Isaiah Chapter 42
Isaiah 42, The Servant’s Song
Isaiah 42 introduces one of the great Servant Songs of Isaiah. The Lord calls all people to behold His Servant, the Messiah, who is upheld by God, chosen by God, delighted in by God, and anointed by the Spirit of God. This Servant is gentle, but not weak. He will not break the bruised reed or quench the smoking flax, yet He will bring forth justice to the nations and establish righteousness in the earth. The chapter then moves from the Servant’s character and mission to a new song of praise, the Lord’s victory over idols, the healing of the blind, and the rebuke of Israel for spiritual blindness and deafness. The notes provided cover Isaiah 42:1-25, including the character of the Servant, the covenant and light He brings, the praise due to the Lord, the Lord’s zeal in judgment, Israel’s blindness, and the discipline of God upon His disobedient people.
Isaiah 42:1-4
Isaiah 42:1-4, KJV, “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to heard in street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor discouraged, till he have set judgment in earth: and isles shall wait for his law.”
The chapter begins with the command, “Behold my servant.” This is not a passing glance. The Lord commands His people to look carefully, study deeply, and set their attention upon His Servant. Isaiah has already called Israel the servant of the Lord in Isaiah 41, but here the Servant is greater than Israel. He is the One who will do what Israel failed to do. He is the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew directly applies this passage to Jesus.
Matthew 12:15-21, KJV, “But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; And charged them that they should not make him known: That it might fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall Gentiles trust.”
The New Testament leaves no doubt that Isaiah 42 points to Christ. He is the Servant chosen by the Father, filled with the Spirit, gentle toward the weak, and victorious in bringing judgment and justice.
The Lord calls Him “my servant.” Jesus is not only King, Son, Lord, and Christ. He is also the Servant. He took the servant’s place in His incarnation. He came not to be served, but to serve.
Matthew 20:26-28, KJV, “But it shall not among you: but whosoever will great among you, let him minister; And whosoever will chief among you, let him servant: Even as Son of man came not to ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life ransom for many.”
Christ’s service reaches its highest point at the cross. He served by giving His life as a ransom for many. He is not merely an example of service. He is the saving Servant whose work redeems sinners.
The Lord says, “whom I uphold.” The Father upheld the Son in His earthly mission. Christ came in perfect dependence upon the Father. He did not fail because the Father sustained Him. The servant role does not imply weakness of deity. It shows His voluntary humility and perfect obedience.
The Lord also says, “mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.” Jesus is the chosen One, the beloved One, the One in whom the Father is perfectly pleased.
Matthew 3:16-17, KJV, “And Jesus, when he baptized, went up straightway out of water: and, lo, heavens opened unto him, and he saw Spirit of God descending like dove, and lighting upon him: And lo voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I well pleased.”
At Christ’s baptism, the Father publicly delighted in the Son, and the Spirit descended upon Him. This directly echoes Isaiah 42, “I have put my spirit upon him.”
The Servant’s mission is stated, “he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.” Judgment here includes justice, righteous order, and divine rule. The Messiah’s work is not limited to Israel. He will bring justice to the Gentiles. This anticipates the worldwide scope of Christ’s kingdom and the gospel going to the nations.
Luke 2:30-32, KJV, “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before face of all people; A light to lighten Gentiles, and glory of thy people Israel.”
Christ is the glory of Israel and the light of the Gentiles.
Verse 2 describes His manner, “He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.” This does not mean Jesus never spoke loudly. It means His ministry was not characterized by self advertisement, noisy ambition, or fleshly force. He did not advance His mission through bluster, political showmanship, or worldly self promotion. He came meek and lowly, yet with absolute authority.
Matthew 11:29, KJV, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
Verse 3 reveals His tenderness, “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench.” A bruised reed is weak, damaged, bent, and easily broken. Smoking flax is a wick barely burning, more smoke than flame, close to going out. The Servant does not crush the weak or extinguish the struggling. He restores them.
This is one of the most comforting pictures of Christ in Scripture. Jesus does not handle broken people roughly. He does not despise weak faith. He does not reject those who still smoke more than they shine. He strengthens the bruised reed and fans the smoking flax into flame.
