Isaiah 42 - The Chosen One

Isaiah 42 - The Chosen One

I.  The Chosen Servant (v1-4)

This "servant" is not the same as the "anointed" one that was spoken of Cyrus in Chapter 45. The "anointed" used for Cyrus was literally the "masiyah" or messiah.  But here, the person spoke of was just a servant. 

This servant will be sent in the future, as a contrast to God's challenge to the idols to "tell us

what is to happen" (Isa 41:22).  God ask the people to "behold" the servant, to study and to recognize the specific characteristics:

• He was God's chosen one: This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him!” (Luke 9:35) 
• God was pleased with Jesus - “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!” (Mat 3:17)
• Jesus described himself as a servant - "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28)

Matthew attributed Isaiah's prophecies to Jesus in Matthew 12:16-21.  

Jesus will bring justice to the nations. The justice is not political justice, but the justice of forgiveness of sins. It was made available to all mankind by his death on the cross. 

He will come without fame or popularity, and neither will he create a commotion despite his ability to articulate the truth. Very often, he just walks away after issuing a healing miracle, rather than glorify Himself in His great works. The term "he will not cry aloud or lift up his voice" (v2) does not mean he never spoke loudly, but refers to His gentle spirit of a meek leader.   (v2)

Similarly, "a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench" (v3) also refers to his character. He is one who restores the crushed reed and re-ignite the faint wick. We think of how He restored Peter after he denied that he knew Jesus.

Though meek, he was never weak. He will not be discouraged or turn away the path God laid for him, until he brings justice to the earth. The justice He brought was to go all the way to the cross, despite the pain and the shame, so that redemption can be given freely to mankind. 

“As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51)

II. The Covenant for the Nations (v5-9)

God claimed His credentials for making such an incredible promise to bring the Servant. He was the creator of heaven and earth, and the one who gave life and spirit to the people on the earth. He did not just leave the creatures on earth, but he "called" the people and took them by the hand to guide them and to protect them.

He will now give the Servant as a "covenant for the people" (v6).  The covenant is an unbreakable promise. The servant will be a light for the nations, which were walking in darkness. Those who were spiritually blind will have their eyes opened. Those who are in a prison (spiritual captive) will be freed. (v7)

His declaration "I am the Lord; that is my name" was a declaration of his trustworthiness and sovereignty. "My glory I give to no other" speaks of His jealousy and determination to win back His people.  (v8)

Unlike the idols who cannot tell the past nor future, God tells the people His plans even before it happens, so that the people know who it was that have helped them. 

III.  The Celebration with a New Song (v10-17)

The expectation of this coming Servant turns Judah's disastrous situation into a glorious hope that inspired a song - a "new" song that has never been heard before. As it is a new approach that God had never used before. It is a hope of Grace that will brought by Jesus through the sacrifice of his life for the forgiveness of sin. 

It would be a song or a message that will be evangelised to the coastlands and across the seas, just as the gospel has been preached world wide. 

"Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants." (v10)

It will guide those who are "spiritually" blind and make the rough places into level ground, so that they can see the salvation that He promised and can come to him easily.  

IV. The Call to Obey (v18-25)

God uses the analogy of the blind and the deaf in reference to the people: "He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear." (v20)

Like many of us, we have been warned and prophecies have been told, we still don't "get it": 

"it set him on fire all around, but he did not understand; it burned him up, but he did not take it to heart." (v25)

When the Servant and salvation that were promised comes, His hope is that many will recognize it: "Who among you will give ear to this, will attend and listen for the time to come?" (v23). Yet, despite the way has been made easy, many still do not take the path of salvation.