“Pay attention, you peoples from afar.”

Isaiah 49:1-6, LISTEN to Me, O islands, and pay attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called Me from the womb; from the body of My mother He named Me. And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me, and He has also made Me a select arrow; He has hidden Me in His quiver. And He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel, in Whom I will show My glory.” But I said, “I have toiled in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely the justice due to Me is with the LORD, and My reward with My God.” And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, in order that Israel might be gathered to Him (for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength), He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

God’s promise is that He would bring a blessing to all the nations that His seed would come. To do that, He chose a particular race, a particular nation, a particular mother to bear His Seed. And He has brought the amazing blessing of this promise to bless not just a particular nation but to bless all nations. And He has not forgotten about His chosen nation, Israel.

Thank You that You have brought Your good news in Jesus Christ to all nations; we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, Your true peace that passes all understanding.