Isa 49:4 But I said, I have labored in vain; I have used up my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely the justice due to me is with Jehovah, And my recompense with my God. (5) And now says Jehovah, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel would be gathered to Him; and I will be glorified in the sight of Jehovah, and My God will be My strength.
Isaiah is one of the prophets who prophesied a great deal concerning Christ. In Isaiah 49:5 we see the work of the Lord on earth. Verse 4 tells us whether the Lord’s work on earth was successful. What was God’s purpose in sending the Lord Jesus to the earth? It was for the purpose of turning the house of Jacob back to God, to gather them to Him. But what was the result? Did he succeed? According to man’s view, our Lord failed completely.
The house of Jacob did not turn to Him, and the Israelites rejected Him, denied Him, and crucified Him on the cross. Even one of His disciples betrayed Him. This is why verse 4 says, “But I said, I have labored in vain; I have used up my strength for nothing and vanity.” Brothers and sisters, in these circumstances—being despised by men on earth, with no result in the work, and seemingly having accomplished nothing for God’s will—we surely would have wept in sorrow. Even if we had not wept, we surely would have been sad, and even if we had not been sad, at the very least, we would have become passive.
But our Lord was different. Although He did not gain what He hoped for and missed what He yearned for, His justice was with Jehovah. Although He had labored much and there did not seem to be any result in the work, His justice was with Jehovah. In other words, whether or not He was treated justly was something up to Jehovah. “My recompense [is] with my God.” Although He could not obtain anything from the house of Jacob or from the Israelites, He would receive His reward from the Lord. Therefore, He was satisfied; He did not complain, weep, or grieve. This is the Lord’s attitude.