Psalm 34:18, KJV, “The LORD nigh unto them that are of broken heart; and saveth such as be of contrite spirit.”
Isaiah 57:15, KJV, “For thus saith high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name Holy; I dwell in high and holy place, with him also that of contrite and humble spirit, to revive spirit of humble, and to revive heart of contrite ones.”
The Lord revives the humble and contrite. Christ fulfills that perfectly.
Yet His gentleness is not weakness. “He shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” He will establish justice in truth. He will not compromise righteousness because He is gentle. He will not fail to judge because He is tender. His mercy and justice are perfectly united.
Verse 4 says, “He shall not fail nor be discouraged.” The words deliberately contrast with the bruised reed and smoking flax. The Servant helps the bruised because He is not bruised by failure. He rekindles the smoking flax because His own flame never fades. He is not fragile like those He saves. He is mighty to complete the mission.
He will continue “till he have set judgment in the earth.” The final result is certain. Christ will establish justice in the earth. This points beyond His first coming to the full manifestation of His kingdom.
Revelation 11:15, KJV, “And seventh angel sounded; and there great voices in heaven, saying, kingdoms of this world are become kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”
The coastlands, or distant nations, “shall wait for his law.” The Gentile world will look to Him. His instruction, rule, and kingdom will extend to the ends of the earth.
Isaiah 42:5-9
Isaiah 42:5-9, KJV, “Thus saith God LORD, he that created heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for covenant of people, for light of Gentiles; To open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from prison, and them that sit in darkness out of prison house. I LORD: that my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
The Lord now states His credentials. He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He gives breath to the people and spirit to those who walk upon the earth. The One who promises the Servant’s mission is the same One who made and sustains creation. He is able to fulfill what He declares.
Genesis 2:7, KJV, “And LORD God formed man of dust of ground, and breathed into his nostrils breath of life; and man became living soul.”
The Creator who gives breath to man also sends the Servant to redeem man.
The Lord speaks to the Servant, “I the LORD have called thee in righteousness.” The mission of Christ comes from the righteous will of God. There is no impurity, injustice, or uncertainty in His calling. The Father called the Son in righteousness, and the Son fulfilled that calling in perfect obedience.
The Lord says, “and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee.” This speaks of the Father’s sustaining care for the Son in His mission. In His humanity, Christ walked in dependence upon the Father. He was kept through rejection, temptation, suffering, and death, and was vindicated in resurrection.
Acts 2:24, KJV, “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed pains of death: because it was not possible that he should holden of it.”
Death could not hold the Servant because the Father kept Him and raised Him.
The Lord says He will give the Servant “for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.” Christ does not merely bring covenant blessings. He Himself is given as the covenant. All God’s promises are secured in Him.
Hebrews 9:15, KJV, “And for this cause he mediator of new testament, that by means of death, for redemption of transgressions that under first testament, they which called might receive promise of eternal inheritance.”
Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant. He is also the light of the Gentiles. Salvation is of the Jews, but it is not for the Jews only.
Acts 13:47, KJV, “For so hath Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to light of Gentiles, that thou shouldest for salvation unto ends of earth.”
The Servant’s work includes opening blind eyes and bringing prisoners out of prison. This includes literal miracles in Christ’s earthly ministry, but it also points to spiritual deliverance. Sin blinds men and holds them captive. Christ gives sight and freedom.
Luke 4:18, KJV, “The Spirit of Lord upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach gospel to poor; he hath sent me to heal brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to captives, and recovering of sight to blind, to set at liberty them that bruised.”
Jesus reads Isaiah and identifies His ministry as the fulfillment of this promise. He opens eyes, frees captives, and brings light to those in darkness.
The Lord then declares, “I am the LORD: that is my name.” He is Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, the self existent Lord. He adds, “my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” This is crucial. God will not share divine glory with idols.
This also teaches the deity of Christ. The Father does not give His glory to another, yet Jesus shares the Father’s glory.
John 17:5, KJV, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with glory which I had with thee before world was.”
If the Lord gives His glory to no other, and the Son shares the Father’s eternal glory, then the Son is not a creature outside God. He is fully divine, one with the Father and the Spirit in the Godhead.
