Isaiah describes Israel's role as being God's servant raised up to restore Israel, and then made a light to the Gentiles so that God's salvation would reach the end of the earth (Isaiah 49:6).
In Isaiah 49:6, God says to the nation, 'I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.' Isaiah 42:1 also reveals the Messiah bringing forth judgment, or rule, to the Gentiles. Les Feldick teaches that under the Old Testament program Israel was to be a nation of priests, bringing the knowledge of God and salvation to the Gentile world.
Isaiah 49:6 — The clearest statement: God gives Israel as a light to the Gentiles and His salvation to the end of the earth.
Isaiah 42:1 — Shows that the coming Servant would bring forth judgment/rule to the Gentiles, demonstrating the Gentile nations were in view.
Isaiah 42:1 says, 'Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.' The scope of that coming rule reaches the Gentile nations. Isaiah 49:6 then gives Israel's particular calling: 'And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.' The verse ties the restoration of Israel directly to a worldwide purpose — being a light to the Gentiles and bringing salvation to the ends of the earth. Isaiah 59:20 adds, 'And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.'
Les Feldick explains that under the Old Testament program, God's agenda was that Israel would receive her King, the kingdom would be set up with the King ruling in Jerusalem, and then the Jew would go into all the corners of the world to evangelize the Gentile. That, he says, was to be Israel's role (Clip 0). All through God's dealings with Israel, their prospect was to be a nation of priests, the go-between bringing salvation and the knowledge of their God to the pagan Gentile world (Clips 2, 6). In Isaiah 42, Les shows that the 'He' bringing forth judgment or rule to the Gentiles is the Christ, the Messiah (Clip 1). Then in Isaiah 49:6, God tells the nation, 'I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth' (Clips 1, 2, 4, 5). Les identifies the 'thee' as the nation of Israel, the tribes of Jacob (Clips 3, 5, 7), and he notes that in this passage 'Jacob' is the nation as a whole while 'Israel' is the believing remnant (Clip 5). He also connects this back to the Sinai covenant — if Israel was obedient to the Law, they would someday funnel salvation into the Gentile world (Clip 3). Les draws a distinction: in Isaiah 42, the Messiah is the light to the Gentiles; in Isaiah 49, the nation of Israel is the light (Clip 7). This was all part and parcel of the Old Testament covenants — the day would come when Israel had completed the promises and God would turn to the Gentile world (Clip 5).
Les Feldick explains that God's Old Testament agenda was for Israel to receive her King, the kingdom to be established, and then, once the King was ruling in Jerusalem, the Jew would go into all the corners of the world to evangelize the Gentile. That was to be Israel's role (Clip 0). All through God's dealing with Israel, their prospect was to be a nation of priests who could bring the knowledge of God to the Gentile world (Clip 6).
Les points to Isaiah 42:1 — 'he shall bring forth judgment,' or rule, 'to the Gentiles' — and identifies the 'He' as the Christ, the Messiah (Clip 1). He also distinguishes that in Isaiah 42 we have the Messiah who is going to be the light, while in Isaiah 49 we have the nation of Israel going to be the light (Clip 7).
Isaiah 49:6 says plainly, 'I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth,' and Les emphasizes how clear the verse is (Clip 2). The 'thee' is the nation of Israel, the tribes of Jacob (Clips 3, 5, 7). Les says this was the whole idea of the priesthood of Israel — they were to be the go-between to bring salvation to pagan Gentiles (Clip 2). He also connects this calling to the Sinai covenant: if Israel was obedient to the Law, they would someday funnel salvation into the Gentile world (Clip 3).
Les describes how Israel rejected her King when He came — the King came riding on a donkey instead of a prancing white steed, and it 'threw the curve' at them. They continued to reject Him until God raised up the apostle Paul (Clip 6). This is the historical turn in the program that Les uses to explain the transition in the Book of Acts.
Israel's Role After the Kingdom Is Established
Les explains the Old Testament program: Israel would receive her King, the kingdom would be set up, and then the Jew would go into all the corners of the world to evangelize the Gentile.
The Messiah and Israel as Light to the Gentiles
Les reads Isaiah 42, where the Messiah brings forth rule to the Gentiles, and Isaiah 49:6, where God gives Israel as a light to the Gentiles and His salvation to the end of the earth.
Israel as a Light to the Gentiles
Les reads Isaiah 49:6 and stresses how clear it is that Israel was a light to the Gentiles — the whole idea of the priesthood of Israel was to be the go-between bringing salvation to pagan Gentiles.
The Nation of Israel Given as a Light
Les identifies 'thee' in Isaiah 49:6 as the nation of Israel and connects it to the Sinai covenant: if Israel obeyed the Law, they would funnel salvation into the Gentile world.
Salvation to the End of the Earth
Les quotes Isaiah 49:6 showing the light was for the Jews and the Gentiles, and that salvation would go to the end of the earth, starting with Israel.
Part of the Old Testament Covenants
Les says this was all part of the Old Testament covenants — after Israel completed the promises, God would turn to the Gentile world; he also notes Jacob is the nation and Israel the believing remnant.
Israel as a Nation of Priests
Les emphasizes that Israel's prospect was to be a nation of priests bringing salvation and the knowledge of God to the Gentile world, and he recounts Israel's rejection of her King.
The Messiah and the Nation as Light
Les distinguishes that in Isaiah 42 the Messiah is the light to the Gentiles, but in Isaiah 49 the nation of Israel, the tribes of Jacob, is the light.
Isaiah 42:1: Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Shows the Servant/Messiah bringing forth judgment or rule to the Gentiles — the first Isaiah passage Les uses to establish that the Gentiles were in view.
Isaiah 49:6: And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
The central verse of the answer: God gives the nation of Israel as a light to the Gentiles and makes them His salvation to the ends of the earth.
Isaiah 59:20: And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
The next Isaiah passage Les begins to read in Clip 2, continuing the Old Testament picture of Israel's future and the coming Redeemer.
Isaiah 49:6: 'And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.'
Les teaches that once the King was ruling in Jerusalem, the Jew would go into all the corners of the world to evangelize the Gentile. That was Israel's role under the Old Testament program.
Yes. Isaiah 42:1 says the Servant 'shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.' Les identifies the Servant as the Christ, the Messiah, who brings forth rule to the Gentiles, while in Isaiah 49 the nation of Israel is given as the light to the Gentiles.
Les says the whole idea of the priesthood of Israel was that they would be the go-between to bring salvation to pagan Gentiles. All through God's dealings with Israel, their prospect was to be a nation of priests bringing the knowledge of their God to the Gentile world.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem: Israel vs. The Church