前面九章以賽亞信息的中心是：藉著古列，上帝拯救祂的百姓，現在以賽亞的重點轉移到基督身上，祂的受苦和死亡為人類帶來救贖（賽49-55），祂來是要成為祂百姓的僕人、外邦人的光，給軟弱疲乏的人力量，給沮喪灰心的人憐恤，祂以為僕為至高無上的榮耀，奉獻自己作罪的贖價。

        定義：「自由國家」是指一個可以暢所欲言的地方，不必耽心妻子、鄰居、牧師或上司的竊聽。
        獨立──有說話、寫作（信）、集會和敬拜的自由，且無需害怕暴政的干預。獨立是一項珍貴的財產，但千萬別忘了，當你享受「獨立」的時候，也要享受「倚靠」耶穌基督的恩典。
        小提琴的弦如果完全「獨立」，就會「自由」得嘶聲走調──那就完全失去了設計小提琴的原意：演奏音樂。同樣的，你尚未奉獻的生命，是很「自由」，卻不是上帝期望你擁有的自由。
        真正的自由不只是從上帝而來的，也是藉著耶穌基督的救恩才能與上帝同在的自由（賽51：5，6，8）。今天，你在外面活動的時候，找一處可以免費停車或稍事休憩的地方，停下來為你是個獨立的「地球公民」向上帝感恩──更要為你是個倚靠的「天國公民」感謝祂。

        舊約中的大使命
        我們都知道馬太福音廿八章十九至廿節中的大使命，但不多人知道以賽亞書四十九章六節也被稱為「舊約中的大使命」。其實保羅和巴拿巴在使徒行傳十三章四十七節中曾引用過。

自由乃一體的兩面：一面是權利，另一面是責任。

English

        The first nine chapters of Isaiah's message of comfort have centered on God's deliverance of His people through Cyrus. Now Isaiah focuses on the One who will bring deliverance through His suffering and death (chapters 49-55). He would come as a Servant to His people and a Light to the surrounding nations, providing strength for the weary and compassion for the downcast. And as the crowning act of servanthood, He would offer Himself as a sacrifice for sin.

        Definition: A free country is a place where a man can say whatever he thinks—provided he isn't overheard by his wife, his neighbors, his minister, or his boss.
        Independence—the freedom to speak, write, assemble, and worship without fear of a tyrant's intervention—is a prized posses¬sion. But never forget as you enjoy your independence that you were also created to enjoy dependence under the lordship of Jesus Christ.
        A violin string, when totally "independent" of the violin for which it was created, is "free" to twist and turn—but not to do what a violin string is designed to do: produce music. By the same token, you are "free" when your life is uncommitted—but not free to be what God intended you to be.
        Real freedom is not freedom from God, but freedom with God through the salvation which is in Jesus Christ (51:5-6, 8). In your travels today, look for a quiet place marked "Free Parking" where you can pause and thank God for your independence as a citizen of earth—and your dependence as a citizen of heaven.

        The Great Commission, Old Testament Style
        We all probably know of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, but not so many know that Isaiah 49:6 has been called "the great commission of the Old Testament." In fact, Paul and Barnabas quoted part of it in Acts 13:47.

Freedom is a two-sided coin: On one side is privilege; on the other, responsibility.