Isaiah 49:1-9

Moving from deliverer from Bablyon to Deliverer ALL.  As work way 49-53, unfolds 700 BC prophecy regarding Messiah, the true giver of peace and security.  As move to 53, like climbing Mt.  When reach peak, get more detailed description crucifixion than entire NT.  53 actually referred Holy of Holies of the Bible!

49:1         Ps 22 is an incredible prophetic Messianic passage.  It reads: But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother's breasts.  I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb You have been My God. (9-10).  There was never a doubt as to Lord’s plan for Jesus.  Before conceived, angel appeared to Mary and Joseph separately.  Told Mary, Name Jesus, Joseph given more...  An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.  Even 700 years before, telling world “wake up”, coming!  God planned Him, purposed Him and sent Him. 

Same as you and I.  Ps 139:16 Your eyes…God design and purpose each lives. Only ever be one YOU.  Everything perfectly designed.  Strengths, weaknesses, abilities, giftings and talents, every one made for an exact purpose.  We let the opinions of others drive our lives too much.  1 Cor 4:7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?  You have a purpose and fulfillment comes from understanding God made you correctly.  It’s our attitudes that ruin life.  Indian story about eagle egg in grouse nest.  Scratched dirt, ate insects, clucked, flew short thrashing flights.  One day saw magnificent bird (eagle) soaring, powerful.  What is it?  “Eagle” says, chief of grouse.  Don’t concern yourself, you could never be like him.  Lived rest of life scratching and clucking. 

49:2         Likened to a weapon God been concealing.  SPEAR…Psalm 35:1-3 Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help. Also draw out the spear, And stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation."   Our Defender! Rom 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

ARROW…God’s arrows are repeatedly a picture of God destroying enemy with lightning bolts.  Ps 18:14, Zech 9:14, Scripture says when return be like lightning, Mt 24:27 and when strikes the earth?  2 Ths 2:8 The Lord will consume the antichrist with the breath of His mouth and destroy him with the brightness of His coming.

Sword…This simplest symbol.  Revelation 19:15 sharp sword.  When Jesus spoke, had emphasis of waving a gun in a crowd.  Bold, powerful.  Jn 7:46 “No man ever spoke like this man.”  Why? Because didn’t speak according opinions/interpretations of men.  “You have heard…I say…”

49:4         This hard to receive.  If focus on Jesus, greatest, most fantastic unimaginable Man ever walked.  As focus on His ministry?  120 followers, suicidal betraying friend, rejecting country.  You could make a case in saying Jesus ministry failure.  Think ever discouraged?  Jn 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  How get through it?  Read the verse…Folks, God’s standards of success far different than ours.  If Christianity Today ranked modern Jeremiah vs. Jonah.  What look like?  God not looking for “successful”, but faithful! 

49:6         Messiah not just for Jews. What God say to Jesus in Ps 2?  Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.  Need to make a correction, Jesus is not the Jewish Messiah, He is world’s Messiah!