“Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.”
My Notes
What Does Isaiah 49:7 Mean?
God speaks about the Messiah — the servant whom man despiseth, whom the nation abhorreth, a servant of rulers. The description is of someone at the bottom of every human hierarchy: despised, abhorred, serving those who rule over him.
Then the reversal: kings shall see and arise. Princes shall worship. The despised servant will be honored by the most powerful people on earth — not through military conquest but because of the LORD that is faithful.
"Because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee" — the vindication comes from God's faithfulness and choosing. The servant is not vindicated by his own power. God's faithfulness produces the reversal. God's choosing produces the worship.
The verse prophesies what happened historically: Jesus — despised, rejected, servant of all — is now worshipped by kings and nations. The reversal Isaiah described has been unfolding for two thousand years.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How does the Messiah being despised, abhorred, and a servant challenge expectations of power?
- 2.What does the reversal — kings arising and princes worshipping — reveal about God's vindication?
- 3.How does 'because of the LORD that is faithful' locate the cause of vindication in God rather than in the servant?
- 4.Where are you experiencing rejection that this verse reframes as the path to future honor?
Devotional
To him whom man despiseth. Despised. Not misunderstood. Despised — actively looked down on, dismissed with contempt. The Messiah is described with the lowest possible social standing.
To him whom the nation abhorreth. Abhorred by his own nation. Not just ignored — abhorred. The visceral rejection from the very people he came for.
A servant of rulers. Serving those who have power over him. The Messiah is not at the top of the hierarchy. He is at the bottom — subject to rulers, serving them.
Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship. The reversal. The despised one receives royal honor. The abhorred one receives princely worship. Not because he forced it. Because the LORD is faithful.
The pattern of the gospel is here: descent before ascent. Rejection before worship. Servanthood before sovereignty. The one who goes lowest is the one who is lifted highest.
If you are despised — dismissed, looked down on, abhorred by those who should know better — the servant's trajectory is your trajectory. The despising is not the end. The kings are coming. The worship is arriving. Because the LORD is faithful. And he has chosen you.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
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Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture