The second song of the Suffering Servant of the Lord (Is 49,1-6 [7-13])

Sebastian Malkusz

Wydział Teologiczny UO

Abstract

The current elaboration concerns the literary, exegetical and theological analysis of the second song of the Suffering Servant of the Lord. Following a⁠ general introduction to the themes of the song, and subsequent literary characterisation Is 49,1-13, the text was subjected to exegetic analysis. Finally, a⁠ theological message is exposed. Is 49,1-13 draws a⁠ comprehensive image of the Lord. He is pictured as a⁠ mighty warrior, who appoints his Servant to carry the fighting and administer justice. God is a⁠ Holy Redeemer and Comforter, who embraces the whole earth with His salvation, and particularly those who need it the most. The image of the Servant of the Lord is no less rich. His personage comprises of qualities of the Israel, as well as historical figures; however, He cannot be identified with them fully. The best qualities of the great figures of the history of Israel were the material from which the song’s author painted the image of the Lord’s Servant. The Servant focused the hopeful expectations of the Abraham’s descendants. After all, since the dawn of time, the Lord was announcing the alteration of the man’s life predicament. The alteration was to be made by the figure who we call the Messiah.

Keywords:

exegetical analysis, Deutero-Isaiah, Servant of the Lord, vocation, universality of salvation, image of the Lord, messianism