The Lord closes this section by declaring His sovereignty over past and future. “Former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare.” God can announce new things before they spring forth because He rules history. Fulfilled prophecy confirms the reliability of His Word.
2 Peter 1:19, KJV, “We have also more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto light that shineth in dark place, until day dawn, and day star arise in your hearts.”
God’s prophetic Word is a light in a dark place.
Isaiah 42:10-12
Isaiah 42:10-12, KJV, “Sing unto LORD new song, and his praise from end of earth, ye that go down to sea, and all that therein; isles, and inhabitants thereof. Let wilderness and cities thereof lift up voice, villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let inhabitants of rock sing, let them shout from top of mountains. Let them give glory unto LORD, and declare his praise in islands.”
The work of the Servant calls for a new song. “Sing unto the LORD a new song.” When God reveals new mercies and fulfills His saving purposes, His people should answer with fresh praise. The new song is not novelty for novelty’s sake. It is praise that rises from a fresh display of God’s salvation.
Psalm 98:1, KJV, “O sing unto LORD new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him victory.”
The scope of praise is worldwide. The ends of the earth, the sea, the isles, the wilderness, the villages of Kedar, the inhabitants of the rock, and the mountaintops are all summoned to praise. The Servant’s work reaches the nations, so the nations must sing.
Kedar represents desert peoples. The rock, likely Sela, points to remote rugged places. The isles point to distant coastlands. No region is too far. No people group is outside the call to glorify the Lord.
This fits the worldwide mission of Christ.
Revelation 5:9, KJV, “And they sung new song, saying, Thou worthy to take book, and to open seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”
The Lamb’s redemption produces a new song from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. Isaiah 42 anticipates that global praise.
The proper response is, “Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.” Praise must not be kept private when the Lord has acted publicly. The nations must hear what God has done.
Isaiah 42:13-17
Isaiah 42:13-17, KJV, “The LORD shall go forth as mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against enemies. I have long time holden my peace; I have still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once. I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all herbs; and I will make rivers islands, and I will dry up pools. And I will bring blind by way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. They shall turned back, they shall greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to molten images, Ye our gods.”
The Lord now appears as a mighty warrior. Earlier, the Servant was described as gentle, not crying out in the streets. Here the Lord goes forth as a mighty man, stirring up zeal like a man of war. He cries, roars, and prevails against His enemies.
This is not a contradiction. It shows the difference between the meekness of Christ’s first coming and the open judgment of His return. The same Messiah who came lowly will return in power.
Revelation 19:11-16, KJV, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold white horse; and he that sat upon him called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes as flame of fire, and on his head many crowns; and he had name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he clothed with vesture dipped in blood: and his name called Word of God. And armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth sharp sword, that with it he should smite nations: and he shall rule them with rod of iron: and he treadeth winepress of fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on vesture and on his thigh name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
The Lord says He has held His peace a long time, but now He will act. Divine patience should never be mistaken for divine indifference. God may restrain judgment for a season, but when He rises, His judgment is certain.
He compares His cry to a woman in labor. This image speaks of intensity, inevitability, and the bringing forth of something appointed. God’s judgment and deliverance will not be stopped.
He will make waste mountains and hills, dry up vegetation, make rivers into islands, and dry up pools. No obstacle can prevent His work. Nature itself is subject to Him.
Yet in the middle of judgment, He promises mercy to the blind. “I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not.” The blind cannot guide themselves. The Lord will lead them in paths they have not known. He will make darkness light before them and crooked things straight.
This is grace. The Lord does not merely judge the idolater. He also leads helpless people out of blindness. He guides those who could not find the way.
Psalm 32:8, KJV, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
The Lord says, “These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” His mercy is active. He does not abandon His people in blindness and darkness.
But those who trust in graven images will be turned back and greatly ashamed. The idol worshipper will be disappointed because idols cannot save.
Isaiah 42:18-20
Isaiah 42:18-20, KJV, “Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who blind as he that perfect, and blind as LORD'S servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening ears, but he heareth not.”
The Lord now turns to the blind and deaf among His own people. Earlier, He promised to lead the blind by a way they did not know. Now He addresses Israel as blind and deaf. This is tragic because Israel was called to be the Lord’s servant and messenger. A blind servant cannot see his master’s will. A deaf messenger cannot hear the message he must deliver.
