Thursday's Scripture Reading - 2nd Week of Advent

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A SERVANT BRINGS SALVATION

 ¹Listen, 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.
   
He conquers through Preaching and His Words are Effective
 
²And 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;
   ³And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
   
The Lord Rejected - But Vindicated After His Death and Resurrection
 
⁴Then 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.
   
He was Formed in the Womb to Reconcile the Jews With God
 
 ⁵And 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.
   
And Bring the Gospel to the Nations (Through the Church)
 
 ⁶And 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.
   ⁷Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
(Isaiah 49:1-7)

(Headings [in red] from the new Geneva Study Bible, notes)