It has been said that the Bible comes to us much like a mystery novel, where a majority of the story is looking for an answer that only becomes clear in the latter part of the book. But once it is seen, then the earlier chapters come to make a lot more sense. I think that is a fair comparison, for what we find in these chapters is a clearer indication of the answer for which creation had been waiting since the fall.

From the point that Adam sins in the garden, the Bible focuses us on answering the question of how God will redeem his people from the captivity of Satan, sin, and death. We know very early in Genesis that God will gather a people for himself as he calls out Abraham and tells him as much. And it seems that maybe Abraham’s physical descendants, Israel, will be the answer to bringing redemption to the world. However, they show themselves to fail again and again. Where they are to be a vine filling the world with fruit, they yield sour grapes (see Isaiah 5).

Yet, as we read through the Scripture, though we find many more questions as to the nature of redemption arising, we find many more answers too. Thus, last week as we looked at Isaiah 47-48, I argued that God was using Israel’s redemption from Babylonian exile to show us what his plan of redemption for his people from sin would look like. This week, because of the progressive nature of the Bible, I think we are getting much the same thing. However, it seems that Isaiah is no longer holding redemption from Babylonian captivity in the forefront to picture redemption from sin but is speaking clearly about God’s work of redeeming his people from sin.

Therefore, this morning I want us first to see the details of redemption Isaiah reveals to those to whom he was writing in his own time, then to examine that in light of what we know (living after the time of Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension), and then see how we need to apply these truths and exhortations where we are in the course of redemptive history.

The opening detail that Isaiah gives us in this section is that God’s work of redemption will be carried out through the work of another, namely, his servant.

God’s work of redemption will be carried out by his servant and will be universal in its scope (49:1-13; 50:4-51:8)

Now, if you had just been reading through the book of Isaiah, this would be no surprise. “Sure,” we might say, “God is going to redeem the world through Israel, whom he often calls his servant.” And it would be hard to argue with that. After all, Isaiah 44:1 is simply one reference among many in which God speaks of blessing the world through his servant and clearly identifies his servant as Israel, declaring, “But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen.” And, turning to our text this morning, we see more of the same. In 49:3 we see the identity of the servant, being addressed as God says, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” Then, at the end of 49:6 we see this plan of salvation for the earth as God declares, “I will make you a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Where the text becomes a bit confusing, however, is with verses 5-6. There, we read, “And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him – for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength – he says: ‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’”

Thus, again, God has a plan to redeem more than simply people from Israel, but he has a plan to bring salvation to all the ends of the earth, declaring that it would be too light a thing to use his servant simply to redeem people from one nation. However, we also see that the servant himself will redeem Israel. That is to say, Israel, who was meant to be a means to bring about salvation to the ends of the earth now finds herself in captivity in need of redemption, therefore, there is another who will fulfill the task of redemption even for Israel, thus he more clearly deserves the name. He is the true vine, the true son, the true servant. The titles God has given to his people in that nation, now fall to one. Thus, we see that Israel’s identity and task will fall to one. And we know that this Israel has a name, Jesus of Nazareth. He is the one who declares of himself, “I am the true vine” (John 15:1) and is clearly shown to be the true Israel.

Therefore, seeing what we know from the New Testament concerning the identity of this servant, Israel, as Jesus of Nazareth our insight into the work of salvation can continue to expand as we look at this text again in Isaiah.

We soon see that the language of this text does not lead us simply to think that the servant will bring a means of salvation but that he is salvation. In verse 8 we read: “Thus says the LORD: ‘In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages.” Thus, the blessings that God has promised his people will come to them in Christ. That is to say, the blessings that God has promised will indeed come to his people, but only because his people are those who are united with Christ, who is the recipient of all of God’s blessings. This is why union with Christ is so important, but let’s first turn to more of the text before we see how this works.

We see that God will bring salvation in his servant, and that it will involve the suffering and vindication of his servant. In 50:4-9, we Isaiah discusses the servant again, and we clearly see that he is suffering but will be vindicated as the true servant of God. In verses 5-8 we read that he is clearly righteous, but suffered great suffering only to be helped by God who showed him to be in the right. And, again, from a New Testament perspective, we know that Jesus was indeed perfectly obedient as he never sinned. Yet, he did suffering, dying the death of a criminal only to be vindicated by the Father as he was raised from the dead.