The people had seen many things, but did not observe. They had ears opened outwardly, but did not truly hear. They had revelation, law, prophets, covenant promises, temple worship, and God’s mighty works, yet they remained spiritually dull.
This is one of the most dangerous spiritual conditions, having access to truth without receiving it. Israel saw more than the nations, but did not respond as she should.
Jesus addressed the same kind of blindness among the Pharisees after healing the man born blind.
John 9:39-41, KJV, “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might made blind. And some Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”
The first step toward healing spiritual blindness is admitting blindness. Those who insist they see while rejecting Christ remain in their sin.
Isaiah’s rebuke is severe because privilege increases responsibility. Israel was not blind because God had given no light. Israel was blind because she refused to respond rightly to the light she had.
Romans 3:1-2, KJV, “What advantage then hath Jew? or what profit circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed oracles of God.”
Israel had the oracles of God. That privilege made her deafness and blindness more serious.
Isaiah 42:21-25
Isaiah 42:21-25, KJV, “LORD well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify law, and make honourable. But this people robbed and spoiled; all of them snared in holes, and they hid in prison houses: they for prey, and none delivereth; for spoil, and none saith, Restore. Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for time to come? Who gave Jacob for spoil, and Israel to robbers? did not LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. Therefore he hath poured upon him fury of his anger, and strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid not to heart.”
The Lord is pleased “for his righteousness' sake.” He will magnify the law and make it honorable. God’s law is not evil. The law reveals His holy standard, exposes sin, and shows man his need for grace. The problem is not the law. The problem is man’s sinful heart.
Romans 7:12, KJV, “Wherefore law holy, and commandment holy, and just, and good.”
The law is holy, just, and good. Israel’s failure was not caused by the law being bad. It was caused by their disobedience.
Verse 22 describes Israel’s condition, “this is a people robbed and spoiled.” They are snared in holes, hidden in prison houses, prey with no deliverer, spoil with no one saying, “Restore.” This is a miserable picture. God’s servant people are robbed, trapped, imprisoned, plundered, and helpless.
The question is, who allowed this? Isaiah answers plainly, “did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned?” This is shocking but necessary. Israel’s suffering was not merely because Babylon or other nations were strong. The Lord gave Jacob for spoil because Israel sinned against Him.
This does not excuse the wickedness of the nations that attacked Israel. God would judge them too. But Israel needed to understand that her deepest problem was covenant disobedience. They would not walk in His ways and were not obedient to His law.
Deuteronomy 28:15, KJV, “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto voice of LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.”
Isaiah’s words fit the covenant warnings. Disobedience brought discipline.
The Lord poured upon Israel “the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle.” It set him on fire round about. Yet the tragedy is that Israel did not know and did not lay it to heart. The discipline burned, but the people did not respond with repentance.
This is a warning. Chastening is meant to awaken the soul. If a man hardens himself under discipline, the fire only leaves him blacker and harder.
Hebrews 12:5-6, KJV, “And ye have forgotten exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou chastening of Lord, nor faint when thou rebuked of him: For whom Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
Hebrews 12:11, KJV, “Now no chastening for present seemeth joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which exercised thereby.”
The right response to discipline is not denial, bitterness, or indifference. The right response is repentance, humility, and renewed obedience.
Peter also speaks of fiery trials and the need to commit ourselves to God.
1 Peter 4:12-13, KJV, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning fiery trial which to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall revealed, ye may glad also with exceeding joy.”
1 Peter 4:17-19, KJV, “For time come that judgment must begin at house of God: and if first at us, what shall end of them that obey not gospel of God? And if righteous scarcely saved, where shall ungodly and sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to will of God commit keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto faithful Creator.”
Isaiah 42 ends with a sober contrast. The Servant of the Lord is faithful, gentle, Spirit anointed, and victorious. But Israel, also called the Lord’s servant, is blind, deaf, disobedient, robbed, and disciplined. The hope of Israel and the nations is not found in Israel’s faithfulness, but in the faithful Servant, Jesus Christ.
