The Coming Servant Part 2: Isaiah 44, 45 (3)

Pray Psalm 79.8, 9.
Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us!
Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us,
For we have been brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation,
For the glory of Your name;
And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins,
For Your name’s sake!

Read Isaiah 44.21-28.

Reflect.
1. Why do you suppose God keeps emphasizing to His people that they are His servant?

2. How many ways does God declare His faithfulness and reliability?

Meditate.
God reminds His people that they have been redeemed to serve Him (v. 21). They had all but forgotten God, preferring the idols of their neighbors instead; but God would not forget them (v. 21). He promises to blot out their sins (v. 22), and He calls on the whole creation to rejoice in His redemption and glory (v. 23). He is painting His promises in pictures, so that, as His people see mountains and forests and trees during their period of captivity, they will remember what He has promised, and will turn to Him (v. 22).

In verses 24-27 God reminds His people of His greatness and faithfulness. He is their Maker, and the Creator of the heavens and earth (v. 24). He shuts the mouths of false prophets and exposes fools in their folly (v. 25). He fulfills the words He gives to His prophets – including Isaiah – and Who promises in His Word to rebuild His nation, city, and people (v. 26). He dried up the river as Israel crossed to begin laying hold on His promises (v. 27). And He Who has done all this, will do more yet: He is raising up Cyrus to do His pleasure and to shepherd the servants of God back to their city, and to rebuild His temple in Jerusalem (v. 28).

And Cyrus has not even been born yet.

Prepare.
1. Is it a good idea to rehearse the greatness and faithfulness of God from time to time? Why?

2. How many different ways does God remind His people that He is the sovereign Lord? Why should this encourage them? Encourage us?

3. Compare verse 21 with verse 28 (the second part). What do the servants of God do? How does this apply to us, God’s servants, today?

It is written at the start of Ezra, the prophet, that at the edict of Cyrus, the king of the Persians and Medes, the captivity of the people of Israel was ended and those who wanted to return were sent back to Jerusalem under Zerubabel son of Salathihel and Hiesu the son of Iosdech the high priest. The Lord inspired Cyrus to do his will and carry out his orders. Jerome (347-420 AD), Commentary on Isaiah 12.20

Your Word is truth, Lord (Jn. 17.17); help me to receive it in faith and to…

Pray Psalm 79.
Pray for the churches in your community, that they may not be taken captive by the priorities of our secular, material, narcissistic age. Seek the Lord for how you can fulfill the work of a servant in your church.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 79 (Passion Chorale: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded)
O God the nations all Your inheritance have spoiled!
Your City have they ruined, Your temple they have soiled!
Your servants’ bodies all to the birds of heav’n are thrown;
The flesh of all Your faithful the jaws of beasts now own.

The blood of faithful servants like water flows around;
And none are there Your saints to commit into the ground.
Our neighbors mock and scorn us: How long, O Lord, how long?
How long will You be angry and scorn our mournful song?

Pour out, O Lord, Your wrath on all who deny Your Name;
Who trust You not nor seek You, bring down to deepest shame!
For they have with great rancor Your precious saints devoured;
Lay waste their habitation at this late dreadful hour.

Why should the nations mock and say, “Where now is their God?”
Let there be known among them harsh vengeance for our blood!
Hear, Lord, our groans and sighing; preserve us by Your pow’r.
For we are fairly dying each day and hour by hour.

Reproach those who reproach us with judgment sevenfold!
Let thanks and praise to You by Your precious flock be told.
We are Your sheep, O Savior, we thank You all our days.
Look on us with Your favor as we declare Your praise.

T. M. Moore

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Forward today’s lesson to some friends, and challenge them to study with you through this series on Isaiah. Each week’s lessons will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the week. Get a copy for yourself and send the link for the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Isaiah’s important message.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).