Isa 49:1-13 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 49:1-7: 49:1–55:13 God intended to rescue the Israelites from exile. However, the question remained: How could sinful Israel again become the servant of the Holy One? God would make a way for Israel’s sin to be atoned for and their fellowship with him to be restored. That way would be the promised servant, who would come for Israel and for all peoples. This servant was introduced in 42:1-9 , but in this passage he becomes the central focus. Summary for Isa 49:1-13: 49:1-13 This has traditionally been regarded as the second of four suffering servant songs (see study note on 42:1-4). The suffering role of the promised servant becomes increasingly clear (see also 50:4-9 ; 52:13–53:12 ). 49:1 distant lands: The servant’s ministry would extend beyond Israel (see 42:4 , 10 , 12 ; 51:5 ; 60:9 ; 66:19 ). • called me before my birth ... from within the womb ... by name: The promised servant’s prophetic call was similar to the call of Jeremiah (see Jer 1:5 ; see also Gal 1:15 ). It was not a general call but a very specific, personal one (see also Isa 43:1 ; 45:3-4 ).

Summary for Isa 49:1-7: 49:1–55:13 ^a God intended to rescue the Israelites from exile. However, the question remained: How could sinful Israel again become the servant of the Holy One? God would make a way for Israel’s sin to be atoned for and their fellowship with him to be restored. That way would be the promised servant, who would come for Israel and for all peoples. This servant was introduced in 42:1-9 ^b, but in this passage he becomes the central focus.
Summary for Isa 49:1-13: 49:1-13 ^c This has traditionally been regarded as the second of four suffering servant songs (see study note on 42:1-4). The suffering role of the promised servant becomes increasingly clear (see also 50:4-9 ^d; 52:13–53:12 ^e). 49:1 ^f distant lands: The servant’s ministry would extend beyond Israel (see 42:4 ^g, 10 ^h, 12 ⁱ; 51:5 ^j; 60:9 ^k; 66:19 ^l).

• called me before my birth ... from within the womb ... by name: The promised servant’s prophetic call was similar to the call of Jeremiah (see Jer 1:5 ^m; see also Gal 1:15 ⁿ). It was not a general call but a very specific, personal one (see also Isa 43:1 ^o; 45:3-4 ^p).
49:2 ^q my words of judgment: The servant’s mission would be prophetic (see 11:4 ^r; Eph 6:17 ^s; Heb 4:12 ^t; Rev 1:16 ^u; 2:12 ^v, 16 ^w; 19:15 ^x).
49:3 ^y The suffering servant would come out of Israel (see 41:8 ^z) and would himself be the true Israel. He would serve as both king (42:1 ^aa) and prophet (49:1 ^ab), anointed with the Spirit of God (61:1 ^ac) and commissioned (48:16 ^ad) as a faithful witness to God’s purposes (43:12 ^ae; 48:20 ^af). In his mission toward both Israel and the other nations (49:6 ^ag), he would suffer rejection and disgrace while being faithful, unlike the nation of Israel (see 50:4-9 ^ah). His suffering would be on behalf of God’s chosen people. Jesus became the ultimate fulfillment of the suffering servant (see study note on 52:13–53:12).
49:4 ^ai my work seems so useless ... to no purpose: Even though people stubbornly refuse his message, the servant would reach out to them.

• I will trust God: Despite discouragement and suffering, the servant would continue to discharge his duty faithfully, trusting God for the outcome. God promised to reward the servant’s faithfulness (see also 40:10 ^aj; 50:8 ^ak).
49:6 ^al a light to the Gentiles: As the Messiah, the servant’s mission would have a worldwide reach (see 11:10 ^am, 12 ^an; 42:6 ^ao). The apostle Paul explained his apostolic mission to the Gentiles on the basis of this prophecy (Acts 13:47 ^ap; 26:23 ^aq).
49:7 ^ar The promised servant would be despised and rejected by the nations (see 52:14–53:5 ^as) as well as by his own people (see also 50:6-7 ^at; 53:8-9 ^au).

• Kings and princes will also bow low to express respect and humility before the servant (see also 52:15 ^av), whom God will exalt after he has suffered. God is faithful to his servant.
49:8 ^aw God acts at just the right time to accomplish his purposes (Acts 1:7 ^ax; 2 Cor 6:2 ^ay). Israel returned to reestablish the land of Israel after the Exile. The land was restored and the city rebuilt beginning with Cyrus’s edict (Isa 44:26-28 ^az).
Summary for Isa 49:10-11: 49:10-11 ^ba Like a shepherd, the Lord in his mercy will lead the returning exiles beside cool waters; he promised to comfort them and tend to their needs (see also 40:11 ^bb; Ps 23:1 ^bc).

• level paths ... highways: The Lord would open up the way of salvation.
49:12 ^bd The remnant would come from the north (i.e., from Babylon and Persia), from the west by sea, and from as far south as Egypt.
49:13 ^be This hymn of praise is in response to the salvation that the servant would make possible.