God’s purposes for His servants 42:10-44:22The section of Isaiah that I have titled "God’s promises to His servants" (Isaiah 41:1 to Isaiah 42:9) sets the stage and introduces themes that Isaiah proceeded to develop in this section. Those themes are the certainty of redemption (Isaiah 42:10 to Isaiah 43:7), the witness to redemption (Isaiah 43:8 to Isaiah 44:20), and the memory of redemption (Isaiah 44:21-22). read more
Nothing in all creation would be able to resist and prevent the Lord from acting. His coming to judge sin and sinners would be as devastating to them as the searing east wind was to Palestinians. read more
The Ideal Servant1-9. The characteristics and functions of Israel as the ideal Servant of Jehovah. 10-17 A song of praise to Jehovah. 18-25. The deficiencies of the actual Israel, considered as Jehovah’s Servant.1. My servant] On the conception of these chapters see Intro. Judgment] or ’right.’ The Servant’s office is to teach the world true religion. 2, 3. He will not be ostentatious nor unduly severe. How Christ corresponded to the ideal is noted in Matthew 12:17-21; 3. Smoking flax] RM... read more
(15) I will make waste mountains . . .—The whole description is symbolic, and points to the subjugation of the heathen nations, the “rivers” and “pools” probably representing the kingdoms of the Tigris and Euphrates (Isaiah 8:7). All this seems a purely destructive work, but through it all mercy and truth are working, and a way is being opened for the return of Israel, in painting which, as elsewhere, the literal melts into the spiritual, as in a dissolving view. (See Note on Isaiah 40:4.)... read more
The Smoking Flax Isaiah 42:3 Let us try to gather up the thoughts contained in these two images. They are slightly different, but one thought underlies them both. The one refers chiefly to God, the other to man. I. The idea of the first is taken from one of the shepherd's pipes one of those little musical pipes crushed and trampled under foot. The other picture is taken from the lamp in the temple, burning feebly and dimly, giving forth black smoke rather than light. 1. The 'bruised reed'. A... read more
CHAPTER XVONE GOD, ONE PEOPLEIsaiah 41:8-20; Isaiah 42:1-25; Isaiah 43:1-28WE have been listening to the proclamation of a monotheism so absolute, that, as we have seen, modern critical philosophy, in surveying the history of religion, can find for it no rival among the faiths of the world. God has been exalted before us, in character so perfect, in dominion so universal, that neither the conscience nor the imagination of man can add to the general scope of the vision. Jesus and His Cross shall... read more
CHAPTER VIIITHE PASSION OF GODIsaiah 42:13-17AT the beginning of chapter 42 we reach one of those distinct stages, the frequent appearance of which in our prophecy assures us, that, for all its mingling and recurrent style, the prophecy is a unity with a distinct, if somewhat involved, progress of thought. For while chapters 40 and 41 establish the sovereignty and declare the character of the One True God before His people and the heathen, chapter 42 takes what is naturally the next step, of... read more
CHAPTER 42 The True Servant of Jehovah 1. The Servant of Jehovah and His mission (Isaiah 42:1-4 ) 2. His future work among the nations (Isaiah 42:5-9 ) 3. The future song of redemption glory (Isaiah 42:10-13 ) 4. Jehovah’s manifestation in power (Isaiah 42:14-17 ) 5. The address of exhortation to the deaf and blind nation (Isaiah 42:18-25 ) Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 12:20 ) tells us that this servant is the Lord Jesus Christ. Mark the different phases of His character and work while... read more
ISAIAH INTRODUCTION TO PART TWO The chapters of Part 2 (chaps. 40-46) are chiefly millennial, and so different from the prevailing themes preceding, as to raise a query whether they were not written by some other author a second, or deutero-Isaiah, as some call him. We do not hold that opinion, the reasons for which are briefly stated in the author’s Primers of the Faith. In Synthetic Bible Studies, it was found convenient to treat this part as a single discourse though doubtless, such is not... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 42:15
15. I will destroy all My foes. mountains—in Palestine usually planted with vines and olives in terraces, up to their tops. islands—rather, "dry lands." God will destroy His foes, the heathen, and their idols, and "dry up" the fountains of their oracles, their doctrines and institutions, the symbol of which is water, and their schools which promoted idolatry [VITRINGA]. read more