Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryIsaiah 42

My servant. For the setting of ch. 42, see on ch. 40:1. “Servant” is here a designation for Christ (see on ch. 41:8). In Matt. 12:18 this prophecy is specifically applied to Christ. Indeed, many expressions in this chapter can apply to no other. Jesus frequently referred to Himself as having been sent by His Father to carry out an assigned mission (John 4:34; 6:38; 14:31). Concerning the nature of His work He declared that He “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28) and that He was among His people “as he that serveth” (Luke 22:27). Here and in the chapters that follow, Isaiah sets forth the most complete picture of Messiah and His earthly mission to be found anywhere in the OT. Largely because of these prophecies Isaiah is known as “the gospel prophet.” Delighteth. See on Matt. 3:17. My spirit upon him. Here Isaiah clearly refers to the three members of the Godhead: “I [the Father] have put my spirit [the Holy Spirit] upon him [the “Servant,” Messiah]” (Matt. 12:18). In a special sense the Holy Spirit came upon Christ at His baptism (see on Matt. 3:16; Luke 4:18; see also John 1:32, 33; Acts 10:38). Judgment. Or, “justice.” Christ’s mission to the Gentiles is prominent in this section of Isaiah (see chs. 45:22; 49:6, 7, 12, 22; 54:3, 5; 56:3–8; 60:3–5; 62:2). That the message

of divine grace was not to be alone for the Jews, but for all men, is one of the outstanding truths uniquely set forth by Isaiah.

Ellen G. White

To be heard in the street. The Messiah was to accomplish a mighty work in a quiet and unobtrusive way, without pomp or show.

A bruised reed. See on Matt. 12:20. Messiah will minister tenderly to the weak, the bruised, and the oppressed. He is a friend to the humble, contrite sinner—to every man who finds himself in need. Men who appear to themselves and to others almost beyond hope will find in Him the comfort, strength, and courage they so much need. Smoking flax. That is, a linen wick flickering and ready to go out.

Judgment. Or, “justice.” In spite of the difficulties He may have to face, Messiah will persevere toward the goal of restoring the just law of the universe to this earth. The isles. Or, “coastlands,” a common OT designation for all countries bordering on the Mediterranean, here equivalent to “Gentiles.” Shall wait for his law. Dead Sea scroll 1QIs reads, “He shall cause to possess [or, inherit] His law.” The Heb. torah, “law,” includes all the revealed will of God (see on Ps. 19:7; Prov. 3:1). Isaiah here envisions the conversion of the Gentiles (see pp. 28–30).

Created the heavens. See on ch. 40:12, 26, 28.

Ellen G. White

In righteousness. The plan of salvation is a means not only of rescuing men from sin but also of vindicating the righteous character of God before the entire universe. See on John 17:4, 6. Hold thine hand. For the way in which Christ was guided day by day in the fulfillment of the plan for His mission to earth, see on Mark 3:13; Luke 2:49; see DA 208, 417. We are to follow in His steps. A covenant. Christ was to be not only the mediator of the covenant but the covenant itself. He was its center and substance. He was not only to bring peace but to be “our peace,” that we, who were once “strangers from the covenants of promise,” might be “made nigh” to God by His precious blood (Eph. 2:12–14; Micah 5:5). A light. See pp. 28, 29. Without Christ, men grope and stumble about in darkness. But in Christ the most unfortunate and benighted have the privilege of finding the light of life (see Isa. 49:6; Luke 2:32; John 1:4–9; Acts 13:47).

To open. See on Luke 4:18. The restoration of physical eyesight upon various occasions testified that Christ had power to impart sight to men’s souls (John 9:1–9; cf. Isa. 61:1–3).

My name. For the name Jehovah, “Lord,” see Vol. I, pp. 171–173; see on Ex. 3:14, 15. 9. Former things. Predictions made by Isaiah and other prophets in earlier days had already been fulfilled. The fulfillment of these former prophecies gave weight and value to the striking predictions now set before the people (see Jer. 28:9). Spring forth. Prophecies are like seed. When Isaiah spoke, there was not the slightest evidence that his words would ever be fulfilled, but seven centuries later those of this passage met a glorious fulfillment in Christ.

Sing unto the Lord. Days of darkness and discouragement had overtaken Judah, and darker days lay ahead, but Isaiah proclaimed a message of comfort and hope (ch. 40:1, 2). As the people looked forward to the glorious future they could even now rejoice and sing and thank God for His wonderful mercy and love.

Kedar. An Arabian tribe descended from Ishmael (Gen. 25:13; see Isa. 21:13, 16; Eze. 27:21). They had black tents (S. of Sol. 1:5), and kept flocks and camels (Isa. 60:7; Jer. 49:28, 29); Here they are mentioned together with “the inhabitants of the rock,” which is Sela (see on Isa. 16:1), or Petra (see on 2 Kings 14:7), as representatives of distant peoples that would hear the message of God’s grace and turn to Him with praise and singing (see pp. 28–30).

