As we move on into the rest of Isaiah we'll see God continually foreshadowing how He will accomplish the final redemption of Israel including your salvation.
Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He 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. And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified." But I said, "I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God." And now the LORD says, he who formed me from 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 eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength—
Isaiah 49:1-5
God called Christ from the womb (Matthew 1:21), He taught with authority as if His mouth was a sharp sword (Mark 1:22), God was glorified in Him (Matthew 15:31), He was forsaken by everyone (Mark 14:50; Mark 15:34), and He was honored in the eyes of the Lord (Hebrews 2:9). Even today, He has gathered you, as Israel, for God's glory and purposes
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-13
How can we not glorify God when we realize that we were separated alienated strangers who had no hope and were without God. The Greek says our natural state is ἄθεος [atheos /ath·eh·os/] translated "without God" and even means one who denies God and is fundamentally ungodly. Don't flatter yourself with the idea that you were a holy seeker of God who weighed and compared the world's religions and found that Christianity was the most reasonable and right of religions. You were ἄθεος and without hope when the God of all mercy pulled you out of the pit you deserved and made your dead heart alive in Christ. God reveals this is Scripture and it isn't something you naturally understand before or even after salvation. God explains it so that you will glorify Him.
He says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: "Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."
Isaiah 49:6-7
Your salvation was not "Plan B" after a failed attempt to redeem Israel. Your salvation was prophesied 2700 years ago by Isaiah as a result of the work of the Holy One. He became a light for the nations and salvation has gone to the end of the earth. He was despised by "the nation" in His days on earth but now kings and princes bow down to the King of Kings.
God the Father here becomes the kinsman redeemer of the Holy One who was despised and rejected and protects the interests of the Holy One so that kings and princes then bow down. We don't see here (at least not clearly) the full nature and depth of the abhorrence expressed by the "nation".
Thus says the LORD: "In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners, 'Come out,' to those who are in darkness, 'Appear.' They shall feed along the ways; on all bare heights shall be their pasture; they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. And I will make all my mountains a road, and my highways shall be raised up. Behold, these shall come from afar, and behold, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene." Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.
Isaiah 49:8-13
God then keeps Christ and gives Christ, in the day of favor and salvation as a covenant to establish the blessings promised to Abraham. So God through Christ 1) establishes the Holy Nation, 2) gives a heritage where there was no heritage, 3) frees prisoners, 4) provides for and protects those He calls, 5) guides those He calls, 6) makes a way for those He calls, and 7) commands praise and worship for His work. The view is telescoped as if salvation were already accomplished and complete.
But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me." "Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.
Isaiah 49:14-16
This was of great comfort to those in Isaiah's day who were seeing such a severe judgment for the sins of their nation. However, think of it in our day for us as individuals. When we walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death and falter and wonder if God has forgotten us we have the answer and the answer is that God can't forget us. We are written on the palms of His hands and our defense is always something He pays attention to. We may not understand the times we live through but we are "born again of imperishable seed" (1 Peter 1:23) by the Word of God. You cannot perish even if you die because the Gospel is alive in you and cannot die. The treasure is in you as in a jar of clay so that it is clear the power belongs to God and not to us (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Your builders make haste; your destroyers and those who laid you waste go out from you. Lift up your eyes around and see; they all gather, they come to you. As I live, declares the LORD, you shall put them all on as an ornament; you shall bind them on as a bride does. "Surely your waste and your desolate places and your devastated land— surely now you will be too narrow for your inhabitants, and those who swallowed you up will be far away.
Isaiah 49:18-19
Then we see builders begin to rush to build as the destroyers are removed and pushed back. The children of promise (as promised) begin to flood in. They become ornaments and decorations testifying to the faithfulness of God. Mourning turns into rejoicing at God's blessing.
The children of your bereavement will yet say in your ears: 'The place is too narrow for me; make room for me to dwell in.' Then you will say in your heart: 'Who has borne me these? I was bereaved and barren, exiled and put away, but who has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; from where have these come?' " Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my signal to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders. Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame."
Isaiah 49:20-23
Think of Simeon, the man who quoted Isaiah while holding the infant Holy One in his arms (Luke 2:25-35). I'm sure that the mansions in glory filled with the Abraham's offspring make him rejoice at the restoration that God has accomplished. I hope he wonders as where we all came from and praises God. From pagan peoples, God will call His people. Those that wait for the Lord, like Simeon and Anna, will not be put to shame.
Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? For thus says the LORD: "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children. I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine. Then all flesh shall know that I am the LORD your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."
Isaiah 49:24-26
God asks a rhetorical question and answers it. God will take captives (plunder) from the powerful and prey (lawful captives) from tyrants and no one can stop Him. Both strength and legal right fall because God is stronger and He paid the price for your sin. Eventually those who oppose God are self destructive and consume themselves with ineffectual opposition to God.
Thus says the LORD: "Where is your mother's certificate of divorce, with which I sent her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away. Why, when I came, was there no man; why, when I called, was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert; their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst. I clothe the heavens with blackness and make sackcloth their covering."
Isaiah 50:1-3
God never divorced His people. He kept his remnant by His strength for His own sake. The failure was on the part of a people who would not listen to God (did not answer when called) and simply assumed they were forgotten. God had shown that He could dry up the Red Sea (Exodus 14), turn the Nile to blood and make its fish stink (Exodus 7:17-18), made Egypt dark (Exodus 10:21) and kept His people in the light (Exodus 10:23). So why do we doubt God? Our fear and sin cloud our minds and we don't think clearly about God's sovereign power. These examples of God's faithfulness in the face of unfaithfulness are given to us so that we will be encouraged to believe Him and rest in Him.
The following verses are prophetic songs and poetry with our Savior speaking in the first person autobiographically 700 years before He was born in Bethlehem. I'm afraid we are so accustomed to this that we don't realize the marvel and majesty of the prophetic word.
The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.
Isaiah 50:4-6
He taught with authority and His words, even today, sustain the weary. His ears are open and wisdom and knowledge dwell in Him. The daily discipline of hearing God's word was part of His youth. Christ didn't turn back even when the call was to bear our sins and suffer our fair punishment. When His ear was opened to the Cross, He didn't turn away. He was obedient even to death on the Cross.
But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.
Isaiah 50:7-9
You, if you are a believer, have benefited from His resolve. He set his face like flint (Luke 9:51) when He turned to go to the Cross in Jerusalem knowing the end. He was not rebellious and He didn't turn back. In legal language, His innocence and purity are complete. He is not guilty. His enemy's are no more and He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.
Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.
Isaiah 50:10-11
There is one light and one way of salvation and it is found in the name of the Lord. You must have no spiritual light other than Him. He is Holy and jealous and will not permit sinful reliance on any polluted spiritual illumination. If you neglect, that is refuse, so great a salvation then you will not escape (Hebrews 2:3). If you equip yourself with any other spiritual light and walk by it then you will lie down in torment.
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