CHAPTER 42
Isaiah 42:1-25 . MESSIAH
God's description of His character (
Isaiah 42:1-4 ). God addresses Him directly (
Isaiah 42:5-7 ). Address to the people to attend to the subject (
Isaiah 42:8 Isaiah 42:9 ). Call to all, and especially the exile Jews to rejoice in the coming deliverance (
Isaiah 42:10-25 ).
1. my servant--The
law of prophetic suggestion leads Isaiah from Cyrus to the far greater
Deliverer, behind whom the former is lost sight of. The express
quotation in
Matthew 12:18-20 , and the description can apply to
Messiah alone (
Psalms 40:6 ; with which compare
Exodus 21:6 ,
John 6:38 ,
Philippians 2:7 ). Israel, also, in its highest ideal, is called the "servant" of God (
Isaiah 49:3 ). But this ideal is realized only in the antitypical Israel, its representative-man and Head, Messiah (compare
Matthew 2:15 , with
Hosea 11:1 ). "Servant" was the position assumed by the Son of God throughout His humiliation.
elect--chosen by God before the foundation of the world for an atonement (
1 Peter 1:20 ,
Revelation 13:8 ). Redemption was no afterthought to remedy an unforeseen evil (
Romans 16:25 Romans 16:26 ,
Ephesians 3:9 Ephesians 3:11 ,
2 Timothy 1:9 2 Timothy 1:10 ,
Titus 1:2 Titus 1:3 ). In
Matthew 12:18 it is rendered "My beloved";
the only beloved Son, beloved in a sense distinct from all others.
Election and the
love of God are inseparably joined.
soul--a human phrase applied to God, because of the intended union of humanity with the Divinity: "I Myself."
delighteth--is well pleased with, and accepts,
as a propitiation. God could have "delighted" in no created being
as a mediator (compare
Isaiah 42:21 ,
63:5 ,
Matthew 3:17 ).
spirit upon him--(
Isaiah 11:2 ,
61:1 ,
Luke 4:18 ,
John 3:34 ).
judgment--the gospel dispensation, founded on
justice, the canon of the divine rule and principle of judgment called "the law" (
Isaiah 2:3 ; compare
Isaiah 42:4 ,
51:4 ,
49:6 ). The Gospel has a discriminating
judicial effect:
saving to penitents;
condemnatory to Satan, the enemy (
John 12:31 ,
16:11 ), and the wilfully impenitent (
John 9:39 ).
Matthew 12:18 has, "He shall
show," for "He shall bring forth," or "
cause to go forth." Christ both
produced and
announced His "judgment." The
Hebrew dwells most on His
producing it; Matthew on His
announcement of it: the two are joined in Him.
2. Matthew (
Matthew 12:19 ) marks the kind of "cry" as that of
altercation by quoting it, "He shall not
strive" (
Isaiah 53:7 ).
street--the
Septuagint translates "outside." An image from an altercation in a house, loud enough to be heard
in the street outside: appropriate of Him who "withdrew Himself" from the public fame created by His miracles to privacy (
Matthew 12:15;,Isa 34:5 Matthew 12:15;,Isa 34:5 , there, shows another and sterner aspect of His character, which is also implied in the term "judgment").
3. bruised--"It pleased the Lord to
bruise Him" (
Isaiah 53:5 Isaiah 53:10 ,
Genesis 3:15 ); so He can feel for
the bruised. As
Isaiah 42:2 described His unturbulent spirit towards His violent enemies (
Matthew 12:14-16 ), and His utter freedom from love of notoriety, so
Isaiah 42:3 , His tenderness in cherishing the first spark of grace in the penitent (
Isaiah 40:11 ).
reed--fragile: easily "shaken with the wind" (
Matthew 11:7 ). Those who are at best feeble, and who besides are oppressed by calamity or by the sense of sin.
break--entirely crush or condemn. Compare "bind up the broken-hearted" (
Isaiah 50:4 ,
61:1 ,
Matthew 11:28 ).
flax--put for the lamp-
wick, formed of flax. The believer is the
lamp (so the
Greek, Matthew 5:15 ,
John 5:35 ): his conscience enlightened by the Holy Ghost is the
wick.
"Smoking" means "dimly burning," "smouldering," the flame not quite
extinct. This expresses the positive side of the penitent's religion; as
"bruised reed," the negative. Broken-hearted in himself, but not
without some spark of flame: literally, "from above." Christ will supply
such a one with grace as with oil. Also, the light of nature
smouldering in the Gentiles amidst the hurtful fumes of error. He not
only did not quench, but cleared away the mists and superadded the light
of revelation. See JEROME,
To Algasia, Question 2.
truth--
Matthew 12:20 quotes it, "send forth judgment unto
victory."