And, finally, understanding the work of the servant, we see that men will be required to trust and obey the servant, and those who do will be individuals from all over the earth who will know the blessings of salvation. In 50:10 man is told to obey the servant and trust in the name of the Lord. Then, God reminds Israel in 51:2 that God called Abraham in order to multiply him, in verse 5 that his righteousness and salvation will not be confined to Israel but will go out to the coastlands, and in verses 6 and 8 that God will save men not only from all nations but from all generations.

Therefore, we see this: 1) God’s work of salvation will be wrapped up in his servant Israel, who’s name we know is Jesus of Nazareth, 2) that he will not simply bring salvation and the blessings promised to God’s people but will himself be salvation and the one in whom the blessings come, 3) that his work of redeeming God’s people will involve his suffering and vindication, and 4) that his work of salvation will come to people from all nations and in all generations as they obey and trust in him. We will return to this again shortly to see how this has come about in history.

But let us say one more thing about God’s work of salvation and redemption that Isaiah is communicating to his readers in this text.

God’s work of redemption is sure because it stems from the very desire of God (49:14-50:3)

As you look at 49:14-50:3 one thing that becomes overwhelmingly clear is that God has a great desire to redeem his people. In verse 14 he points out that Zion thinks God has forgotten her, which he answers with his dedication to his people being like a woman to her nursing infant (49:15). Specifically, we read in 49:15-16, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”

Does this sound like a God whose arm is being twisted to make him move? Absolutely not. Israel only wanted to rebel, but God desires to redeem. It stems from his heart to work. Thus, he tells them in 19-21 that the land will be too narrow for all the people he will redeem – something that clearly wasn’t the case after release from Babylonian captivity but indeed is the case with all those whom the Lord has redeemed from sin.

Then, he tells them that no enemy, or legal barriers, or any other difficulty will be able to stop his work of redemption. He declares in 49:22 that he will simply lift his hand and the people will come. In 49:23 he tells them that kings and the greatest powers of the world will not be able to stop him, writing in 49:26, “I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine.” Then, again, in verse 24-25 he asks what about the captives of a righteous man. That is to say, “What if you are righteously held captive, can you then still be freed?” And the answer is, yes, for God will contend with those who contend with his people even as they were made captives because of their sin (50:1). In short, this section is summarized with God’s question, “Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver” (50:2). The obvious answers to these questions is that God indeed can redeem as his hand is not too short and he has all power.

Therefore, as Isaiah’s readers might have asked, “How can we know that all this will happen when it seems so difficult and even impossible?” Isaiah’s answer is that God desires deeply in his heart to redeem his people in the fashion he has described, and there is none to keep the Lord from doing what he pleases. When God declares that his people, whose names are engraved on his hands, will be delivered from captivity by his servant, there is simply no doubt that it will occur.

Thus, again, we have seen that 1) God’s work of salvation will be wrapped up in his servant Israel, who’s name we know is Jesus of Nazareth, 2) that he will not simply bring salvation and the blessings promised to God’s people but will himself be salvation and the one in whom the blessings come, 3) that his work of redeeming God’s people will involve his suffering and vindication, and 4) that his work of salvation will come to people from all nations and in all generations as they obey and trust in him. And we have also seen that God will not be stopped by any enemy power, legal barrier, or even the sin of his people.

So, living where we do in history, has God been true to his word? Indeed, he has. For even though man was in captivity to the power of Satan, sin, and death because of their sin and justly deserved punishment, God sent his Son, his servant – Israel, Jesus of Nazareth. He came to be the salvation of his people.

