Isaiah 49:1–7 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 49:1–7 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 49Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me. Verse 2He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. Verse 3And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified." Verse 4But I said, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God." Verse 5And now the Lord says, who formed me in 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 sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength- Verse 6he says, "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
Verse 7Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, "Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."
Devotion
“Listen,” the Servant announces, “God has named and claimed me.” Moreover, marked with a God-given identity, the one who is called has much work to do: Teach all people the way of salvation (vs. 1). Work for justice and peace (vs. 4). Care for the world God made (vs. 6). Bring light in the darkness (vs. 6). Not easy tasks. Discouraged by the weight of such work, the Servant cries to God, “It’s too much!” Even the Servant’s own people will not see or listen. Soon their apathy turns to outright hostility. And these are the very ones—family, friends and neighbors—the Servant is to bring back to God (vs. 5). How do you serve and reconcile people who flatly reject you? It is too much to do, and evaluated by our own standards, human efforts fall woefully short. Yet faithful ministry—daily living the call—is not without reward. All honor and glory belongs to God alone, who is actively at work among and through us, even in the face of bitter failures and disappointments.
Prayer
Faithful God, you have called us forth from the waters of rebirth to live for you alone. Shine in your servants, that we may proclaim your faithfulness and your salvation near and far, even to the ends of the earth. Amen.