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Monday, January 27, 2025

Chapter 49: Israel is Servant of the Lord

Selected verses from Book of the Prophet Isaiah

49: 1 - 6, 9 - 11, 12 - 13

A turning point where Israel speaks up as

God's servant, echoing much of what has

said previously by God: the Servant has

accepted his role.  FROM CEB Study Bible:

Common English Translation, published 2013.

Listen to me, coast lands;

pay attention, peoples far away.

The Lord called me before my

birth, called my name when I

was in my mother's womb. 

He made my mouth like a sharp

sword, and hid me in the shadow

of God's own hand.

He made me a sharpened arrow,

and concealed me in God's quiver,

saying to me, "You are my servant,

Israel, in whom I show my glory."

But I said, "I have wearied myself

in vain.  I have used up my strength

for nothing."  Nevertheless, the Lord

will grant me justice; my reward is

with my God.

And now the Lord has decided --

the one who formed me from the

womb as his servant -- to restore

Jacob to God, so that Israel might

return to him.  Moreover, I'm honored

in the Lord's eyes; my God has become

my strength.

He said: It is not enough, since you

are my servant, to raise up the tribes

of Jacob and to bring back the

survivors of Israel.  Hence, I will

also appoint you as light to the

nations so that my salvation may

reach to the end of the earth. . .

saying to the prisoners, "Come out,"

and to those in darkness, "Show

yourselves."  I will turn all my

mountains into roads; my highways

will be built up.  Look!  These will come

from far away.  Look!  These are from the 

north and west, and these from the south-

land.  Sing, heavens!  Rejoice, earth!

Break out, mountains, with a song.

The Lord has comforted his people,

and taken pity on those who suffer!

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