CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Isaiah 42 Matthew Poole's Commentary</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/poole/isaiah/421.htm" /><link href='//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Cardo&subset=greek-ext' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001com.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/isaiah/42.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcom/isaiah/42-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="/commentaries/">Commentary</a> > <a href="../">Poole</a> > <a href="../isaiah/">Isaiah</a></div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../isaiah/41.htm" title="Isaiah 41">◄</a> Isaiah 42 <a href="../isaiah/43.htm" title="Isaiah 43">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Matthew Poole's Commentary</div><div class="chap"> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-1.htm">Isaiah 42:1</a></div><div class="verse">Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, <i>in whom</i> my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.</div>The person and office of Christ appointed by the Father. <span class="bld"><a href="/context/isaiah/42-1.htm" title="Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit on him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles....">Isaiah 42:1-9</a></span>. A new song to God for his gospel among the Gentiles, <span class="bld"><a href="/context/isaiah/42-10.htm" title="Sing to the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, you that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof....">Isaiah 42:10-16</a></span>. The idolatry of the heathen, and obstinacy of the Jews, <span class="bld"><a href="/context/isaiah/42-17.htm" title="They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, You are our gods....">Isaiah 42:17-25</a></span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span> The prophet, having in the former chapter detected the vanity of idols, by their gross ignorance of future things, and having given one eminent instance of God’s certain foreknowledge of things to come, in the prediction of the destruction of Babylon, and the deliverance of the Jews out of it by Cyrus, he now addeth another more eminent and remote example of it, and foretelleth the coming of the Messiah, and several great effects or consequences thereof; which he rather doth, because this was the person by whom the idols were to be utterly abolished, as was foretold, <span class="bld"><a href="/isaiah/2-18.htm" title="And the idols he shall utterly abolish.">Isaiah 2:18</a></span>, compared with <span class="bld"><a href="/context/isaiah/42-2.htm" title="He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street....">Isaiah 42:2-4</a></span>, and as it fell out in the event; this having been observed not only by Christians, but even by the learned heathens, not without astonishment, that at that time when Christ came into the world idols were generally struck dumb, and the oracles ceased. My servant; the person of whom he here speaketh is by some supposed to be Cyrus, and by others Isaiah himself, and by others the people of the Jews. But the most and best interpreters understand this place of Christ. And although I am sensible that some learned men have done wrong to the sacred text, and to the Christian cause, by expounding some places of Christ without sufficient evidence, yet this is one of the many places in this prophecy which cannot without manifest violence be applied to any other; which is so evident, that not only the generality of Christians, but divers of the most learned Jews, understand it of the Messiah, and of him alone; and pass a severe censure upon their brethren that expound it of any other person, and affirm that they are smitten with blindness in this matter. Moreover this place is expressly interpreted of Christ, <span class="bld"><a href="/matthew/12-18.htm" title="Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit on him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.">Matthew 12:18</a></span>, &c.; and to him, and to him only, all the particulars here following do truly and evidently belong, as we shall see. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Whom I uphold; </span> whom I will assist and enable to do and suffer all those things which belong to his office to do. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Mine elect; </span> chosen by me to this great work of mediation and redemption, to which he is said to be sealed and sent, <span class="bld"><a href="/john/6-27.htm" title="Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give to you: for him has God the Father sealed.">John 6:27</a>,29</span>, and <span class="ital">predestinated</span>, <span class="bld"><a href="/1_peter/1-20.htm" title="Who truly was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,">1 Peter 1:20</a></span>, and <span class="ital">chosen of God</span>, <span class="bld"><a href="/1_peter/2-4.htm" title="To whom coming, as to a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,">1 Peter 2:4</a></span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Delighteth; </span> or, as this same word is oft rendered, is well-pleased, both for himself and for all his people, being fully satisfied with that sacrifice which he shall offer up to me. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">I have put my Spirit upon him; </span> I have furnished him with that abundance and eminency of gifts and graces which are necessary for the discharge of his high and hard employment. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Shall bring forth; </span> shall publish or <span class="ital">show</span>, as this word is translated, <span class="bld"><a href="/matthew/12-18.htm" title="Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit on him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.">Matthew 12:18</a></span>; shall bring to light what before was hid in his breast, or in his Father’s bosom. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Judgment:</span> this word is very ambiguous, and elsewhere is put for punishment, which cannot be meant here, because the whole context speaks of his mercy and sweetness, and not of his severity; but here it is clearly put for God’s <span class="ital">law</span>, as this very word is expounded here below, <span class="bld"><a href="/isaiah/42-4.htm" title="He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.">Isaiah 42:4</a></span>, and as it is frequently used in the Holy Scriptures, as <span class="bld">Psalm 119</span>, and elsewhere: which also best agrees with the <span class="ital">bringing forth or publishing</span> of it here mentioned, publication being necessarily required and constantly used about laws. And this interpretation is confirmed by the following words, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">to the Gentiles.