Mar. 30, 2025

                                                                Isaiah 49:1-13

                                                   “Singing About The Servant”

March 30, 2025                                                                                                        Dr. Don Bazal

     The only reference to God singing in Scripture is found in Zephaniah 3:17.  In this passage God exalts over Israel’s salvation and restoration back to Himself by His servant.  Yet, Jesus, God’s Servant, will restore not only Israel but the entire world back to Himself.

      The Servant Songs were composed and inspired by The Holy Spirit and speak of the Servant, the Father’s Son, who would carry out His Father’s will:  John 4:34. Where Israel as God’s servant failed, the Son will be fully successful.  Yet, His success will come at an unbelievable cost.  The question must be asked, “What is the will of the Father?”.  The answer is put forth quite clearly, by Jesus, the Servant in John 3:14-17.  The picture of the Suffering Servant is brilliantly painted on the canvas of Scripture by the Holy Spirit through the prophet, Isaiah.   Philip speaks of the intent of Isaiah’s words in Acts 8:34 showing the fulfillment to be Jesus.

Zephaniah 3:17 – “The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior.
 He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

John 4:34 –  Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.

 John 3:14-17 – As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; ¹⁵ so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

Acts 8:34 – The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?”

1. Isaiah 42:1-9 – Emphasis = Origin of the Servant
2. Isaiah 49:1-13 – Emphasis = Mission of the Servant
3. Isaiah 50:4-9 – Emphasis = Suffering of the Servant
4. Isaiah 52:13-53:12 – Emphasis = Destiny of the Servant

I.  THE CERTAINTY OF THE SERVANT’S CALL:  vv 1-2

 I Peter 1:10-12 – As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, ¹¹seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.

Acts 13:46-49 – Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles,

that You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’” ⁴⁸When the Gentiles heard

this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. ⁴⁹ And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.

 Acts 9:15 –  But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

 Mark 16:15 – And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Luke 24:27 – Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

 Acts 26:22 – So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place;

 Romans 1:14 – I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

 Psalm 139:13-15 – For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret,

 Jeremiah 1:4-5 – Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

 I Peter 1:20 – For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world,

 but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.

The Servant is called to be God’s instrument.

 1. sharp sword

 John 7:46 – The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.”

 Luke 20:26 – And they were unable to catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.

 Colossians 2:3 – In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

 Ephesians 3:17 –  So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Concealed in the shadow of His Hand

 John 1:29-32 – The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ ³¹ I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” ³² John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.

2.  Select arrow

 Colossians 2:13-15 – When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, ¹⁴ having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

 Revelation 5:6 – And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

II. THE FUTILITY OF THE SERVANT’S MINISTRY:  vv 3-4

 John 17:4 –  I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.

 John 19:15 –  So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

Isaiah 53:3 – He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised,

and we did not esteem Him.

 Matthew 17:17 –  And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.”

 Matthew 27:46 – About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

 Hebrews 12:2 – Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 I Corinthians 4:1-5 – Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ² In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. ³ But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. ⁴ For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. ⁵ Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, 

but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.

Hebrews 4:15 –  For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

 John 13:3-4 – Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, ⁴ got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.

 Hebrews 11:8-10 – By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; ¹⁰ for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

III. THE SERVANT’S VICTORY WITH HIS MISSION: vv 5-14

 Matthew 23:37-39 – “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. ³⁸ Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! ³⁹ For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Zechariah 12,14

John 8:12 – Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; 

he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

 Revelation 7:9-10 – After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; ¹⁰ and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

 Psalm 110:1-2 – The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ² The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”

 Micah 7:15,18-19 – “As in the days when you came out from the land of Egypt,
 I will show you miracles.”. . . ¹⁸ Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and
passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love. ¹⁹ He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

 Revelation 7:16-17 – They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; ¹⁷ for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”