Study notes

Isaiah 42

Introducing IsaiahWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

40:1–48:22 Section

At the end of chapter 39 Isaiah made an announcement about Babylon. The Babylonian government would take control of the southern kingdom. The Babylonian armies would force many people from the southern kingdom to leave their land. They would be forced to live in exile in Babylon.

Chapters 40 to 48 record messages of comfort to those people living in exile in Babylon. These messages were recorded as poems, prophecies and songs of praise. They were also recorded as arguments between God and others in a courtroom.

These messages make three things very clear. They make clear who God is, what false gods are and who God’s people were. First, God is the one true God who created everything and has always existed. No one and nothing is equal to God. Second, false gods are objects made by people and they have no power at all. False gods can’t tell people what’s going to happen or save people from their troubles. Third, the people of Jacob’s family line were God’s servants. God chose them to be witnesses to others that he is God.

God’s love for Jacob’s family line was strong and tender. God described himself as a shepherd who carried his people like lambs close to his heart. But his people complained that God had treated them badly. They thought that the exile showed that God didn’t care about them. God explained that they had gone into exile because of their sins. But he announced a new thing that he would do. He would bring his people back to Judah from Babylon. He would use the king of Persia as his tool to make this happen. That king would be named Cyrus.

God talked about someone called God’s servant in chapter 42. In many ways this servant is what the people of Israel were to be. By obeying God’s laws, they were to live in ways that were holy and just. They were to teach other nations about God and how to worship and honour him. In this way they would be a light for the Gentiles. New Testament writers showed how Jesus served God in these ways as well (Matthew 12:15–21). They understood that the poem about this servant was a prophecy about Jesus.

42:1

in whom My soul delights: God used similar words at the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:17).
I will put My Spirit on Him: Any leader might be called a servant, but the Spirit's presence suggests a king from David’s line or a prophet like Moses (see Numbers 11:17, 24–29).
Establishing justice is a king's duty (see Isaiah 9:6–7; Psalm 72:1).
This king’s mission will extend beyond governing Judah to a greater mission for the nations.

42:1–4

The servant here is not the people of Israel (as in Isaiah 41:8–28 and elsewhere in chapters 41–48; see 49:5–6). Instead, the servant is a royal figure who accomplishes his mission with care for people, especially for those who are hurting. The passage is the first of four songs about this servant (Isaiah 42:1–4; 49:1–13; 50:4–11; 52:13–53:12). He brings in an era of universal justice. For the connection of the servant with Jesus Christ, see Matthew 12:18–21.

42:2

cry out or raise His voice: The royal servant will speak with calm confidence in his message and calling from God (see also Isaiah 11:1–5).

42:3

The royal servant will be gentle with the oppressed and discouraged (see Isaiah 3:15; 41:17).

42:4

the islands: The nations want justice and guidance on how to achieve it. The servant is like Moses, who received the law. However, the servant is greater because he brings justice to all nations, not just Israel.

42:6

I will keep you … to be a covenant for the people: The people might refer to all the nations of the earth (see Isaiah 49:6).
a light to the nations: See also Isaiah 51:4; Acts 13:47.

42:7

The servant will help the spiritually blind see (see Isaiah 6:10; 29:18) and free spiritual captives from sin. This is in addition to freeing those held captive during the exile in Babylon (see Isaiah 61:1 with Luke 4:18).

42:8–9

I am the LORD: God created the world and only God can make predictions come true. God alone deserves glory and praise.

42:10–11

Different geographical regions show the extremes of where people live. The entire earth is invited to praise God for his promise to save humanity.
Kedar and Sela were examples of desert locations (Isaiah 42:11; see also 16:1; 21:16–17).

42:13

a mighty one … a warrior: This theme comes from God's victory at the Red Sea during the exodus (Exodus 15:3).
God will defeat all his enemies to save his people (Isaiah 51:9; 63:1–6; see also Psalms 54:7; 108:9; 112:8).

42:14

I have kept silent … and restrained: Israel felt God's absence during the exile in Babylon, which happened due to their idol worship (Isaiah 57:11–13; 2 Kings 17:6–24). The faithful will pray for God's presence and renewed involvement in their lives (Isaiah 64:12), and the Lord will answer their prayers because he is committed to their redemption (62:1, 6).