</span> For the great things which Christ published unto all the world, both Jews and Gentiles, was nothing else but the law, and will, and counsel of God concerning man’s salvation, and the way and means of obtaining it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">To the Gentiles; </span> not only to the Jews, to whom the knowledge of God’s laws had been hitherto appropriated, but to the heathen’ nations of the world. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="2"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-2.htm">Isaiah 42:2</a></div><div class="verse">He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.</div> <span class="bld">He shall not cry; </span> either, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span>1. In a way of contention, as anger is oft accompanied with clamour, <span class="bld"><a href="/ephesians/4-31.htm" title="Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:">Ephesians 4:31</a></span>. Or, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span>2. In a way of ostentation. It seems to be meant both ways, by comparing this place with <span class="bld"><a href="/matthew/12-16.htm" title="And charged them that they should not make him known:">Matthew 12:16</a>,17,20</span>. He shall neither erect nor manage his kingdom with violence and outward pomp and state, as Worldly princes do, but with meekness and humility. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Nor lift up</span> his voice, which is easily understood out of the following clause, and from many other scriptures, where that word is added to this verb to complete the phrase. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Nor cause his voice to be heard in the street; </span> as contentious and vain-glorious persons frequently do. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="3"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-3.htm">Isaiah 42:3</a></div><div class="verse">A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.</div> <span class="bld">A bruised reed shall he not break; </span> he will not break it to pieces, but rather will strengthen and bind it up. It is a common figure, whereby more is understood than was expressed, and one contrary is left to be gathered from another, of which many instances have been given in former texts. The sense is plainly this, Christ will not deal roughly and rigorously with those that come to him, but he will use all gentleness and kindness to them, passing by their greatest sins, bearing with their present infirmities, cherishing and encouraging the smallest beginnings of grace, comforting and healing wounded consciences, and the like. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">The smoking flax shall he not quench; </span> the same thing is repeated in other words, to give us the greater assurance of the truth of it. That wick of a candle (called <span class="ital">flax</span> metonymically, because it is made of flax) which is almost extinct, and doth only smoke and not flame, he will not utterly quench, but will revive and kindle it again. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">He shall bring forth judgment unto truth:</span> judgment may be here taken either, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span>1. For the law or will of God, or the doctrine of the gospel, which he will <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">bring forth</span>, i.e. publish, which he will do <span class="ital">unto</span>, or <span class="ital">in</span>, or <span class="ital">with</span>, or <span class="ital">according</span> to (for this preposition is used all those ways) truth, i.e. truly and faithfully, not concealing nor corrupting it, as false teachers commonly do. So this is a character like that which is given to Christ, <span class="bld"><a href="/matthew/22-16.htm" title="And they sent out to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth, neither care you for any man: for you regard not the person of men.">Matthew 22:16</a></span>, <span class="ital">Thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth</span>; and thus this phrase of <span class="ital">bringing forth judgment</span> is taken here, as it is <span class="bld"><a href="/isaiah/42-1.htm" title="Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit on him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.">Isaiah 42:1</a></span>. Or, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span>2. For the cause which is debated, or for the sentence which is given in the cause, as this word is most frequently used, which he will bring forth, i.e. bring to light, or discover, or publish; and this he will do according to truth and equity, and not unjustly and partially, as corrupt judges use to give sentence against the poor and meek. In this sense this very phrase of <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">bringing forth judgment</span> is taken <span class="bld"><a href="/psalms/37-6.htm" title="And he shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday.">Psalm 37:6</a></span>. And this sense seems to be favoured, both by the consideration of the quality of the persons, to whom this judgment is here implied to be brought forth, who are called <span class="ital">bruised reeds</span>, and <span class="ital">smoking flax</span>, whereby they are supposed to be persons discouraged and oppressed, and in a contest with themselves, or with their spiritual adversaries, about the state of their souls; as also by comparing this place with <span class="bld"><a href="/matthew/12-20.htm" title="A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment to victory.">Matthew 12:20</a></span>, where these very words are quoted, and thus rendered, <span class="ital">till he send forth judgment unto victory</span>, i.e. till judgment or sentence be given for him, in which case a man is said to be victorious in judgment. If it be said for the former interpretation, that it seems most reasonable to understand <span class="ital">judgment</span> here as it is understood <span class="bld"><a href="/isaiah/42-1.htm" title="Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit on him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.">Isaiah 42:1</a>,4</span>, and <span class="ital">bringing forth judgment</span> here as it is taken, <span class="bld"><a href="/isaiah/42-1.htm" title="Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit on him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.">Isaiah 42:1</a></span>, it may be truly and fairly answered, that it is a very common thing in Scripture for the same words or phrases to be used in several senses, not only in two neighbouring verses, but sometimes also in the very same verse, whereof I have formerly given divers instances. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="4"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-4.htm">Isaiah 42:4</a></div><div class="verse">He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.</div> <span class="bld">He shall not fail, nor be discouraged; </span> though he be thus meek, and gentle, yet he is also courageous and resolute against all the great and many difficulties and conflicts to which he will be exposed, and will not give over till he have finished his work; or, as others render the words, <span class="ital">He shall not be darkened</span> (this glorious light shall not be eclipsed or obscured; or, <span class="ital">He shall shine forth brightly</span> and gloriously, as the LXX. render this word) nor broken by all the attempts and vigorous endeavours of his enemies who design it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Till he have set judgment in the earth; </span> till he have published and established his law or doctrine (as this judgment is expounded in the next clause) among the nations of the earth. And this word <span class="ital">till</span> respects only the time past, but not the time to come, as if he would then <span class="ital">fail</span>, or be <span class="ital">discouraged</span>, when once he had <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">set judgment on the earth; </span> which is contrary to reason, and to other evident scriptures. And so this word is used, <span class="bld"><a href="/genesis/28-15.htm" title="And, behold, I am with you, and will keep you in all places where you go, and will bring you again into this land; for I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken to you of.">Genesis 28:15</a> <a href="/psalms/71-18.htm" title="Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed your strength to this generation, and your power to every one that is to come.">Psalm 71:18</a> <a href="/matthew/1-25.htm" title="And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.">Matthew 1:25</a></span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">The isles; </span> the countries remote from Judea, to which God’s law was now confined, as this word is oft used. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Shall wait for his law; </span> shall gladly receive his doctrine and commands from time to time. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="5"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-5.htm">Isaiah 42:5</a></div><div class="verse">Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:</div> This large description of God’s infinite power is here seasonably added, to give them assurance of the certain accomplishment of these great and wonderful promises, which otherwise would seem incredible. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="6"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-6.htm">Isaiah 42:6</a></div><div class="verse">I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;</div> <span class="bld">Have called thee in righteousness; </span> to declare my righteousness, as is said, <span class="bld"><a href="/romans/3-26.htm" title="To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus.">Romans 3:26</a></span>, or my faithfulness, which is frequently called <span class="ital">righteousness</span> in Scripture; according to my promise long since made, and oft-renewed. As the former verse asserted God’s power, so this clause declares his will and firm purpose and obligation to effect this work, and both together evince the certainty and necessity of it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Will hold thine hand; </span> will give thee counsel and strength for thy high and hard work. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Will keep thee, </span> that thou shalt not fail in, nor be hindered by, thine enemies from the accomplishment of thy work. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Give thee for a covenant; </span> to be the Angel of the covenant, as Christ is called, <span class="bld"><a href="/malachi/3-1.htm" title="Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, he shall come, said the LORD of hosts.">Malachi 3:1</a></span>; or the Mediator, in and by whom my covenant of grace is made and confirmed with mankind. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Of the people; </span> either of my people, the Jews; or, indefinitely or universally, of all people, not only Jews, but Gentiles also, as it follows. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">For a light of the Gentiles; </span> to enlighten them with true and saving knowledge, and to direct them in the right way to true happiness, from which they had miserably wandered. He alludes to God’s fiery pillar, which enlightened and directed the Israelites in the wilderness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="7"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-7.htm">Isaiah 42:7</a></div><div class="verse">To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, <i>and</i> them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.</div> <span class="bld">The blind eyes; </span> the eyes of their minds blinded with long ignorance, and deep prejudice, and inveterate error, and by the power and policy of the god of this world, <span class="bld"><a href="/2_corinthians/4-4.htm" title="In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine to them.">2 Corinthians 4:4</a></span>, which nothing but the almighty power of God could cure. