Tyndale Open Study NotesIsaiah 42

The servant here is not the people of Israel (as in Isaiah 41:8–28 and elsewhere in chapters 41–48; see 49:5–6). Instead, the servant is a royal figure who accomplishes his mission with care for people, especially for those who are hurting. The passage is the first of four songs about this servant (Isaiah 42:1–4; 49:1–13; 50:4–11; 52:13–53:12). He brings in an era of universal justice. For the connection of the servant with Jesus Christ, see Matthew 12:18–21.

• in whom My soul delights: God used similar words at the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:17).

• I will put My Spirit on Him: Any leader might be called a servant, but the Spirit's presence suggests a king from David’s line or a prophet like Moses (see Numbers 11:17, 24–29).

• Establishing justice is a king's duty (see Isaiah 9:6–7; Psalm 72:1).

• This king’s mission will extend beyond governing Judah to a greater mission for the nations.

cry out or raise His voice: The royal servant will speak with calm confidence in his message and calling from God (see also Isaiah 11:1–5).

The royal servant will be gentle with the oppressed and discouraged (see Isaiah 3:15; 41:17).

the islands: The nations want justice and guidance on how to achieve it. The servant is like Moses, who received the law. However, the servant is greater because he brings justice to all nations, not just Israel.

• I will keep you … to be a covenant for the people: The people might refer to all the nations of the earth (see Isaiah 49:6).

• a light to the nations: See also Isaiah 51:4; Acts 13:47.

The servant will help the spiritually blind see (see Isaiah 6:10; 29:18) and free spiritual captives from sin. This is in addition to freeing those held captive during the exile in Babylon (see Isaiah 61:1 with Luke 4:18).

I am the LORD: God created the world and only God can make predictions come true. God alone deserves glory and praise.

• Different geographical regions show the extremes of where people live. The entire earth is invited to praise God for his promise to save humanity.

• Kedar and Sela were examples of desert locations (Isaiah 42:11; see also 16:1; 21:16–17).

• a mighty one … a warrior: This theme comes from God's victory at the Red Sea during the exodus (Exodus 15:3).

• God will defeat all his enemies to save his people (Isaiah 51:9; 63:1–6; see also Psalms 54:7; 108:9; 112:8).

I have kept silent … and restrained: Israel felt God's absence during the exile in Babylon, which happened due to their idol worship (Isaiah 57:11–13; 2 Kings 17:6–24). The faithful will pray for God's presence and renewed involvement in their lives (Isaiah 64:12), and the Lord will answer their prayers because he is committed to their redemption (62:1, 6).

The Israelites who ignored God's words and actions became spiritually blind and deaf (see Isaiah 6:9–10). They knew the truth from God's word and the prophets, but their closed minds refused to respond.

magnify His law and make it glorious: God’s word is a witness to his righteous rule (see Isaiah 1:10).

Throughout its history, Israel's sins (Isaiah 42:24) made it vulnerable to foreign oppressors. Many nations, especially Assyria and Babylon, became tools God used to express his anger (Isaiah 42:25) toward his rebellious people.

Generation after generation of Israelites did not learn their lesson, even when God disciplined them through military defeat.