Isaiah 42 introduces us to the Lord’s “servant” (1, 19), but in an unusual, strange way. In the opening section of the chapter (1-9), the Lord speaks of this servant (“my servant”—1) in a very positive manner; however, in the final section of the chapter (18-25), the servant is presented in a much less flattering light. In between these two sections, the Lord highlights His power, knowledge and zeal which elicit praise from the nations and bring shame to those trusting in idols (10-17).
Verse 1 calls readers take notice (“Behold”) of the Lord’s “servant.” This servant of the Lord is clearly prized by the Lord: “whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights” (1). The Lord puts His Spirit upon His servant, empowering him to “bring forth justice to the nations” (2,4). Surprisingly, the Lord’s servant accomplishes justice in the earth is a quiet, gentle way: “He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice” (2-3). The Lord’s servant perseveres in his calling without becoming “faint or discouraged” until “he has established justice in the earth” (4). The term for justice (mishpat) speaks of a legal ruling or law; the word points to God’s righteous standard that His servant brings.
The Lord—the Creator of the heavens, earth, and its people—makes His servant “a covenant for the people, a light for the nations” (6). This servant will “open the eyes that are blind” and bring those in darkness to the light (7). These “new things” the Lord will accomplish bring glory to His name, a glory He will not share with idols (8-9).
Matthew 12:15-21 cites Isaiah 42 when speaking about Jesus’ life and ministry. When Jesus, having healed many, withdraws from the crowds, Matthew sees the fulfillment of Isaiah 42:1-9. Jesus, without great commotion or fanfare, quietly accomplishes God’s work of “proclaiming justice to the Gentiles” (12:18), giving the Gentiles reason for hope (12:21). The justice Jesus proclaims and accomplishes in His earthly ministry involves proclaiming the good news of the kingdom (the hope of the nations—Luke 24:44-45) and God’s righteous standard (mishpat). He also silently sacrifices His life in order to make a way for all peoples to be justified in God’s sight.
As a result of the Lord’s work in doing “new things” through the coming of His Spirit-empowered servant, the whole earth is called to break into songs of praise: “Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth” (10). Not just Israel, but the “coastlands”, “villages of Kedar (Transjordan)” and “inhabitants of Sela (Edom)” join in with joyous singing (11).
The Lord is on the move! Having held his peace and restrained himself “for a long time” (14), He cries out “like a woman in labor” (14) and takes dramatic action on the earth. He comes with power, showing “himself mighty against his foes” (13), shaking up the earth (15), and guiding “the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known” (16). Leveling obstacles (compare 42:16 and 40:4) and turning darkness to light, the Lord shows He will not “forsake” His people (16). Only those who trust in idols are put to shame (17).
Beginning in verse 18, the Lord once again speaks of His servant. However, this time the Lord’s servant is described quite differently: “Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I sent?” (19). Here we see the servant of the Lord as blind and deaf rather than opening “the eyes that are blind” (7). As we read further, it seems the Lord servant is equated with the Lord’s people who are “plundered and looted” (22). Here the Lord’s servant is “Jacob” or “Israel”, a people that did not walk in His ways or obey His laws (24). As a result, the Lord “poured on him the heat of his anger and the might of battle” (25). Sadly, in spite of the Lord’s dealings and discipline, “he did not understand” or “take it to heart” (25).
Behold Your God
The Lord gives spirit and the Spirit to His servants. Isaiah 42:5 declares that the Lord gives “spirit to those who walk in it [the earth].” He gives life and breath to all who live. He also puts His Spirit on His servant, to enable him to accomplish His God-given purpose (42:1). So, we are dependent upon the Lord for our very lives and for the empowerment to accomplish His will on the earth.
The Lord has a servant who opens blind eyes and a servant whose blind eyes need to be opened.
Isaiah 42 presents the Lord’s servant in two ways: 1) an individual who is faithful to Him and who opens blind eyes; 2) a nation that is unfaithful to Him, with blinded eyes. The first servant is understood by Matthew to be a reference to Christ (Matthew 12:15-21). The second servant seems best understood as pointing to Israel (see verse 24), a nation that Isaiah knew would have blind eyes, deaf ears and a hardened heart (6:9-10).
The Lord has a servant who brings justice to the nations in a quiet, gracious way. While the Lord will indeed deal with his foes in a loud, unmistakeable, overpowering way (13-15), He sends His servant to bring about justice without raising his voice or extinguishing the faint (1-3). This is surprising as bringing justice to a rebellious world inevitably requires force and fury. However, Isaiah prepares us for a surprise: God’s servant will somehow bring in justice in a quiet, gracious way. Later in Isaiah’s book, we see this servant silent as a lamb, suffering injustice in our place (53:6); by his life, teaching and sacrificial death, this servant both explains God’s justice and establishes a way for all peoples to be justified before God (Rom 3:21-26).
The Lord does not want His servants (His people) to remain blind to His work and ways. Israel, a nation set apart to be the Lord’s servant on earth, fails in its calling to be a light to the nations. Instead, it is often blind: “Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the Lord? He sees many things but does not observe them” (19-20). Instead of obediently following His ways, they sinfully refuse to walk in them (“in whose ways they would not walk”—24). As a result, the Lord “poured out on him the heat of his anger and the might of battle” (25). Still, the Lord’s people can’t see or understand or “take it to heart” (25). The Lord does not want this sad condition to remain; He calls his deaf people to “hear” and His blind servants to “look” (18). What is said of Israel can, at times, be said of Christ’s Church. Only by choosing to submit to Him and walk in His ways will our blindness be removed, and our spiritual sight restored.
Here Am I
I rejoice that God’s servant (Jesus) has become a covenant for people like me! The Lord commissions His servant (Jesus) to be “a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind” (6). By grace through faith, I am one of those who has seen the light and entered into a covenant with God through His servant, Jesus. So, I, like those from other nations (10-11), have great reason to “sing to the Lord a new song” (10). I join the song of the redeemed, people from outside Israel who have a place among God’s covenant people through the ministry of God’s faithful, suffering servant, Jesus (see Eph. 2:11-21). Shout his praises “from the top of the mountains” (11). Give glory to the Lord and praise Him!
I want to have open ears and eyes to see the “new things” God does. The Lord declares He is doing “new things” that showcase His glory and elicit our praise (9-11). Only those whose eyes and ears are open see what He does. Those who refuse to walk in His ways are blind to His work (24-25). I want to be one who is spiritually receptive to the Lord so I can see the new things that will “spring forth” from Him (9).
Rick and Linda Reed 