52 v 13 – ch. 53 v 12 9

52 v 15 cited Romans 15 v 21; 53 v 1 cited John 12 v 38; 53 v 1 cited Romans 10 v 16; 53 v 4 cited Matthew 8 v 17; 53 v 4-5 cited 1 Peter 2 v 24; 53 v 7-8 cited Acts 8 v 32-33; 53 v 9 cited 1 Peter 2 v 22; 53 v 12 cited Mark 15 v 28; 53 v 12 cited Luke 22 v 37

11(/ 110 = 10%)

23rd May 2012


Direct quotes in

NTQuotations

One ch. 42 v 1-4[probably to v7] 1 42 v 1-4 cited Matthew 12 v 18-21

Two ch. 49 v 1-6 1 49 v 6 cited Acts 13 v 47

Three ch. 50 v 4-9 Nil No citations

Four ch. 52 v 13 – ch. 53 v 12 9

52 v 15 cited Romans 15 v 21; 53 v 1 cited John 12 v 38; 53 v 1 cited Romans 10 v 16; 53 v 4 cited Matthew 8 v 17; 53 v 4-5 cited 1 Peter 2 v 24; 53 v 7-8 cited Acts 8 v 32-33; 53 v 9 cited 1 Peter 2 v 22; 53 v 12 cited Mark 15 v 28; 53 v 12 cited Luke 22 v 37

11(/ 110 = 10%)


Song 2 – Origin of service

23rd May 2012

Isaiah 49 v 1-6 God calls his special servant NCV The servant brings salvation HCSB

1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God. 5 And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. 6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Cooperation

Word-led Submission

God’s glory

The individual servant epitomises all national Israel should have been...


Isaiah 49 v 1-61 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God. 5 And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. 6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Song 2 & Hezekiah

23rd May 2012

The importance of Hezekiah’s mother in his upbringing. Her name, Abijah, means: ‘Yah is (my) father’ a. Also note the shadow in Isaiah’s prophecy b

In the day of his calamity (the land invaded, his own life ebbing) Hezekiah felt exactly this way c

Gentile powers saw Israel’s king raised up d

a 2 Chron. 29v1, b Isa. 7v14, c Isa. 37v3, d 2 Kings 20v12


The NT quotation of Song 2

How can this be understood? Who is the “thee” in v. 47?

23rd May 2012

Acts 13 v 46-4746 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

Isaiah 49 v 66 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Acts 13 v 4747 For such is the Lord's command to us. "`I have placed Thee,' He says of Christ, `as a light to the Gentiles, in order that Thou mayest be a Saviour as far as the remotest parts of the earth.'"

Weymouth

John 13 v 2020 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.


The origin of Jesus’ service

1. Jesus conceived in the womb of mother Mary through God’s power (Luke 1v35)

2. Jesus named before his actual birth (Luke 1v31)

3. Jesus’ words (sword, arrows) given to him by his Master (John 7v16)

4. Jesus formed to be God’s ideal servant (Philippians 2v7)

23rd May 2012

Isaiah 49 v 1-61 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand

hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my

work with my God. 5 And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. 6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.


The impact of this origin on Jesus’ service

• A work of glorification of His Father– “Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified” (Isa. 49v3)

– “I have glorified thee on the earth” (Jho. 17v4)

• A work of cooperation with His Father– “my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God” (v.4)

– “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (2 Cor. 5v19)

• A work focussed on the people of His Father – “to bring Jacob again to him” “to raise up the tribes of Jacob” (v.5,6)

– “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of... Israel.” (Matt. 15v24)

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Verses 1-2

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Isaiah 49 v 1-2 1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

From the outset, the phraseology of the song emphasises the reliance of the servant upon his master (and shows their deep mutual bond): “The Lord... called me... he made

mention of my name... he... made my mouth like a sharp

sword... he hid me... made me a polished shaft... he hid me...”

Two descriptions of servant’s words (“mouth”): “sharp sword” (cp. Jesus in Rev. 1v16, 2v12/16)

Uncovering and exposing motive“polished shaft” (NET: “sharpened arrow”) (cp. use of symbol Psa. 57v4, 64v3, albeit –ive)

Piercing and touching conscience

“hid me” – two different Hebrew words – together convey idea of concealed, kept close, kept secret and held... How Jesus instructed(?)


Verses 3-5

23rd May 2012

Isaiah 49 v 3-53 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God. 5 And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.

“laboured in vain... strength for nought”, an insight into Jesus’ feelings of despair, his Master’s message having been rejected? [note: parallelism]

“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.” (Luke 19 v 41-42)

...”yet” God is the rebalancer, rewarding the servant for his motive force, not results alone:

“But the Lord will vindicate me; my God will reward me.” (NET)“yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.” (ESV)

John 17 v 1-6


Verse 6

23rd May 2012

Isaiah 49 v 66 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

“It is a light thing...” the servant’s work/influence is beyond “Jacob and Israel”, it also encapsulates “the Gentiles” and “the end of the earth”. Compare with Abrahamic promises: “...in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12 v 3)

Luke 2 v 29-32

29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.


The lesson from this song for us

23rd May 2012

Ephesians 1 v 4-5,8-9

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ... 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:


Conclusion Song 2

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Origin of service

• Made• Called

• Named• Taught

• Word-led• Cooperation

• Submission • God’s glory

The Servant Songs of Isaiah - Song 2 1623rd May 2012

“Let this mind

be in you”** Philippians 2v5

Servant songs of Isaiah - Song 2

Spiritual

Transcript of Servant songs of Isaiah - Song 2