Sharp Sword, Polished Arrow – Isaiah 49:1-6

I had fun watching a young man who teaches archery.  Of course a quality arrow is critical to success.  But, as he makes evident, it is the skill of the archer that makes the quality arrow hit the mark.  Here in Isaiah we hear the words of the Servant of Yahweh as he describes himself in martial terms.

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— 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.”  (Isaiah 49:1-6 ESV)

It seems, at first, that these are the words of the nation Israel, describing how Yahweh called the nation from the womb to be Yahweh’s sharp sword and polished arrow and called Israel His servant.  But in verse 5 the servant says he is formed for the purpose of bringing Israel back to Yahweh.  It appears that the servant Israel in this context is an individual who bears the name Israel in some sense but is sent to the nation to restore it.  The servant is Messiah Jesus. 

And Messiah servant Jesus (Israel) at one point says he has labored in vain in his task of restoring Israel, though he is confident God is going to prosper and reward his efforts in the future.  He is honored by Yahweh and God is his strength.  And so God Himself speaks and tells Messiah servant Jesus that not only will he be used by God to bring Israel back to Him, but God will use him to bring all the nations salvation.

When Jesus came the first time Israel would not be restored to God, would not believe and follow God’s servant Jesus, the true and ultimate representative of Israel.  But God honored him by resurrecting him from the dead and he is coming again to restore Israel and all nations to Yahweh.  We are his witnesses now taking his light to the ends of the earth.

Discussion Questions

1. In what situation have you felt like a “polished arrow” in God’s quiver?
2. Can you imagine being Jesus and always feeling like a polished arrow in God’s quiver?  What would that feel like?
3. Can you identify with Jesus’ discouragement that his strength did not enable him to bring Israel to Yahweh?
4. If you had labored on a company project and failed to accomplish it, would you expect to be given an even bigger job?  Why is Jesus awarded with an even bigger job as light to all the nations after failing to bring Israel to faith?
5. Where does Jesus say he gets his strength?
6. What do you need strength and capability like a polished arrow to accomplish?