Isaiah 42: 1-4

GOD’S PROMISE OF HIS JUDGING SERVANT

I. The Servant

A. Matthew states that this passage is fulfilled by Jesus when Jesus withdrew (Matthew 12:14-21).

B. In the midst of threats from Assyria and an eventual mass captivity by Babylon, Isaiah comforts Israel by identifying Israel

and the promised Messiah as God’s servant (41:8).

C.Isaiah uses “servant” to refer to the nation (41:8), the elect kernel (44:1,2,21,22), His prophets (44:26), and the Messiah

(text; 49:1-10; 50:4-10; 52:13-53:12).

D.The servanthood of the Messiah is identified as special in three ways in verse 1.

II. The Servant of Jehovah is to “bring forth judgment to the Gentiles” (1) “unto truth” (3), and “set judgment in the earth” (4).

A. “Judgment” here is a very positive activity of God, including salvation.

1. Judgment refers to the standard of God’s will with respect to man’s relationship to Him.

2. Jehovah’s servant brings judgment to “the Gentiles” (1) and to “isles” (4) (more than just to Israel).

B. In order to fulfill this prophecy, the servant of Jehovah must Himself first realize God’s judgment.

1. He must enter the curse and death to bear God’s judgment in order to justify His own before God and to bring them into

conformity with God’s will by giving God’s righteousness to them.

2. To this end the servant of Jehovah is equipped and qualified: “put My Spirit upon Him” (cf. 11:2: 61:1).

C.He works with quiet power – four characteristics.

1. The servant of Jehovah works with quietness (2), no putting Himself in foreground, trying to win his case.

2. He works gently, not breaking the bruised reed nor quenching the smoking flax (3).

3. He works faithfully (“unto truth,” 3b), giving correct knowledge and doing so faithfully so can be relied upon to be just.

4. He works with strength and will “not fail nor be discouraged” (4).