Matthew, under the Spirit, gives the virtual sense, but varies the
word, in order to bring out a fresh aspect of the same thing. Truth has
in itself the elements of victory over all opposing forces.
Truth is the
victory of Him who is "the truth" (
John 14:6 ). The
gospel judicial sifting ("judgment") of believers and unbelievers, begun already in part (
John 3:18 John 3:19 ,
9:39 ), will be
consummated victoriously in truth only at His second coming;
Isaiah 42:13 Isaiah 42:14 , here, and
Matthew 12:32 Matthew 12:36 Matthew 12:41 Matthew 12:42 , show that there is reference to the
judicial aspect of the Gospel, especially finally: besides the mild triumph of Jesus coming in mercy to the penitent
now (
Isaiah 42:2 ), there shall be
finally the judgment on His enemies, when the "truth" shall be perfectly developed. Compare
Isaiah 61:1-3 , where the two comings are similarly joined (
Psalms 2:4-6 Psalms 2:8 ,
Revelation 15:2 Revelation 15:4 Revelation 19:11-16 ). On "judgment," see on
Isaiah 42:1.
4. fail--faint;
man in religion may become as the almost expiring flax-wick (
Isaiah 42:3 ), but not so He in His purposes of grace.
discouraged--literally, "broken," that is, checked in zeal by discouragements (compare
Isaiah 49:4 Isaiah 49:5 ). ROSENMULLER not so well translates, "He shall not be too slow on the one hand, nor
run too hastily on the other."
judgment--His true religion, the canon of His judgments and righteous reign.
isles . . . wait, &c.--The distant lands beyond sea shall put their
trust in His gospel way of salvation.
Matthew 12:21 virtually gives the sense, with the inspired addition of another aspect of the same thing, "In his
name shall the Gentiles
trust" (as "wait for" here means,
Isaiah 30:18 ). "His law" is not something distinct from Himself, but is indeed
Himself, the manifestation of God's character ("name") in Christ, who is the
embodiment of the law (
Isaiah 42:21 ,
Jeremiah 23:6 ,
Romans 10:4 ). "Isles" here, and in
Isaiah 42:12
, may refer to the fact that the populations of which the Church was
primarily formed were Gentiles of the countries bordering on the
Mediterranean.
5. Previously God had spoken
of Messiah; now (
Isaiah 42:5-7 ) He speaks
to
Him. To show to all that He is able to sustain the Messiah in His
appointed work, and that all might accept Messiah as commissioned by
such a mighty God, He commences by announcing Himself as the Almighty
Creator and Preserver of all things.
spread . . . earth--(
Psalms 136:6 ).
6. in righteousness--rather, "for a righteous purpose" [LOWTH]. (See
Isaiah 42:21 ). God "set forth" His Son "to be a propitiation (so as) to declare His (God's)
righteousness, that God might be just, and (yet) the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (
Romans 3:25 Romans 3:26 ;
Isaiah 45:13 ,
Isaiah 50:8 Isaiah 50:9 ).
hold . . . hand--compare as to Israel, the type of Messiah,
Hosea 11:3 .
covenant--the medium of the covenant, originally made between God and Abraham (
Isaiah 49:8 ). "The mediator of a better covenant" (
Hebrews 8:6 ) than the law (see
Isaiah 49:8 ,
Jeremiah 31:33 ,
50:5 ). So the abstract "peace," for
peace-maker (
Micah 5:5 ,
Ephesians 2:14 ).
the people--Israel; as
Isaiah 49:8 , compared with
Isaiah 42:6 , proves (
Luke 2:32 ).
7. blind--spiritually (
Isaiah 42:16 Isaiah 42:18 Isaiah 42:19 ,
Isaiah 35:5 ,
John 9:39 ).
prison--(
Isaiah 61:1 Isaiah 61:2 ).
darkness--opposed to "light" (
Isaiah 42:6 ,
Ephesians 5:8 ,
1 Peter 2:9 ).
8. God turns from addressing Messiah to the people.
Lord--JEHOVAH: God's distinguishing and incommunicable name, indicating essential
being and immutable faithfulness (compare
Exodus 6:3 ,
Psalms 83:18 ,
96:5 ,
Hosea 12:5 ).
my--that is due to Me, and to Me alone.
9. former things--Former
predictions of God, which were now fulfilled, are here adduced as proof
that they ought to trust in Him alone as God; namely, the predictions
as to Israel's restoration from Babylon.
new--namely, predictions as to Messiah, who is to bring all nations to the worship of Jehovah (
Isaiah 42:1 Isaiah 42:4 Isaiah 42:6 ).
spring forth--The same image from plants
just beginning to germinate occurs in
Isaiah 43:19 ,
58:8 . Before there is
the slightest indication to enable a sagacious observer to infer the coming event, God
foretells it.
10. new song--such
as has never before been sung, called for by a new manifestation of
God's grace, to express which no hymn for former mercies would be
appropriate. The new song shall be sung when the Lord shall reign in
Jerusalem, and all "nations shall flow unto it" (
Isaiah 2:2 ,
26:1 ,
Revelation 5:9 ,
14:3 ).
ye that go down to the sea--whose conversion will be the means of diffusing the Gospel to distant lands.
all . . . therein--all the living creatures
that fill the sea (
Psalms 96:11 ) [MAURER]. Or,
all sailors and voyagers [GESENIUS]. But these were already mentioned in the previous clause: there he called on all who go
upon the sea; in this clause all animals
in the sea; so in
Isaiah 42:11
, he calls on the inanimate wilderness to lift up its voice. External
nature shall be so renovated as to be in unison with the moral
renovation.
11. cities--in a region not wholly waste, but mainly so, with an oasis here and there.
Kedar--in East-Deserta (Far north Arabia) (
Isaiah 21:16 ,
Genesis 25:13 ). The Kedarenians led a nomadic, wandering life. So Kedar is here put in general for that class of men.
rock--
Sela, that is, Petra, the metropolis of Idumea and the Nabathoean
Ishmaelites.
the mountains--namely, of Paran (South West of Israel- Sinai peninsula ), south of Sinai, in
Arabic Petræa [VITRINGA].
12. glory . . . islands--(
Isaiah 24:15 ).
13-16. Jehovah will no longer restrain His wrath: He will go forth as a mighty warrior (
Exodus 15:3 ) to destroy His people's and His enemies, and to deliver Israel (compare
Psalms 45:3 ).
stir up jealousy--rouse His indignation.
roar--image from the battle cry of a warrior.
14. long time--namely, during the desolation of Israel (
Isaiah 32:14 ).
holden my peace--(Compare
Psalms 50:21 ,
Habakkuk 1:2 ).
cry like a travailing woman,
&c.--Like a woman in parturition, who, after having restrained her
breathing for a time, at last, overcome with labor pain, lets out her
voice with a panting sigh; so Jehovah will give full vent to His long
pent-up wrath. Translate, instead of "destroy . . . devour";
I will at once breathe hard and pant, namely, giving loose to My wrath.
15. I will destroy all My foes.
mountains--in Palestine usually planted with vines and olives in terraces, up to their tops.
islands--rather, "dry lands." God will destroy His foes, the heathen, and their idols, and "
dry up" the fountains of their oracles, their doctrines and institutions, the symbol of which is
water, and their schools which promoted idolatry [VITRINGA].
16. blind--God's
people, Israel, in captivity, needing a guide. In the ulterior sense
the New Testament Church, which was about to be led and enlightened by
the Son of God as its leader and shepherd in the wilderness of the Roman
empire, until it should reach a city of habitation. "A way . . . they
knew not," refers to the various means ployed by Providence for the
establishment of the Church in the world, such as would never have
occurred to the mind of mere man. "Blind," they are called, as not
having heretofore seen God's ways in ordering His Church.
make darkness light, &c.--implies that the glorious issue would only be known by the event itself [VITRINGA]. The same holds good of the
individual believer (
Isaiah 30:21 ,
Psalms 107:7 ; compare
Hosea 2:6 Hosea 2:14 ,
Ephesians 5:8 ,
Hebrews 13:5 ).
17. turned back . . . ashamed--disappointed in their trust; the same phrase occurs in
Psalms 35:4 .
18. deaf--namely, to the voice of God.
blind--to your duty and interest; wilfully so (
Isaiah 42:20 ). In this they differ from "the blind" (
Isaiah 42:16
). The Jews are referred to. He had said, God would destroy the heathen
idolatry; here he remembers that even Israel, His "servant" (
Isaiah 42:19 ), from whom better things might have been expected, is tainted with this sin.
19. my servant--namely,
Israel. Who of the heathen is so blind? Considering Israel's high
privileges, the heathen's blindness was as nothing compared with that of
Israelite idolaters.
my messenger . . . sent--Israel was designed by God to be the herald of His truth to other nations.
perfect--furnished with institutions, civil and religious, suited to their
perfect well-being. Compare the title, "Jeshurun," the
perfect one, applied to Israel (compare
Isaiah 44:2 ), as the type of Messiah Or translate, the
friend of God, which Israel was by virtue of descent from Abraham, who was so called (
Isaiah 41:8 ), [GESENIUS]. The language, "my servant" (compare
Isaiah 42:1 ), "messenger" (
Malachi 3:1 ), "perfect" (
Romans 10:4 ,
Hebrews 2:10 ,
1 Peter 2:22 ), can, in the full antitypical sense, only apply to Christ. So
Isaiah 42:21
plainly refers to Him. "Blind" and "deaf" in His case refer to His
endurance of suffering and reproach, as though He neither saw nor heard (
Psalms 38:13 Psalms 38:14 ). Thus there is a transition by contrast from the moral
blindness of Israel (
Isaiah 42:18 ) to the patient blindness and deafness of Messiah [HORSLEY].