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">The prisoners; </span> sinners, unto are taken captive by the devil at his will, as we read, <span class="bld"><a href="/2_timothy/2-26.htm" title="And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.">2 Timothy 2:26</a></span>, and as daily experience showeth, and who are enslaved and chained by their own lusts, and made free-men only by Christ, <span class="bld"><a href="/john/8-32.htm" title="And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.">John 8:32</a>,36</span>. Compare this portion of Scripture with <span class="bld"><a href="/isaiah/61-1.htm" title="The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;">Isaiah 61:1</a></span>, and both with <span class="bld"><a href="/context/luke/4-17.htm" title="And there was delivered to him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,...">Luke 4:17-21</a></span>, where it is said to be fulfilled in and by Christ. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="8"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-8.htm">Isaiah 42:8</a></div><div class="verse">I <i>am</i> the LORD: that <i>is</i> my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.</div> <span class="bld">I am the Lord, </span> Heb. <span class="ital">Jehovah</span>; who have all being in and of myself, and give being to all my creatures, and to all my promises, as this name signifies. The everlasting, and unchangeable, and omnipotent God, who therefore both can and will fulfil all my promises, and plead the cause and set up the kingdom of my Son in spite of all opposition, and destroy all those idols which are set up against him and inc. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">That is my name, </span> which I must own and justify to the world. He seems to allude to <span class="bld"><a href="/exodus/3-14.htm" title="And God said to Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shall you say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.">Exodus 3:14</a>,15 6:3</span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">My glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images; </span> I will not any longer suffer that honour and worship which is peculiar to me to be given to idols, as it hath been, but I will by Christ and the gospel abolish idolatry in the world. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="9"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-9.htm">Isaiah 42:9</a></div><div class="verse">Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.</div> <span class="bld">The former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare:</span> as all things which I have formerly promised or foretold have exactly come to pass in their proper seasons, and not one of them failed, as was noted, <span class="bld"><a href="/joshua/23-14.htm" title="And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you; all are come to pass to you, and not one thing has failed thereof.">Joshua 23:14</a></span>; so you have great reason to believe that what I now promise, though it be new and strange to you, shall infallibly be accomplished. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Before they spring forth I tell you of them, </span> that when they come to pass, you may know that I am God, and that this is my work. Compare <span class="bld"><a href="/john/13-19.htm" title="Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, you may believe that I am he.">John 13:19</a></span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="10"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-10.htm">Isaiah 42:10</a></div><div class="verse">Sing unto the LORD a new song, <i>and</i> his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.</div> <span class="bld">Sing unto the Lord a new song, </span> upon this new and great occasion, the calling and salvation of the world by Christ. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">From the end of the earth; </span> all nations, from one end of the earth. to another, who shall be sharers in this mercy. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Ye that go down to the sea, </span>& c.; you that go by sea, carry these glad tidings from Judea, where Christ was born, and lived, and died, and published the gospel, unto the remotest parts of the earth, that they may join with you in singing forth God’s praises for his marvellous kindness and grace to them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="11"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-11.htm">Isaiah 42:11</a></div><div class="verse">Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up <i>their voice</i>, the villages <i>that</i> Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.</div> <span class="bld">The wilderness; </span> those parts of the world which are now like a wilderness; not literally, for he speaks of their cities in the next clause, but spiritually, desolate and forsaken of God, dry and destitute of the waters of God’s grace, and barren of all good fruits. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Kedar; </span> the Arabians; which were a heathenish and barbarous people, and well known to the Jews, and are synecdochically put for all nations in the same circumstances. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains:</span> having mentioned cities and villages, he now adds those who dwell upon rocks and mountains, which are commonly more savage and ignorant than others, and therefore harder to be taught and reformed. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="12"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-12.htm">Isaiah 42:12</a></div><div class="verse">Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.</div> In the remotest parts of the world, as well as in Arabia, which was near to them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="13"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-13.htm">Isaiah 42:13</a></div><div class="verse">The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.</div> <span class="bld">Shall go forth, </span> to wit, to war, or battle, as this phrase is used, <span class="bld"><a href="/numbers/1-3.htm" title="From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: you and Aaron shall number them by their armies.">Numbers 1:3</a>,28 <a href="/2_samuel/11-1.htm" title="And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.">2 Samuel 11:1</a></span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">He shall stir up jealousy; </span> he shall stir up himself, and his strength, and anger, against the obstinate and implacable enemies of his Son and gospel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">He shall cry, yea, roar, </span> as a lion doth upon his prey, and as soldiers do when they begin the battle. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="14"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-14.htm">Isaiah 42:14</a></div><div class="verse">I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, <i>and</i> refrained myself: <i>now</i> will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.