Bible Explanations
99. Servant in Isaiah
Sometimes the "servant" in
Isaiah is Israel
or the elect:
Isaiah 41:8,9 - "But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom
I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have
taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief
men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen
thee, and not cast thee away."
Isaiah 42:19 - "Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my
messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and
blind as the LORD'S servant?"
Isaiah 43:10 - "Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my
servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and
understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither
shall there be after me."
Isaiah 44:1,2 - "Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and
Israel,
whom I have chosen Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed
thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my
servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen."
Isaiah 44:21 - "Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou
art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel,
thou shalt not be forgotten of me."
Isaiah 44:26 - "That confirmeth the word of his servant, and
performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem,
Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall
be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof."
Isaiah 45:4 - "For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine
elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee,
though thou hast not known me."
Isaiah 48:20 - "Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the
Chaldeans,
with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to
the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant
Jacob."
At other times it can only be one Person,
i.e. Christ:
Isaiah 42:1 - "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect,
in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he
shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles."
Isaiah 49:1-7 - "Listen, 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. And 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; and said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel,
in whom I will be glorified. Then 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.
And 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 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. Thus 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."
[Note that the "servant" here must be Christ, but
in v.3 it is said to be Israel]
Isaiah 50:10 - "Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that
obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and
hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay
upon his God."
Isaiah 52:13 - "Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he
shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high."
Isaiah 53:11 - "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and
shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant
justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities."