Jesus is God’s elect, upon whom he put his Spirit, who delighted him, and who will bring forth judgment to the Gentiles v.1.Isaiah 42:1XWaiting for response Thus Jesus came to Israel preaching the good news of God’s kingdom and offering salvation, and in due course this message went out to the Gentiles also. Jesus, furthermore, was gentle with those he taught, even with the most obnoxious and hardhearted, not being riotous or quenching the little spiritual life he found among the people v.3.Isaiah 42:3XWaiting for response He was not discouraged by his rejection by most of the people for he knew that ultimately God’s purpose would be achieved in him and he would bring forth judgment in the earth v.4.Isaiah 42:4XWaiting for response
Jesus was the servant of the creator of the universe who gave life to all people on earth v.5.Isaiah 42:5XWaiting for response He was called in righteousness to give his life in sacrifice as part of the covenant God made with Israel, and he would enlighten the Gentiles v.6.Isaiah 42:6XWaiting for response He would open the eyes of the blind to see God’s truth and would save men and women taken prisoner by sin and death and this, in the end, would mean their everlasting release from the grave v.7.Isaiah 42:7XWaiting for response All this accords with the LORD’s purpose, declared from the beginning and to come to pass in due time v.9,Isaiah 42:9XWaiting for response to bring glory to himself v.8.Isaiah 42:8XWaiting for response Therefore men should learn of him and his purpose, and rejoice in this knowledge vs.10-12.Isaiah 42:10-12XWaiting for response Unfortunately, most people now take little interest in God’s purpose but the time is coming when he will go forth like a man of war to destroy his enemies and save his people vs.13-16.Isaiah 42:13-16XWaiting for response For centuries he has held his peace and been still v.14Isaiah 42:14XWaiting for response so that people who take no notice of his word think he does not even exist, but they will learn differently when the day of his intervention arrives.
Israel received great privileges from the LORD, including having his prophets and his Son in their midst to teach them, but mostly they shut their eyes and were blind to his teaching and deaf to his word. They foolishly turned to idols v.17Isaiah 42:17XWaiting for response but God urged them to see and hear his word v.18.Isaiah 42:18XWaiting for response The LORD was determined to magnify his law and make it honourable v.21Isaiah 42:21XWaiting for response and Jesus kept that law perfectly, being blind and deaf in the opposite sense - opening his eyes and ears to God’s word but closing them to sin and the temptations of the world - so that he was perfect and the LORD was well pleased for his righteousness vs.19-22.Isaiah 42:19-22XWaiting for response The people of Israel also was God’s servant but they refused to hear and were therfore scattered by invaders v.24,Isaiah 42:24XWaiting for response yet they have remained completely unaware that this was the hand of God v.25.Isaiah 42:25XWaiting for response
In this chapter the LORD spoke of Jesus as his servant and what he would do in God’s service.