Second Week of Advent: Thursday's Reading

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A SERVANT BRINGS SALVATION

ISAIAH 49:1-7

Listen to me, O coastlands,

and give attention, you peoples from afar.

The Lord called me from the womb,

from the body of my mother he named my name.

2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword(a);

in the shadow of his hand he hid me;

he made me a polished arrow(b);

in his quiver he hid me away.

3 And he said to me, “You are my servant,

Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;

I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity(c);

yet surely my right is with the Lord,

and my recompense with my God(d).”

5 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—

6 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(e);

I will make you as a light for the nations(f),

that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth(g).”

7 Thus says the Lord,

the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,

to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation,

the servant of rulers:

“Kings shall see and arise;

princes, and they shall prostrate themselves;

because of the Lord, who is faithful,

the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

a. He conquers through preaching.
b. The words are effective.
c. The Lord rejected.
d. Vindicated after death and resurrection.
e. To reconcile Jews with God.
f. He will bring the Gospel to the Nations...
g. ...through the church.

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-Scripture translation: ESV

-Selected reading from Christ in Christmas: A Family Celebration 
(C)1989 by Ligoner Ministries

-Footnotes from  New Geneva Study Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 
(C) 1995 by Foundation for Reformation