This chapter begins with Israel being likened to a sinful wife who has to be sent away for her sin (v1). Sadly, though she has not looked to the Lord for redemption and deliverance (v2). The Lord mourns for her (v3).

We next come to the third of Isaiah’s servant songs (v4-11). This servant will be so different from the unfaithful mother that Israel was.

There is no doubt this song finds fulfilment in in Jesus and sheds further light on His role and suffering.  This Servant will be someone who will allow Himself to be taught morning by morning so that He would be able to teach others (v4). Unlike Israel this servant will listen and will not rebel (v5).

This Servant willingly gives His body to be illtreated and mocked by others (v6). It would be through suffering that the Servant would succeed.

The Servant in all this knows the Lord help sustaining Him as He with great determination perseveres (v7). The Lord sustains Him and will bring vindication in the face of His enemies and their false claims (v8-9).

There is a stark choice to make of either following in the light of the Lord (v10) or in following our own light (v11). The carrier of torches surely points to those who came to arrest Jesus and who would face judgment.