Isaiah 42:6 - Exposition

I the Lord have called thee in righteousness . The "Servant of Jehovah" is addressed. God has "called" him; i.e. appointed him to his mediatorial office " in righteousness ," in accordance with the righteous purpose which he has entertained towards his fallen creatures from the beginning of the world. And will give thee for a Covenant of the people (comp. Isaiah 49:8 ). The covenant between God and his people being in Christ, it is quite consistent with Hebrew usage to transfer the term to Christ himself, in whom the covenant was, as it were, embodied. So Christ is called " our Salvation" and "our Peace ," and again, "our Redemption" and "our Life." This is the ordinary tone of Hebrew poetry, which rejoices in personification and embodiment. A prose writer would have said that the Servant of the Lord would be given as the Mediator of a covenant between Jehovah and his people. For a light of the Gentiles (comp. Isaiah 49:6 ; Isaiah 51:4 ).