Idols, the Creator, and His Servant

Isaiah 48-52

            The critique of idolatry continues unabated: the Lord announced Israel’s judgment and restoration in advance so that Israel cannot say their idols did it. More, He announces new things, things that their idols could never have imagined. He is, after all, the first and the last, the one who laid the earth’s foundations. This critique of idolatry is closely tied to the repeated declaration that the Lord is the creator, that He is absolutely unique.

            In chapter 49, we meet the Lord’s servant again. His vocation has been set since before he was born; his words cut like a sword’ his purpose is to bring Jacob back to the Lord. Christian reflection sees the servant as more and more obviously Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, who had a vocation from the Lord from eternity, who taught as one with authority. Especially in the statement, “It is too small a thing for my servant to restore Israel; I will make you a light for the Gentiles, too,” we see what God was up to in Jesus—not just salvation for a select few, but for all humanity. The last three verses of chapter 52 continue the portrait of the servant, but we’ll look at that on Monday, when we rad chapter 53, too.