The Servant Who Brings Light to the Nations.

Isaiah 42 reveals the Lord’s chosen Servant, who will bring judgment to the nations without pride, violence, or self-exalting noise. He will not break the bruised reed or quench the smoking flax, showing the meekness, patience, and faithfulness of God’s redemptive work. The chapter also declares that the Lord alone is God, refusing to share His glory with idols, and calling His people to sing a new song because His salvation reaches beyond Israel to the isles and the ends of the earth. Yet the chapter also confronts Israel’s blindness and deafness, showing that covenant privilege does not excuse spiritual dullness or disobedience. Isaiah 42 holds mercy and warning together: the Servant brings light to the nations, but God’s own people must not remain blind to the One He has sent.

Isaiah 42:1 – 42:25

  1 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 the Gentiles.
  2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
  3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
  4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
  5 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
  6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
  7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
  8 I [am] the Lord: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
  9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
  10 Sing unto the Lord a new song, [and] his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
  11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up [their voice], the villages [that] Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
  12 Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands.
  13 The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
  14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, [and] refrained myself: [now] will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
  15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
  16 And I will bring the blind by a 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.
  17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye [are] our gods.
  18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
  19 Who [is] blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger [that] I sent? who [is] blind as [he that is] perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant?
  20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
  21 The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make [it] honourable.
  22 But this [is] a people robbed and spoiled; [they are] all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.
  23 Who among you will give ear to this? [who] will hearken and hear for the time to come?
  24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.
  25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid [it] not to heart.