Isaiah 42

A prophesy concerning the coming of Messiah, and what his office is, ver.1. how he shall demean himself in it 2. The assistance which the Lord shall give him, 5. Who is a jealous God, 8. And knoweth all things aforehand, 9. An exhortation to thanksgiving for benefits received; 10. That also the converted Gentiles should do it, 11 in regard the Lord will overpower and subdue all their enemies, 13. A further prophesy concerning the calling of the Gentiles, 16. And the punishment of Idolaters, 17. A lamentation for the obstinacy and hardness of the Jews, both of the people and the Priests, 19. And their miserable condition, 22. And obstinacy or hardness, 25.

1. Behold any servant, [God the father speaketh this of his son of Christ, whom h calleth his servant, in regard that Christ, as our mediator, took upon him the form of a servant. Compare below chap.53.11. Mat.12.11. Phil.2.ver.6,7,8.] whom I uphold, [that is, whom I strengthen, so as he faint not under the intolerable burden of my wrath, which he must feel and endure a while, to blot out and make atonement for your sins, for which he hath delivered up himself] mine elect (in whom) my soul delighteth: [Compare Mat.3.13. and 17.5. Ezek.1.6.] I have given my spirit upon him, [to wit, the gifts of the holy ghost, which he hath need of to execute the office of mediator. See above chap.11.2. Mat.3.16. Joh.3.34.] he shall bring forth judgement [to wit, out of the bosom of the father, Joh.1.18. This he shall do partly in his own persons, partly by his Apostle, and other teachers or ministers of the Gospel] to the Gentiles [or to the nations, as well Jews as Gentiles. See Rom.1.16. The meaning is, Jews as Gentiles. See Rom.1.16. the meaning is, he shall propound and offer unto the Gentiles (or, unto all nations, both Jews and Gentiles) the true doctrine concerning the salvation of mankind by the preaching of the Gospel, and shall thereby bring them to obedience of himself, and to their own everlasting salvation.] See Mat.12.19.

2. He shall not cry, clamour, nor list up (his voice), nor cause his voice to be heard in the street, [The meaning is, he will not boast or brag much, not make a great noise with much tumult, as the Princes of this world do: neither will he make any outward pomp or stir, but he will demean himself quietly, discreetly, and humbly, bearing graciously with all the infirmities and imperfections of his elect. See Mat.chap.12.ver.18,19,20. Luke 17:20.]

3. The bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax-wick, [That is, the wick, that is almost burnt out in the lamp, giving hereby any shining or light at all, but onely yet smoking] he shall not quench it, [that is, he shall bear with the infirmities of poor sinners, and will refresh their dejected or wounded consciences, and comfort them with the promise of the forgiveness of their sins. See Psal.34.19. Mat.11.28.] he shall bring forth judgement in truth, [that is, uprightly, faithfully: for truth signifieth here fidelity or faithfulness, (he shall bring forth, etc.) or, exercise, and consequently overcome, or conquer: as truth and judgement do overcome or conquer at last. See Mat.12.20.]

4. He shall not be darkened, [But he shall give light and shine clear and bright. Christs light is opposed to the smoking and smothering flax, and his power to the bruised reed. Others, he shall not faint, to wit, in the executing or performing of his office. Mat.26.39. and Luke 12:50. The same is straightway said in other words. Some understand this being darkened and broken (the purchase that immediately followeth) of the death and passion of our LORD Jesus Christ, which should not come to pass before he had preached the Gospel according to his Fathers counsel] neither shall he be broken, [that is, he shall not faint under the heavy burden of his function] till be shall have set judgement [that is, doctrine, as straightway followeth] in the earth: [to wit, by the preaching of the Gospel throughout the whole world: which could not be done until Christ was dead, and was ascended unto his Father in heaven, and had sent the holy Ghost upon the Apostles. See Joh.16.7.] and the Isles shall wait for his doctrine.] In these words the Prophet doth shew the doctrine of the Gospel should not be always shut up within the bounds of the land of Juda, Gen.49.10. Matth.18.19. (his doctrine) this is the same which he even now called judgement; namely the Gospel.]

5. Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and spread them abroad, [Heb. They spreaders abroad thereof, or those that spread them abroad. See Job 36.on 29.] he that stretched forth the earth, [to wit, in a circle.] and that which issueth out of it, [Heb. The issues thereof, that is, all that buddeth forth and groweth out of the earth] he that giveth breadeth unto the people (that) are upon it, and spirit to them that walk upon it: [understand hereby spirit the reasonable soul. See Numb.16.on ver.22.]