“But” one might rightly ask, “How can God save his people and still be just, if they deserve punishment?” The answer is in the suffering of the servant foretold by Isaiah. On the cross, Jesus suffered the punishment that should have been ours. Thus, God has not looked over our sin but has indeed judged it; he has let the penalty fall on his Son. Therefore, Jesus died on the cross, taking the penalty for sins. However, three days later, the vindication Isaiah foretold occurred as God raised up his servant from the dead and declared him in the right, declared him Lord and Christ, and delivered all things into his hand. Thus, all the blessings of salvation and every good thing in creation comes to Christ, via his resurrection. This is the fulfillment of God’s original plan as all things were created by Christ, through him, and for him.

What about the people, though? The answer is that all those from every nation and every generation who will place their faith in Jesus, confessing that he is the Lord and believing that God has raised him from the dead will be united with him. For, keep in mind, as Isaiah foretold, he is salvation. We might simply declare, “Jesus is salvation.”

Therefore, it is ridiculous to think salvation might be achieved outside of him, for he is salvation itself. “But,” one might ask, “Isn’t salvation composed of life, and adoption as sons of God, and being righteous?” Indeed it is. And here’s how it works: as we are united with Christ by faith, what is true of Christ becomes true of us via our union with him, even as we saw last week.

Therefore, because Christ lives never to die again, so I now have life and will one day have my body raised from the dead never to die again. Because Christ has been declared right, we have been declared righteous in him. Because Christ is victorious over the enemies of Satan, sin, and death, so will we be. Because the penalty for sin has been paid in sin, the penalty that I deserve for my sin has been paid in him. Because he has been made the heir of all things, we too are co-heirs with Christ and will one day reign with him in a new heavens and new earth. Christ is himself salvation, and all the blessings of salvation come to us via our union with him by faith. This is why Isaiah exhorts his readers to trust the Lord and obey his servant. And if you are one who has placed his faith in Christ, it is because God sought you out though you were rebellious, justly under condemnation, and had nothing to offer but your sin. Yet, he was determined, and nothing could stop him from bringing you to him, even as he has done in Christ.

Yet, at the same time, we are all realistic to realize that we live in a time period where things are still unfolding as well. Israel awaited the work of the servant. We have witnessed it and speak of it now as we can attest that Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and was raised from the dead. However, we still wait for Jesus to return to bring about the full blessings of salvation. So what are we to do in this time as we live life day-to-day even as Israel was doing?

I think at times we underestimate the difficulty of those in the Old Testament waiting to see redemption. What were they to do as they lived day after day waiting for God to bring redemption?

Isaiah tells them in 51:9-52:12.

As God’s people await his work of redemption, they are to recognize who he is and what he has done, trust him, and walk in obedience and holiness (51:9-52:12)

In 51:9-11, Israel cries out for God to wake up and move on their behalf, bringing the redemption he pictured in the exodus. And what is God’s answer? In 51:12-16 he tells them to remember who he is and what he has done, and in 51:17-23 he reminds them to trust him, for he is indeed working out and will work out their redemption.

In fact, in 52:1-12, he assures them that they will be redeemed (52:3), that he will do it for his name (52:5), and he even pictures one running, proclaiming the good news that God has conquered their enemies and redeemed them (52:7-12). Therefore, he exhorts them to walk in holiness, trusting the Lord each step.

Therefore, what are we to do? I would say much of the same.

1) Spend time remembering who God is and what he has done. It is difficult to doubt God when we remember who he is and what he has done for us already in Christ. It is difficult not to trust that he will complete his redemption when we look at what he has already done and, indeed, declared he will do.

2) Proclaim the victory, the good news that we already know. Proclaim that Christ has indeed come and made a way for all those who would be saved. He is himself that way. Therefore, let us proclaim his death, burial, and resurrection, and plead with men to place their faith in him.

3) Let us walk in holiness as those who have tasted redemption and await its full reality. May we make our goal in this time as we await full redemption, seeking to honor and please the Lord in all we do. After all, consider the God we serve and what he has done for us in Christ. May that give us the strength to press on in holiness.

4) Finally, hope in Christ. Life is indeed difficult at points, but we know God will do what he has said. His Son will return to take us home. Therefore, may we hope in the sureness of our redemption in Christ and find strength to press on today even as we come to the table.

May glory be given to Christ throughout all generations. Amen.

ISRAEL, CHRIST, AND THE SERVANT'S MISSION