Isaiah 42

The Servant of God and a Point of Interpretation

    Recently, as our family was reading the Bible together, we dug into the prophecies of Isaiah. Trying to use every opportunity to teach the girls, I observed such a time in Isaiah 42.

    First, read Isaiah 42:1-4 - “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law” (ESV).

    Question - Who is this “servant” of the Lord? You might be using a translation (such as the NASV) which capitalizes “Servant.” But, keep in mind the original languages did not use capital letters. So, who is this “servant”?

    Observe some descriptions of him. He is God’s chosen. He is one in whom God’s soul delights. He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not be a braggart or braggadocio. He will be an individual of tremendous compassion and empathy. He will also have his own law which he will execute.

    So, who could this servant be? The nation of Israel clearly does not fit that description. Nor does Cyrus, whom Isaiah mentions as God’s servant in 44:28 & 45:1. Nor do Josiah, Jehoiakim or others. Yet, Isaiah has mentioned one who will rule, in peace, over all the nations (9:6-7; 2:1-4; 7:14): the Messiah, the Son of David.

    In support of this conclusion, Matthew explicitly cites this passage in reference to Jesus, the Christ (12:15-21). We have no doubt, then, about Who this Servant of the Lord is.

    Now, back to Isaiah 42. Read 42:18-20 - “Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see! Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the Lord? He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear.” 

    Who is this servant? This “servant” is obviously different from the One mentioned in verses 1-4. This servant can neither see nor hear. He is deaf and blind. Those expressions are used metaphorically because Isaiah goes on to say in verse 20 that he “sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear.” The problem was a matter of the heart, not the physical ear or eye.

    This blind and deaf servant is the nation of Israel. God calls to them: “Hear!” and “Look!” Isaiah had earlier rebuked them for their deaf ear and blind eye to the law of God (6:9-10). This latter passage is quoted by that other Servant of the Lord in application to Israel in His day (Matt. 13:14-15). The blind and deaf servant of the Lord needed to see and hear the Spirit-indwelt-Servant of the Lord.

    So, my point to my daughters and my point to you is this: Just because a word or phrase (“servant” here in Isaiah 42) is used more than once in the same chapter does not mean the word or phrase refers to the same thing. Isaiah 42:1-4 creates a different context for understanding the “servant” of the Lord than 42:18-20. As always, in interpreting the Bible, context rules.

    God bless you as you feed on His word.

--Paul Holland