6. I the Lord have called thee [O my son Jesus Christ, to wit, to be a mediator] in righteousness [or with righteousness; that is, in due manner and form, for thou hast freely and willingly given thy self over to the office of a mediator. See Psal.40.9. Heb.10.7. Or, with righteousness: that is, according to my promises, which I have often made unto my people by the Patriarchs and Prophets] and I will hold (thee) by thine hand: [that is, I will assist thee, by giving thee necessary strength and ability for the executing of thy office of Mediator] and I will keep thee, [so that thou shalt not faint in the exceeding great torment] and I will give thee for a covenant, namely of the covenant of grace which I made with Abraham and his feed. This covenant thou shalt ratify and confirm, to wit, so as that by thee my people shall be reconciled unto me, and consequently all nations shall be united in one covenant; not onely the Israelites, but also the Gentiles, as immediately followeth] for a light of the gentiles, [that is, that thou mayst enlighten them with the saving knowledge of God, and of their Saviour, whereby the elect of all nations shall be made to rejoice. For as the light doth rejoice and comfort the bodies of men, so doth the knowledge of Christ rejoice the hearts and minds of the children of God inwardly. Compare above chap.9.1. and below chap.49.6. Luke 2:32. Acts 13:47, and 16.34.]

7. To open the blind eyes: [To wit, by the preaching of the Gospel, and the enlightening of the holy ghost. See Act.13.46,47. And chap.26.ver.17,18. (the blind eyes) to wit, the eyes of the understanding. See above chap.35.5.] to bring out them that are bound from the prison, [to wit, from the spiritual bondage of sin and of the Devil, so freeing and delivering the elect from the fear and terror of hell. See below chapter 49.9. and 61.1. Luke 4:18. Heb.2.14, and 15.] (and) them that it in darkness [understand here the darkness of ignorance. See above chap.9.vers.1] out of the prison-house.

8. I am the LORD, [Heb. Jehovah, that is, the everlasting, essential, unchangeable God] that is my name, and my glory will I give to no other, neither my praise to the carved images. [Compare below chap.48.11.]

9. Behold, the former things are come to pass; and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I cause you to hear them. [The meaning is, whatsoever I declared unto my people in former time the same is fulfilled: now I declare unto them some new thing, which shall also assuredly come to pass, namely, the appearance or coming of the Messiah in the flesh, which shall be as exactly fulfilled in every point and circumstance thereof, as I have foretold it by my Prophets.]

10. Sing unto the Lord a new song, [That is, an excellent song. See Psal.33.3.] his praise from the ends of the world, all men of whatsoever condition or nation ye are: forasmuch as the salvation which the Messiah bringeth concerneth all kind of people and nations, therefore all people and nations have just cause to rejoice and to be glad in him] ye that go to sea [Heb. That go over the sea; to wit, in the ships that shall group or sail upon the sea] and all that is therein, the isles and the inhabitants thereof. [ye men altogether that dwell in the isles, that lie round about in the sea. Heb. The fullness thereof, as Psal.24.1.]

11. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof [That is, the cities that lie in or neer unto it] lift up (their voice) with the villages (which) Kedar inhabiteth: [that is, the villages of the Kedarens; that is, the Arabians, so called from Kadar the son of Ishmael, Genes.25.13. Psal.120.5.] let them shout that dwell in the rocks. [Others, that dwell at Sela, which is the chief city of Arabia. See above chap.16.vers.1.] (and) make a noise from the top of the mountains. [Heb. From the head of the mountains.]

12. Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the Islands.

13. The LORD [To wit, Jesus Christ] shall march forth as a Champion, [that is, he will make his divine power appear when he shall conquer the Devil and the world by his preaching, his death, his resurrection, ascension, sitting at the right hand of his father, and coming again to judgement] he shall stir up zeal like a man of war, he shall shout, yea he shall make a great noise: [some conceive that the Hebrew word signifieth crying, roaring, or bellowing like the elephants] he shall overpower his enemies.

14. I have of old held my peace, [These are the words of God; as if he had said, this indeed hath been my custom and course of old, that I did let my and my church’s enemies awhile alone] I have been still (and) refrained my self: [or should I (longer) hold my peace? Should I (still) refrain my self?] I will cry out like a travailing woman, I will waste, swallow them up altogether.

