DEVOTION: Isaiah 49:1-7 New International Version (NIV)
The Servant of the Lord
49 Listen to me, you islands;
hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born the Lord called me;
from my mother's womb he has spoken my name.
2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.
3 He said to me, "You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendor."
4 But I said, "I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand,
and my reward is with my God."
5 And now the Lord says—
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel to himself,
for I am[a] honored in the eyes of the Lord
and my God has been my strength—
6 he says:
"It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."
7 This is what the Lord says—
the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel—
to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation,
to the servant of rulers:
"Kings will see you and stand up,
princes will see and bow down,
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."
Here's a little quiz question for this morning… who is the speaker in this passage? Hint: It's not Isaiah. Read it again and see if you can figure it out if you haven't already.
The speaker in these verses is the Righteous Servant. He is the Light to the Gentiles. Kings will see him and stand up from their thrones in honor. Princes will bow down.
Did you figure it out yet? It's JESUS! Isaiah speaks of Jesus throughout His book, but in this passage Jesus himself speaks, although in a veiled way. It is exciting isn't it? It's exciting to know that Jesus speaks in the Old Testament?
Jesus is eternal! He's been around forever! He didn't just begin to exist when he was born to Mary at Christmas. He is the Son of God begotten from eternity. Try to wrap your mind around that for a second. He was there when the world was created. He was there when the flood happened. He was there for every moment of what we know as time and he will be here long after we are gone.
So the next time you begin to question God, or you begin to think of yourself as Mr. Knowitall, remember that the Servant of the Lord, Jesus, is much greater than you could ever imagine. He is the one who makes all things new, and he will make you new if you just let him, just rest in him.
Prayer: Lord, You spoke in many times and various ways through the prophets, but now you speak to us through Your Son. Open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus! Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen. Amen.
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CALENDAR
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Trustees 7
Wed- Board of outreach 8am; Choir 7
Thurs- Lutheranism 101 6:30pm
Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible class 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- 8:30- Abby Vossen; 11- Dulci Rahn
Ushers- Charlie Figura, Jason Figura, Brett Nordwald, Erv Yoder
Altar- Set up- Marilyn Foster; Clean Up- Terry McKenzie
Elders- Sat- Dave Winter; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Randy Fischer
Greeters- 8:30- Barb and Allan Dreyer; 11- Joan Sexton
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Stephanie Owenby
Piano- Kathy Barrow