6 And he said: It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel. I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Again, I get the distinct impression that Isaiah is not being
personal here, but he is personifying all of covenant Israel. And in fact, it’s
not just Israel at his time, but it extends throughout time. Whenever the Lord
has had covenant people on the earth, one of their jobs is to be an example of
righteousness. Jerusalem (Israel) was set up as that shining example, which
role they filled for a time until they fell into apostasy (see Ezekiel 5: 5–6
(5–11)). Christ gave the same instruction to His followers at the Sermon on the
Mount (Matthew 5:14–16), and to the Nephites (3 Nephi 18:24). We have the same
charge in this dispensation (see D&C 103: 9 (5–10)). In Abraham we learn
that anybody who accepts the Gospel “shall be called after [Abraham’s] name,
and shall be accounted thy seed” (Abraham 2: 10).
So with that background, I understand this verse to be saying
that preaching to, or ministering to Israel to bring them out of apostasy is only
part of the mission given to His people. The literal seed of Abraham have
certain rights to gospel blessings (see Abraham 2: 11), and part of the mission
the Lord’s people has is to them. But in this verse I almost get the idea that
that mission is the easy part. There is also another mission to bring salvation
to the Gentiles as well. Again, all the Lord’s people who accept the Gospel
have this greater mission as well, and we have a responsibility to be an
example to the Gentiles.
- Ezekiel 34: 14
- Matthew 5: 14–16
- D&C 103: 9 (8–9)
- Abraham 2: 11 (6–11)
