Isaiah 42
42
The Lord’s Servant
1“Take a good look at my servant! # 42:1 Here we are introduced to the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, as the Chosen Servant of the Lord, sustained by Yahweh, sent on a divine mission to bring light and freedom to the hearts of his covenant people. Starting with ch. 42, Isaiah gave us four Servant Songs: (1) This chapter presents Jesus as the Faithful Servant who brings light to the nations. (2) In Isa. 49:1–13 he is the Chosen Servant to bring salvation to the nations and to restore Israel. (3) In Isa. 50:4–9, we have the song of the Obedient Servant who reveals the Father. (4) In Isa. 52:13–53:12 we find him as Suffering Servant. See also Matt. 12:18–21.
I love him dearly, # 42:1 Or “I find all my delight in him.” See Matt. 3:17. for he is my chosen one.
I have taken hold of him in my strength, # 42:1 Or “whom I uphold [by my strength].”
and I have clothed him with my Spirit. # 42:1 Or “placed my Spirit upon him.”
He will cause justice to spring up for the nations.
2He will be gentle and will not quarrel with others in public.
He will not exalt his own voice.
3He would never crush a broken heart # 42:3 Or “A bruised [bent-over] reed.” A reed can be seen as a biblical metaphor for the feebleness of humanity. Jesus, God’s Servant, is extraordinarily gentle. Rather than break weak ones, he restores and heals them. See Matt. 12:20.
nor disregard the weak and vulnerable. # 42:3 Or “nor extinguish a smoldering candle [those whose light and faith is growing dim].”
He will make sure justice comes to those who are wronged.
4His inner being will not become faint or discouraged,
nor will his light grow dim before he establishes justice on the earth.
Even the distant lands beyond the seas
will hunger for his instruction.” # 42:4 These first four verses give us the qualifications for ministry: (1) chosen and anointed by God, (2) committed to reach the unreached, (3) gentle and compassionate, and (4) not discouraged but having unfailing courage.
5Here are the words of the true God, Yahweh,
the one who created the starry heavens and stretched them out.
He is the one who formed the earth and filled it with life.
He gives breath to every person
and spirit to everyone everywhere.
6“I, Yahweh, have commissioned you in righteousness to succeed.
I will take your hand in love and watch over you.
I will give you as a covenant # 42:6 The Hebrew text is clear that this covenant is a person, the Servant of the Lord. In him is found all the blessings of the covenant. He is the embodiment of God’s covenant promises. for the people,
a walking-light to the nations.
7Your mission is to open blind eyes,
to set prisoners free from dark dwellings,
and to open prison doors to those who are held by darkness. # 42:7 See Isa. 61:1–2; Luke 4:16–21.
8I am Yahweh; that is my name.
I will not give my glory to another god
nor my renown to idols.
9Don’t you see that what I have prophesied has come to pass? # 42:9 Or “The former things [prophecies], behold—they have come!”
And now I am foretelling the future.
I declare it to you before it sprouts up.” # 42:9 A possible metaphor for the resurrection of Jesus.
A New Song for a New Day
10Sing to Yahweh a brand-new song! # 42:10 Every new thing God does requires a new song to declare it. See Rev. 5:9.
Sing his praise until it echoes from the ends of the earth!
Sailors and sea creatures, praise him!
Islands and all their inhabitants, sing his praise!
11Let the desert and its villages lift their voices in praise!
Let the tent villages of Kedar # 42:11 Kedar was a son of Ishmael (see Gen. 25:13), and his tribe were considered nomads. Kedar can also be seen as a metaphor for the old nature. shout their praises!
Let the residents of Sela’s cliffs # 42:11 Sela means “rock” (Song. 2:14). Sela was once the capitol of Edom. shout with glee,
with a celebration shout from the mountaintops! # 42:11 See Song. 4:8.
12Let them give Yahweh the glorious praise he deserves
and declare his praise in the islands!
Our Hero-God
13Yahweh goes out to battle like a hero # 42:13 As he carried our cross, Jesus went out from Jerusalem as a hero to conquer our foes.
and stirs up his passion and zeal like a mighty warrior.
Yes, his God-shout is a mighty battle cry;
he will triumph heroically over all his foes. # 42:13 Or “he shows himself superior to his enemies.” Every spiritual enemy is conquered by the Son of God—even death.
14For a long time, I said nothing. # 42:14 Or “I have been silent. Should I remain silent forever and hold my peace?” (LXX).
I restrained myself and kept silent.
Now I will groan, pant, and gasp like a woman in labor.
15I will level their hills and mountains # 42:15 Hills and mountains are frequently used as metaphors for governments, nations, and kingdoms.
and dry up all their vegetation.
I will turn rivers into islands and dry up their lakes.
16I will walk # 42:16 See John 16:13; Rom. 8:14. the blind by an unknown way # 42:16 See Josh. 3:4; John 14:6; Heb. 10:19–22.
and guide them on paths they’ve never traveled.
I will smooth their difficult road # 42:16 This can be seen as a metaphor for God changing our hearts and removing obstacles so we can walk with him. No obstacle within us will prevent God from accomplishing his plan.
and make their dark mysteries bright with light. # 42:16 Darkness is a frequent biblical metaphor for ignorance and light for understanding (revelation-light).
