Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-13

I. God’s Servant will bring good news for Israel

A. God announces some good news for Israel in Isaiah 48:20: Israel would leave exile in
Babylon and come back home. But even when Israel came back home physically, they
would still be in exile from God spiritually. So the servant’s mission in Isa. 49:5 is “to bring
Jacob back to (God); and that Israel might be gathered to him.”

B. Israel was supposed to be God’s servant to the nations. Deuteronomy 4:6 7 : “Keep
them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of
the peoples, w ho, when they hear all these statutes, will say, Surely this great nation is a
wise and understanding people. people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to
it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?” Jesus would come from
Israel and represent Israel. Jesus then would be the servant of God that Israel was
supposed to be.

II. God’s Servant will bring good news for the Gentiles

A. We see how great God’s reward is for Jesus His Servant in vs. 6: “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 as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach
to the end of the earth.” God is the God of more. If you are wondering today, Is it really
worth it to serve God? ” Look at what God gave Jesus. God gave Jesus not just the Jews.
God gave Jesus the whole world to save.

B. The Jews would flee captivity in Babylon and go home to their Promised Land just like
the Jews had previously fled captivity in Egypt and entered the Promised Land in Israel for
the first time (vs. 9). Jesus also leads Gentiles out of exile (vs. 12). Jesus leads everyone
with faith in Him home to God. God’ s people are going to be gathered from the four
corners of the earth. W e are all participating in a new exodus out of our slavery to sin.

III. God’s Servant will bring good news for creation.

A. The new exodus that Jesus will lead is so radical that it leads to a new creation (vs. 13).
Isa. 49:10 is quoted in Revelation 7:16 – 17 when an angel in heaven says : “They shall
hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching
heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide
them to springs of living water , and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” In
the book of Revelation, the people of God have been led on an exodus to the New
Jerusalem heaven.