20. observest--Thou dost not
keep
them. The "many things" are the many proofs which all along from the
first God had given Israel of His goodness and His power (
Deuteronomy 4:32-38 ,
29:2-4 ,
Psalms 78:1-72 ,
105:1-45 ).
he--transition from the second to the third person. "Opening . . . ears," that is, though he (Israel) hath his ears open
servant (
Isaiah 50:5 ,
Psalms 40:6 ).
21. his righteousness--not His people's, but His own;
Isaiah 42:24 shows that they had no righteousness (
Isaiah 45:24 ,
59:16 ). God is
well pleased with His Son ("in whom My soul
delighteth,"
Isaiah 42:1 ), "who fulfils all
righteousness" (
Matthew 3:15 ) for them, and with them for His sake (compare
Isaiah 42:6 ,
Psalms 71:16 Psalms 71:19 ,
Matthew 5:17 ,
Romans 10:3 Romans 10:4 ,
Philippians 3:9 ). Perhaps in God's "righteousness" here is included His
faithfulness to His promises
given to Israel's forefathers [ROSENMULLER]; because of this He is well
pleased with Israel, even though displeased with their sin, which He
here reproves; but that promise could only be based on the
righteousness of Messiah, the promised seed, which is
God's righteousness.
22. holes--caught by their foes in the
caverns where they had sought refuge [BARNES]. Or bound in subterranean dungeons [BARNES].
prison-houses--either
literal prisons, or their own houses, whence they dare not go forth for
fear of the enemy. The connection is: Notwithstanding
God's favor to His people for His righteousness' sake (
Isaiah 42:21
), they have fallen into misery (the Babylonish and Romish captivities
and their present dispersion), owing to their disregard of the divine
law: spiritual imprisonment is included (
Isaiah 42:7 ).
none saith, Restore--There is no deliverer (
Isaiah 63:5 ).
23. A call that they should be warned by the past judgments of God to obey Him for the time to come.
24. Who--Their calamity was not the work of chance, but God's immediate act for their sins.
Jacob . . . Israel . . . we--change
from the third to the first person; Isaiah first speaking to them as a
prophet, distinct from them; then identifying himself with them, and
acknowledging His share in the nation's sins (compare
Joshua 5:1 ).
25. him--Israel (
Isaiah 42:24 ).
strength of battle--violence of war.
it--the
battle or war (compare
Isaiah 10:16 ).
knew not--knew not the lesson of repentance which the judgment was intended to teach (
Isaiah 5:13 ,
9:13 ,
Jeremiah 5:3 ).
Conclusion-
Isaiah 42 is talking about Messiah in each word.
Anti-claim, which says Muhammad (a False prophet) cannot fit here in Isaiah 42
1)
My Servant expression quote in Bible - indicate none other than Messiah. Prophecies on My servant through out the Bible only indicates Messiah. 'My Elect' - is always used for 'Anointed one by G-d' i.e Messiah.
Also Muhammad has nothing to do with Israel. Muhammad is not Messiah. Judgement is not Physical Judgement, its the continuation of LAW - New Testament. Muhammad bought some barbaric laws, against G-dly nature like forgiveness or Kindness.
Sahih Bukhari 4:234- says Muhammad cut hands & Limbs of newly converted Muslims & enjoyed seeing them till they died. This surely cannot be the Justice to brought up for entire world.
2)
Never Cause his Voice in Street - People Gathered around Yehshua Massiah, where ever he had gone, there for he with drew from towns & streets.
Muhammad was a street preacher in Mecca. He tries his best to draw attention of people to him
Qur'an 25:7-8; Muhammad ordered to Kill another street preacher, a poet called Al-Nadir. So Muhammad has nothing to do with miracles or divinity of Holy spirit. Gabriel taught Muhamad. Not any spirit has been told - which has rested up on him according to Quran.
3) Bruised- Bruised reed , but will never break, Jesus was seemed to be humble in all through out the life. Crucifixion, Resurrected & never Broken!
When Muhammad life was got revised you will end up in a conclusion that cannot be even called as a prophet.
4) Righteousness - the Messiah Prince of Peace Righteousness (see above)
Muhammad never can be called as a any of above. Muhammad insisted to Lie is an example which cannot be equated with this title- Quran itself provide the proof
Taqiyya . See Quran 16:106, 3:28, 9:3, 66:22 etc.
5) Deaf & Blind - The Yehoshua Massiah, physically & spiritually opened eyes & ears and lead them.
Muhammad said "God can only guide them, if god wishes" - So Who is G-d here?
