God's Servant

Text: Isaiah 42

The Nature of God's Servant - Isaiah 42:1-4

God's Servant has God's support, and God delights in him (I Peter 2:4). We know that this is referring to Jesus since Matthew quotes this passage and applies it to Jesus (Matthew 12:18-20; see also Philippians 2:7). The Holy Spirit will be upon Him (Acts 10:38). Note that all three of the Godhead are mentioned: God (the Father), God's Servant (the Son), and God's Spirit (the Holy Spirit) (Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32-34).

He would bring justice to the Gentiles, which he accomplished through the apostles (Acts 9:15; 11:18; 28:28; Romans 15:8-16; Ephesians 3:8).

He would not come as a conqueror but in gentleness (Matthew 11:29; 12:16-20; I Peter 2:23). Even a casual reading of the Gospels reveals a noticeable and odd fact: Jesus would heal and then charge the people not to tell anyone. Why? First, Jesus did not need any advertisement. His presence was sufficient. Second, Jesus did not want people following just for the miracles (John 6:26). However, Isaiah gives us deeper insight.

The Pharisees were seeking to destroy Jesus. Jesus did not fear to confront them, as shown by his performing a miracle on the Sabbath in front of the Pharisees. He knew it would anger them. But when they plotted to kill him, he withdrew. He also healed, but asked that it not be spread. The Pharisees were the bruised reed and the smoking flax (Matthew 12:20).  Jesus could have pushed them further, but it wasn’t in the Pharisees’ best interest. If he were to win them to God’s side, he had to give them a chance to think about his teachings and time to digest their meaning. He had to wound their pride to shake them out of their sins. Rubbing salt into the wound would not improve matters. He withdrew, not from fear, but to give the Pharisees a chance to turn around.

A bruised reed is bent; just a small push would break it off completely. A smoldering flax is a wick that is just about to go out. Too hard a breath would snuff it out completely. Both are symbols of a weak and feeble faith. Wrong must be opposed, but the goal is to bring people to God, not to drive the wicked away because you’re right and they are wrong (Galatians 6:1-2; II Timothy 2:24-26).

The Commission of God's Servant - Isaiah 42:5-9

God declares His authority and His right to act in part on the fact that He created the heavens and the earth. His Servant has been called in a righteous and just act by the Lord. His Servant will receive God's guidance and protection. The imagery is that of a parent holding his child's hand (John 8:29).

His task will be to be a covenant to the people (Isaiah 49:8). He is the messenger of a new covenant (Malachi 3:1). He brings in a covenant to replace the one that Israel broke (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Isaiah 54:10; 61:8; Ezekiel 16:60). Christ removed the Old Covenant and became our peace by reconciling both the Jews and the Gentiles to God (Ephesians 2:11-18).

The Servant will be a light to all nations. When Jesus speaks in the Temple's treasury (John 8:20), he declares himself the light of the world. His purpose is to open the eyes of those blinded by sin and held captive by those same sins (Isaiah 61:1-2; John 8:34-36; I Peter 2:9).

God declares that He is able to do all of this because He is the Lord. No idol or any other creation of men will be adequate. God alone receives the glory and praise for what He will accomplish. Yet we are told that Jesus had glory from the Father (John 1:14). He had that glory with God before the world began (John 17:5). In other words, when God declared through Isaiah that He would not share His glory with anyone else, Jesus and the Father both shared glory. This is only explainable if we acknowledge that the Son and the Father are both the Lord God. Hence, Jesus is referred to as the Lord of Glory (I Corinthians 2:8).

The old ways have been completed, and new things are being declared:

• New things would come from God (Isaiah 42:9; 43:19; 48:6)
• A new song would be sung by God's people (Isaiah 42:10)
• A new name would be given to God's people (Isaiah 62:2)
• A new covenant would be established (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
• A new heart and new spirit would reside within (Ezekiel 18:31; 36:26)

In other words, Isaiah is talking about the Christian age, not some yet-to-be time.

Praise for God - Isaiah 42:10-13

New songs were written to celebrate a conqueror (Psalms 33:3; 40:3; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1). God will conquer sin through His Servant, so all the world should praise His accomplishment. He goes out like a warrior and prevails.

God's Care for His People - Isaiah 42:14-17

God has long suffered with the people's sins (Psalms 50:16-22; Isaiah 57:11). However, God's anger has been aroused. It is like a woman panting hard while going through labor. And from that labor, something new will be born. God declares He will lay waste to the current order of things and, in its place, God will lead people in paths they did not know. By implication, the world has slipped too deeply into sin, so God will take a personal hand in leading the people back into righteousness. He will smooth the journey, making it easier for people to follow righteousness. God promises to do all of this thoroughly and not leave anything undone.

This change will embarrass the idol worshipers.

The Deafness and Blindness of God's People - Isaiah 42:18-25

The people are described as being deaf and blind. It is not a physical problem but a spiritual one. They refuse to listen to God, so God is commanding them to hear. They refuse to see the evidence God presents, so they are commanded to look. The Law that God gave Israel was great and glorious. He didn't do so for Israel, but for His own righteousness. Still, the people are trapped, not physically, but morally, in a prison of sin. There is no one to deliver them from their prison or demand their release.

There is a shift here. "My servant" and "My messenger" refer to the people of Israel rather than the Messiah, as they did earlier in the chapter (Isaiah 41:8). However, the use of the same phrase is purposeful. It causes us to contrast the Messiah with the people.

God challenges the people. Will there be someone who will actually listen? The reason Israel will fall to other nations is that the Lord is using the nations to punish those sinning in Israel. Yet, the saddest charge is that despite all that happened to Israel, they continued not to pay attention.