Isaiah 49:5-6

Isaiah 49:5-6

[5] And now, saith  that formed  me from the womb  to be his servant,  Jacob  again  to him, Though Israel  be not gathered,  yet shall I be glorious  in the eyes  and my God  shall be my strength.  [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  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. 

What does Isaiah 49:5-6 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The Servant"s calling would be more than bringing Israel back to God in repentance and revival, a calling we have yet to see, since this was not Israel"s response to Jesus" earthly ministry. It would include bringing the light of the knowledge of God and His salvation to people all over the world (cf. Isaiah 5:26). The preaching of the gospel accomplishes both of these goals only partially. They will be fully attained in the Millennium when all Jews and Gentiles will turn to the Lord (cf. Philippians 2:10-11).
Clearly the Servant cannot be Israel in the light of these verses, neither can the believing remnant within Israel. Neither group has saved or can save the world. No merely human Hebrew prophet, including Isaiah , could be the savior of the world either. Cyrus" calling was to restore Israel to the land of Judah, but Messiah"s calling, from His very birth, was to restore Israel and the Gentiles to God. Indeed, it was to be salvation (cf. Luke 2:32; Acts 13:46-47). The Servant marveled at God"s grace in choosing Him for this calling and affirmed His dependence on God to accomplish such a great salvation (in the parenthetical statement in Isaiah 49:5).
Watts understood this servant to be Cyrus. [1] He interpreted "the nations" to be the other nations of Palestine. He believed the Book of Isaiah was written about the time of Ezra (ca435 B.C.). [2] Thus he believed the writer of Isaiah was looking back on history, not forward in prophecy.