January 18, 2026 Sermon
Sermon Title: “A Light to the Nations”
Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-7
(Other lectionary suggestions include Psalm 40:1-11, I Corinthians 1:1-9, and John 1:29-42.)
Isaiah 49:1-7
The Servant’s Mission
1Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. 2He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. 3And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” 4But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.” 5And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— 6he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 7Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, “Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
You may have heard me say this before, but the college textbook that I used was called, “A Light to the Nations.” And that is the title of the sermon for today. And I should tell you how I absolutely LOVE this passage, because God is saying (through Isaiah) that he is not only Israel’s God. He is EVERYBODY’s God. And Israel doesn’t get off scott-free for being chosen by God. God has a job for Israel to do, and that is to be a light to the nations so that EVERYBODY can know the Lord. What’s the Scripture say? “That my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Wow! Pretty powerful stuff, and the great Isaiah could see that God didn’t just want to be the God of Israel. He gives Israel an assignment, and he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a LIGHT to the NATIONS.”
See why I love the Old Testament so much, and especially Isaiah? Isaiah is saying that we can’t just be happy being the Chosen Few. He was speaking to the Hebrew people. What does that mean for you and me and all our CHRISTIAN friends? Does that mean we just surround ourselves with fellow believers? You know that the answer is NO!
One of the great things about America is that we are ALL welcome here, regardless of our beliefs. There is a great letter from George Washington to a synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island. In that letter he essentially says that all are welcome, regardless of belief. Here is what he wrote in that Letter:
To the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island (18 August 1790)
Gentlemen,
While I receive, with much satisfaction, your Address replete with expressions of affection and esteem; I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you, that I shall always retain a grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced in my visit to Newport, from all classes of Citizens.
The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet, from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security. If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good Government, to become a great and happy people.
The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more than toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.
It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my Administration, and fervent wishes for my felicity. May the children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.
May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy.
G. Washington
Okay. From Isaiah to George Washington and back to Isaiah. What’s next? In Isaiah, we see someone called to be God’s Servant. That could be you! That could be me! Embrace your role in God’s mission. And rest in God’s unfailing love. I did some digging and discovered other things. If you look up the Servant and Light to the Gentiles, you are urged to hope in God’s promises. And you also find more about the Servant and the Lord. Other subjects include the Nations and distant peoples. Also, the earth and mountains. That’s enough for today. Amen
Pastor Skip