These are things I will do for them,
for I will never abandon my beloved ones. # 42:16 See Matt. 28:18–20; Heb. 13:5.
17But those who trust in idols,
who say to their metal images,
“You are our gods,”
will be turned aside in total disgrace. # 42:17 Or “in shame you will be ashamed.”
Blind and Deaf to Truth
18Hear me, you deaf! Look up, you blind, and see!
19Who is as blind as my servant Israel
or as deaf as the messenger I send? # 42:19 Israel was given a divine mission to serve God and his purposes. The nation was to become his messenger. See Rom. 11.
Who is as blind as my covenant friend,
as blind as Yahweh’s servant?
20Israel, you have seen so much, but you don’t get it!
You have been taught so much, # 42:20 Or “You have ears to hear.” but what did you really hear? # 42:20 See Prov. 28:9.
21For the sake of his righteousness,
Yahweh was eager to exalt his law and make it glorious. # 42:21 Or “it pleased Yahweh to praise his justice and make his law glorious.”
22But this is a people plundered and robbed,
trapped in holes and hidden in houses of bondage. # 42:22 Or “prisons.” This section (vv. 18–25) deals with God’s people in bondage. Judah was held captive in Babylon; the church is held captive to religious systems and to concepts from which Jesus came to set us free (see Gal. 4:3, 8). We must always be careful to hear and see and, with hearts open to God, receive the new thing God is doing on the earth today. Jesus was blind and deaf to doing anything other than the will of his Father. God is still restoring his church and making us like Christ, free and full of new life.
They are like prey that no one will rescue,
like spoil with no one to say, “Bring them back!”
23Doesn’t anyone understand this?
Will any of you pay attention to this in the future?
24Who gave up Jacob to looters and Israel to robbers?
It was Yahweh himself, against whom we sinned
by not walking in holy ways nor heeding holy words.
25So he poured out the heat of his anger
and they suffered the fury of war.
His anger enveloped them in flames,
but they still did not understand—
consumed by fire yet they did not take it to heart.
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Isaiah 42: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationIsaiah 42
42
The Lord's Servant
1 #
Mt 3.17; 17.5; Mk 1.11; Lk 3.22; 9.35. #Mt 12.18-21. Here is my servant!
I have made him strong.
He is my chosen one;
I am pleased with him.
I have given him my Spirit,
and he will bring justice
to the nations.
2He won't shout or yell
or call out in the streets.
3He won't break off a bent reed
or put out a dying flame,
but he will make sure
that justice is done.
4He won't quit or give up
until he brings justice
everywhere on earth,
and people in foreign nations
long for his teaching.
5 #
Ac 17.24,25. I am the Lord God.
I created the heavens
like an open tent above.
I made the earth and everything
that grows on it.
I am the source of life
for all who live on this earth,
so listen to what I say.
6 #
Is 49.6; Lk 2.32; Ac 13.47; 26.23. I chose you to bring justice,
and I am here at your side.
I selected you and sent you#42.6 I selected … you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
to bring light
and my promise of hope
to the nations.
7You will give sight
to the blind;
you will set prisoners free
from dark dungeons.
8My name is the Lord!
I won't let idols or humans
share my glory and praise.
9Everything has happened
just as I said it would;
now I will announce
what will happen next.
Sing Praises to the Lord
10Tell the whole world to sing
a new song to the Lord!
Tell those who sail the ocean
and those who live far away
to join in the praise.
11Tell the tribes of the desert
and everyone in the mountains#42.11 desert … mountains: The Hebrew text includes the place names of Kedar in the desert and Sela in the mountains.
to celebrate and sing.
12Let them announce
his praises everywhere.
13The Lord is marching out
like an angry soldier,
shouting with all his might
while attacking his enemies.
The Lord Will Help His People
14For a long time, I, the Lord,
have held my temper;
now I will cry out and groan
like a woman giving birth.
15I will destroy the mountains
and what grows on them;
I will dry up rivers and ponds.
16I will lead the blind on roads
they have never known;
I will guide them on paths
they have never traveled.
Their road is dark and rough,
but I will give light
to keep them from stumbling.
This is my solemn promise.
17Everyone who worships idols
as though they were gods
will be terribly ashamed.
God's People Won't Obey
18You people are deaf and blind,
but the Lord commands you
to listen and to see.
19No one is as blind or deaf
as his messenger,
his chosen servant,
20who sees and hears so much,
but pays no attention.
21The Lord always does right,
and so he wanted his Law
to be greatly praised.#42.21 greatly praised: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 21.
22But his people were trapped
and imprisoned in holes
with no one to rescue them.
All they owned had been taken,
and no one was willing
to give it back.
23Why won't his people
ever learn to listen?
24Israel sinned and refused
to obey the Lord
or follow his instructions.
So the Lord let us be robbed
of everything we owned.
25He was furious with us
and punished our nation
with the fires of war.
Still we paid no attention.
We didn't even care
when we were surrounded
and scorched by flames.
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