</div> <span class="bld">I have long time held my peace; </span> I have for many ages suffered the devil and his servants, tyrants, and idolaters, and persecutors to prevail in the world, to afflict my people, and to hinder the entertainment of my doctrine and worship in the world. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Now will I cry like a travailing woman; </span> now I will bring forth and accomplish that glorious work which I have long conceived in my mind. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">I will destroy and devour at once; </span> I will suddenly and utterly destroy the incorrigible enemies of my truth, and of my Son’s kingdom. He alludes to those wild beasts which open their mouths wide, and devour all their prey at one morsel, or at one time. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="15"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-15.htm">Isaiah 42:15</a></div><div class="verse">I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.</div> <span class="bld">I will make waste mountains and hills; </span> not dry and barren ones, for these were waste already, but such as are clothed with grass and herbs, as the following words imply; which is to be understood metaphorically, of God’s destroying his most lofty and flourishing enemies, who are oft compared in Scripture unto mountains and hills. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">I will dry up the pools; </span> I will remove all impediments out of the way; which is expressed in the prophetical dialect, by <span class="ital">drying up Euphrates, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared</span>, <span class="bld"><a href="/revelation/16-12.htm" title="And the sixth angel poured out his vial on the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.">Revelation 16:12</a></span>. He seems to allude to that which God did in drying up first the Red Sea, and then Jordan, to give his people passage into Canaan. And this exposition is confirmed by the following verse. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="16"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-16.htm">Isaiah 42:16</a></div><div class="verse">And I will bring the blind by a way <i>that</i> they knew not; I will lead them in paths <i>that</i> they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.</div> <span class="bld">The blind; </span> the Gentiles, who were blind, and were called so, above, <span class="bld"><a href="/isaiah/42-7.htm" title="To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.">Isaiah 42:7</a></span>, and in many other places of Scripture, and were so accounted by the Jews. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">By a way that they know not; </span> by the way of truth, which hitherto hath been hidden from them, until by my word and Spirit I revealed it to them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight; </span> I will take away all hinderances, and give them all advantages and conveniences for their journey. I will direct them in the right way. I will enlighten their dark minds, and rectify their perverse wills and affections. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">And not forsake them, </span> until I have brought them with safety and comfort to the end of their journey. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="17"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-17.htm">Isaiah 42:17</a></div><div class="verse">They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye <i>are</i> our gods.</div> This may be understood either, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span>1. Of the converted Gentiles; who shall be <span class="ital">turned back</span> from their former sinful course, and shall sincerely grieve, and be ashamed that they did trust, &c., as the word may be rendered; <span class="ital">that</span> they should ever be guilty of such wickedness and madness to worship and trust in idols. Or rather, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span>2. Of those Gentiles who, when their brethren embraced the true God and Christ, persisted obstinately in their idolatrous courses, who shall be confounded and destroyed; for this phrase of <span class="ital">being turned back</span> is generally used in Scripture in a bad sense; or of them who are overthrown, or put to flight in battle, as <span class="bld"><a href="/psalms/9-3.htm" title="When my enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at your presence.">Psalm 9:3</a> 35:4 70:2,3</span>, &c. And the like I may say of <span class="ital">being ashamed</span>, or <span class="ital">confounded</span>, or <span class="ital">put to shame</span>, especially where this phrase is joined with the other, as it is in the two places of the Psalms last quoted. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="18"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-18.htm">Isaiah 42:18</a></div><div class="verse">Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.</div> O you, whosoever you are, whether Jews or Gentiles, which shall resist this clear light, and obstinately continue in your former errors, attend diligently to my words, and consider these mighty works of God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="19"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-19.htm">Isaiah 42:19</a></div><div class="verse">Who <i>is</i> blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger <i>that</i> I sent? who <i>is</i> blind as <i>he that is</i> perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant?</div> <span class="bld">Who is blind, but my servant?</span> but no people under heaven are so blind as the Jews, who call themselves my servants and people, who will not receive their Messiah, though he be recommended to them with such evident and illustrious signs and miraculous works, as force belief from the most unbelieving and obstinate Gentiles. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">My messenger; </span> my messengers, the singular number being put for the plural, as it is commonly in Scripture. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">That I sent; </span> the priests and other teachers whom I appointed to instruct my people in the right way. