Introduction: So that we are on the same page as yesterday and following on I have repeated the final verse and comment from yesterday’s devotional.
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;
I will make you as a light for the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
If the red portion started “Is it” and ended up with a question mark it would be easy to answer ‘Jesus’! It is linguistically possible to do that and I think that it is in fact a rhetorical question leading into tomorrow’s passage! Hebrew leaves the meaning, question or statement, as either depending on the context!
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.”
Comment 1: Twice in today’s reading we have the phrase ‘Thus says the LORD‘. This first time, I think, assumes to two specific but separate times. a) It refers to the calling of Israel as a special nation meant to exemplify to all the world what God desires people to live like. Nations tend to hate the Jews as is seen today with the rampant anti-semitic movement! b) Secondly it is a powerful Messianic passage! People of ‘the nation’, Israel hated the Messiah and crucified Him. However, in the future, every knee, even of the haughtiest anti-semitic king shall prostrate themselves before Him when He returns!
8 Thus says the LORD:
“In a time of favor I have answered you;
in a day of salvation I have helped you;
I will keep you and give you
as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
to apportion the desolate heritages,
9 saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’
to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’
They shall feed along the ways;
on all bare heights shall be their pasture;
10 they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.
11 And I will make all my mountains a road,
and my highways shall be raised up.
12 Behold, these shall come from afar,
and behold, these from the north and from the west,
and these from the land of Syene.”
Comment 2: Accepting the two thoughts that I made in comment 1 as true, this portion following the second ‘Thus says the LORD‘ is partially fulfilled in the present. ‘The present’ extending from the time of the prophecy until now and even into the future. The Jews are a blessing, in spite of their not being all that God has called them to be! And Jesus is a blessing to the world even now BUT when He returns the richness and fullness of God’s promises will be experienced by those who in this life accept Jesus as their LORD!
13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the LORD has comforted his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted.
And what a blessing His coming has been and what an added blessing His return shall be!
Psalm 2: 10-12 – Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Prayer: I fall on my knees before You Jesus, the Messiah of the Almighty.