15. I will make waste mountains and hills, and I will cause all their grass to whither, [That is, I will destroy the great & proud enemies of my Church, and I will remove all impediments that may hinder or hurt my believers from coming to me into heaven] and I will make the rivers Islands, and (I will) dry up the pools.

16. And I will lead [To wit, by my spirit and by the preaching of the Gospel] the blind, [That is, those that in former time knew not the true God, but erred and went astray from him and his doctrine, and stuck fast in great blindness of ignorance and Idolatry] by the way (which) they know not [that is, by the way of heavenly and saving truth and piety] I will cause them to go in the paths (which) they have not known: I will make darkness light before their face, and that which is crooked straight. [Compare above chap.40.3,4.] these things will I do unto them, and I will not forsake them.

17. (But) they that rely on carved images, that say to the molten images, ye are our gods, they shall turn backwards, and with shame be made ashamed. [That is, be utterly confounded. Compare Psal.7.7. above chap.44.11. and 45.16.]

18. Hear ye deaf, and look ye blind, [Here the LORD speaketh unto the Jews, that were wilfully deaf and blind, not desiring to heat his word with attention, nor to consider his works and judgements] that ye may see.

19. Who is blind but my servants? [That is, the people of Israel, to whom I have revealed my will, and whom I have called to serve me according unto it; as above chap.41.vers.8. and straightway again in this verse] and deaf as my messenger [the Priests and Levites, by whom God make his will known unto his people] (that) I sent? [to wit, to teach and instruct my people] who is blind as the perfect one? [or complete one: that is, the people of Israel, to whom I have shewed many great mercies both spiritual and corporal, so that they wanted nothing: whence they ought to see and acknowledge how faithfully and surely I meant it toward them] and blind as the LORDS servant?

20. Thou seest (indeed) many things, [To wit, many wonderful works of God which he doth for thy good] but thou keepest them not: [Compare Rom.2.2.etc.] (though) he [to wit, the servant of the LORD, that is, the people of Israel] open the ears, yet he heareth not [that is, he mindeth it not. The meaning is, this people doth outwardly so demean and carry themselves, as if they had a mind to hear my word, but they mean it not in good earnest, they do not, nor are seriously affected with, take to heart the things that they hear. In the first member of this verse there is spoken to the second person, but in the second clause of the first person. This implieth some obscurity or darkness in the sense.]

21. The LORD had a delight (in him) [To wit, in his servant; that is, in his people, or in them; to wit, these men. Some apply it to the law and the execution of Gods judgements upon this sinful people] for his righteousness sake: [that is, by reason of his truth and faithfulness, namely, because he promised the Patriarchs and the prophets that he would do good unto their feed. See Psal.147.19,20.] and he made (him) glorious.

22. But (now) it [To wit, the people of Israel. Others, he, to wit, the Lords servant, as vers.19.] [is a robbed and spoiled people: they are all of them snared in holes, and hid in prison-houses: [Others thus, and the people is robbed and spoiled: all the young men sigh, or they sigh all of them in dens or holes of the earth. The meaning is, God hath delivered this people into the hands of their enemies, because they considered not his grace and mercy] they are become a prey, and there is none that delivereth them: [Heb. There is no deliverer] a spoil, and none saith, restore (them). [that is, there is none that defendeth or protecteth them, or that compelleth their enemies to restore back that which they took away from them.]

23. Who among you giveth ear to this? (who) considereth and heareth what shall be hereafter? [For the judgements and plagues of God, which do here in this life befall impenitent sinners, they are but beginnings of their sorrows, if they do not consider and repent in time, and with confession of their sins say, who gave Jacob, &c. Ver.24.]

24. Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? [By Jacob and Israel is meant here the posterity of Jacob, the Israelites] is it not the LORD? He against whom we have sinned? [that is, it is certain that the Lord for our sins hath delivered us and our estates into their hands.] for they would not walk in his ways, they hearkened not unto his law.

25. Therefore he hath poured out upon them [Heb. Upon him, and so in the sequel, to wit, upon Jacob, or upon Israel, as appeareth by vers.24.] the fury of his anger, [that is, his judgements. See the Annotat. Psal.79.on vers.6.] and the strength of war: [the army of the Assyrians, and other enemies] and he hath set them on flame round about, but they perceived it not; [that is, they regarded not the judgements of God, and the causes thereof, as in the former verse.]