421 " Behold , My Servant , whom I uphold ; My chosen one in whom My soul delights . I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations . 2 "He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street . 3 "A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish ; He will faithfully bring forth justice . 4 "He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth ; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law ."
5 Thus says God the Lord , Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring , Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it, 6 "I am the Lord , I have called You in righteousness , I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people , As a light to the nations , 7 To open blind eyes , To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison e . 8 " I am the Lord , that is My name ; I will not give My glory to another , Nor My praise to graven images . 9 "Behold , the former things have come to pass , Now I declare new things ; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 42:1-9
Commentary on Isaiah 42:1-4
(Read Isaiah 42:1-4)
This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ, Matthew 12:17. Let our souls rely on him, and rejoice in him; then, for his sake, the Father will be well-pleased with us. The Holy Spirit not only came, but rested upon him, and without measure. He patiently bore the contradiction of sinners. His kingdom is spiritual; he was not to appear with earthly honours. He is tender of those oppressed with doubts and fears, as a bruised reed; those who are as smoking flax, as the wick of a lamp newly lighted, which is ready to go out again. He will not despise them, nor lay upon them more work or more suffering than they can bear. By a long course of miracles and his resurrection, he fully showed the truth of his holy religion. By the power of his gospel and grace he fixes principles in the minds of men, which tend to make them wise and just. The most distant nations wait for his law, wait for his gospel, and shall welcome it. If we would make our calling and election sure, and have the Father delight over us for good, we must behold, hear, believe in, and obey Christ.
Commentary on Isaiah 42:5-12
(Read Isaiah 42:5-12)
The work of redemption brings back man to the obedience he owes to God as his Maker. Christ is the light of the world. And by his grace he opens the understandings Satan has blinded, and sets at liberty from the bondage of sin. The Lord has supported his church. And now he makes new promises, which shall as certainly be fulfilled as the old ones were. When the Gentiles are brought into the church, he is glorified in them and by them. Let us give to God those things which are his, taking heed that we do not serve the creature more than the Creator.