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">As he that is perfect; </span> as the most eminent teachers and rulers of the Jews, whom he calleth <span class="ital">perfect</span>, either because it was their duty to know and teach the way and truth of God perfectly; or rather sarcastically, because they pretended to greater perfection, and proudly called themselves <span class="ital">rabbies</span> and <span class="ital">masters</span>, as our Saviour observed, and despised the people as cursed, and not knowing the law, <span class="bld"><a href="/john/7-49.htm" title="But this people who knows not the law are cursed.">John 7:49</a></span>, and derided Christ for calling them <span class="ital">blind</span>, <span class="bld"><a href="/john/9-40.htm" title="And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said to him, Are we blind also?">John 9:40</a></span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">As the Lord’s servant; </span> which rifle, as it was given to the Jewish people in the first clause of the verse, so here it scents to be given to the priests, because they were called and obliged to be the Lord’s servants in a special and eminent manner. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="20"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-20.htm">Isaiah 42:20</a></div><div class="verse">Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.</div> Thou dost not seriously and impartially consider the plain word and the wonderful works of God, of which thine ears and eyes have been witnesses, which are abundantly sufficient for the conviction of any considering man. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="21"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-21.htm">Isaiah 42:21</a></div><div class="verse">The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make <i>it</i> honourable.</div> <span class="bld">Is well-pleased, </span> to wit, with you; or, as this word is most commonly used, <span class="ital">hath a good-will</span> to you or to <span class="ital">this people</span>; which may be understood out of the following verse, as is very usual in sacred Scripture. The meaning seems to be this; Although thou art a wicked people, that rebellest against the clearest light, and therefore God might justly destroy thee suddenly; yet he is very unwilling to do it, and will patiently wait for thy repentance, that he may be gracious unto thee. <span class="ital">For his righteousness’ sake</span>; not for thy sake, for thou deservest no such thing from him, but for the glory of his own faithfulness, in fulfilling that promise and covenant which he made with thy pious progenitors for themselves and for their seed. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">He will magnify the law, and make it honourable; </span> he will maintain the honour of his law, and therefore is not forward to destroy you, who profess God’s law, and the true religion, lest his law should upon that occasion be exposed to contempt. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="22"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-22.htm">Isaiah 42:22</a></div><div class="verse">But this <i>is</i> a people robbed and spoiled; <i>they are</i> all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.</div> <span class="bld">But this is a people robbed and spoiled:</span> but notwithstanding this great respect which God hath to his law, and to his people for the sake of his law, it is apparent that God hath severely scourged you for your sins; and therefore take heed that you do not provoke him by your obstinate infidelity, lest he cast you off for ever. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">They are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison-houses; </span> they are, or have been, taken in snares made by their own hands, and by God’s just judgment delivered into the hands of their enemies, and by them cast into pits, or dungeons, and prisons. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">None delivereth; none saith, Restore; </span> none afford them either pity or help in their extremities. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="23"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-23.htm">Isaiah 42:23</a></div><div class="verse">Who among you will give ear to this? <i>who</i> will hearken and hear for the time to come?</div> Oh that you would learn from your former and dear bought experiences to be wiser for the future, and not to provoke God to your own total and final ruin! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="24"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-24.htm">Isaiah 42:24</a></div><div class="verse">Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.</div> Do not flatter yourselves with a conceit of impunity, because you are a people whom God hath favoured and endowed with many and great privileges, which the Jews were very prone to do, as we see, <span class="bld"><a href="/jeremiah/7-4.htm" title="Trust you not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.">Jeremiah 7:4</a></span>, &c., and elsewhere; for as God hath punished you formerly, doubt not but if you continue to sin, he will proceed in punishing you more and more for your sins. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="25"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/isaiah/42-25.htm">Isaiah 42:25</a></div><div class="verse">Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid <i>it</i> not to heart.</div> <span class="bld">The fury of his anger, and the strength of battle; </span> most grievous judgments. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Yet he knew not; </span> they were secure and stupid under God’s judgments, neither fearing them when threatened, nor truly sensible of God’s hand in them, and of the causes of God’s displeasure against them, and of the means of cure. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Matthew Poole's Commentary<br /><br />Text Courtesy of <a href="//biblesupport.com" target="_top">BibleSupport.com</a>. Used by Permission. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../isaiah/41.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 41"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 41" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../isaiah/43.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 43"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 43" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/isaiah/42-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="/commentaries/ellicott/sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><br /><br /><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></body></html>