The islands. That is, coastlands bordering on the Mediterranean (see on v. 4).

Jealousy. Or, “zeal,” or “fury.” The Lord is zealous for the honor and integrity of His name (see v. 8).

Ellen G. White

Long time. Heb. ‘olam, literally, “for an age” (see on Ex. 21:6). Here, obviously, “forever” indicates a limited period of time; it comes to an end. Holden my peace. The hour of God’s vengeance has finally come. For a long time the Lord has permitted the wicked to go their evil ways (see Eccl. 8:11). Now He will call them to account, now He will perform, “his strange work” (Isa. 28:21), now He will reward evil men according to their deeds. Destroy and devour. Literally, “gasp and pant after.” Here in figurative language the prophet pictures the end of divine forbearance.

Make waste mountains. Divine vengeance on those who have despised mercy is here pictured in highly figurative language. For the literal convulsions that will shake the earth when Christ returns see Rev. 6:14–17; 16:17–21; cf. Isa. 24:1, 3, 5, 19–21.

The blind. That is, those who have been spiritually blind (see on v. 7). Divine retribution will fall upon those who have deliberately rejected light (vs. 13–15), whereas those who are sincere, though benighted, will come to the light, and will be given an opportunity to accept the gracious mercy of God. Crooked things straight. See on ch. 40:4.

Greatly ashamed. When the Lord reveals Himself (v. 14) those who have trusted in false gods will have irrefutable evidence of the folly of their ways. Their gods will prove powerless to help them.

Hear, ye deaf. See on chs. 6:9, 10; 42:7, 16. These words are addressed to the professed people of God (see v. 19), many of whom are spiritually blind and deaf. Isaiah calls upon all who acknowledge the name of the Lord, but whose spiritual perception has been impaired, to open their ears and their eyes that they may perceive the revealed will of God.

Who is blind, but my servant? It is not entirely clear whether the “servant” here refers to Messiah, as the context of the chapter as a whole (see v. 1) may imply, or to Israel, as the more immediate context of vs. 16, 18, 20 suggests (see on ch. 41:8). In the book of Isaiah blindness generally refers to spiritual blindness on the part of God’s professed people (see on ch. 6:9, 10). This is true of the “blind” of ch. 42:16. Some have suggested that v. 19 refers to Messiah’s being blind to the faults of His followers (cf. 1T 707, where the words of this text are borrowed to express another thought). However, vs. 18, 20 imply that the “blind” “servant” of v. 19 does wrong in not seeing, and that God calls on him to amend his ways. The “blind” and “deaf” “servant” of v. 19 therefore probably designates God’s people (see Rev. 3:17–20).

Thou observest not. See ch. 43:8; see on chs. 6:9, 10; 42:7, 16, 18.

Magnify the law. Christ magnified the “law,” Heb. torah (see on Ps. 19:7; Prov. 3:1), both by precept and by example, proving it to be wise and just. Obedience to the

revealed will of God always promotes righteousness, happiness, and peace among men. In His Sermon on the Mount, Christ magnified the law by applying its principles to the motives of the heart as well as to the outward acts (see on Matt. 5:17, 20, 21). Christ’s life of perfect compliance with every requirement of the law confirmed all that He proclaimed concerning it (John 15:10; 17:4; Rom. 8:3, 4).

Ellen G. White

A people robbed and spoiled. God had warned His people that the result of disobedience would be woe and disaster (Deut. 28:15–68), and these warnings were now in process of fulfillment. The ten tribes of Israel were gone; Judah was desolate, and many of its people had been taken captive by Assyria, while others had to hide in dens and caves. A worse fate descended upon the land a century later with the repeated invasions of Nebuchadnezzar.

Who will hearken? God had permitted trouble to come in order to bring the people to their senses and make them willing to hearken to Him. Would they now listen to His words of wisdom and life? Or would they follow their own counsel, like their fathers in ages past?

Who gave Jacob? God had permitted the Assyrian invasion (see on chs. 8:7, 8; 10:5, 6). By their stubborn refusal to obey, the people of Judah brought suffering upon themselves. When they refused to serve the Lord He withdrew His protecting hand from them and permitted the enemy to come in and devastate their land.

Laid it not to heart. The judgments that had come upon the nation were largely in vain. In spite of their sufferings the people failed to comprehend the terrible nature of sin and the reason for their plight. Such a situation presaged further trouble. Sennacherib’s judgments were to be followed by the much more serious visitation that came upon the nation in the days of Nebuchadnezzar.