Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 49:3

"and he said unto me, Thou art my servant; Israel, in whom I will be glorified." — Isaiah 49:3 (ASV)

And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

It is wonderful condescension on Christ's part to take the name of his Church so that he himself is called "Israel" in this passage; and there is another passage, equally remarkable, where the Church is allowed to take one of the names of Christ: This is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness. Such an intermingling of interests, such a wonderful unit is there between Christ and his Church, that these two are truly one.

And said to me, You are my servant,

Above all others, Christ is the servant of God. He is a Son by nature, a servant by his condescension, a servant for our sakes.

O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

It is very wonderful that the Redeemer should here be called "Israel." It is not more wonderful, however, than that in another place his people should be called by his name. You remember those two passages in the prophecy of Jeremiah: This is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, and This is the name wherewith he shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. There, the people of God take their Lord's name; and here, Christ takes the name of his people, and himself deigns to be called Israel. Nor is this an unsuitable name for him, for it is he who wrestled on our behalf, and prevailed even as Israel did at Jabbok. Jesus is a greater Prince with God than Jacob ever was.

Well, then, does Jehovah say to him, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.