18 Ye deaf, hear; and ye blind, look to see. 19 Who 'is' blind but My servant? And deaf as My messenger I send? Who 'is' blind as he who is at peace, Yea, blind, as the servant of Jehovah? 20 Seeing many things, and thou observest not, Opening ears, and he heareth not. 21 Jehovah hath delight for the sake of His righteousness, He magnifieth law, and maketh honourable. 22 And this 'is' a people seized and spoiled, Snared in holes—all of them, And in houses of restraint they were hidden, They have been for a prey, And there is no deliverer, A spoil, and none is saying, 'Restore.' 23 Who among you giveth ear 'to' this? Attendeth, and heareth afterwards. 24 Who hath given Jacob for a spoil, And Israel to the spoilers? Is it not Jehovah—He against whom we sinned? Yea, they have not been willing in His ways to walk, Nor have they hearkened to His law. 25 And He poureth on him fury, His anger, and the strength of battle, And it setteth him on fire round about, And he hath not known, And it burneth against him, and he layeth it not to heart!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 42:18-25
Commentary on Isaiah 42:18-25
(Read Isaiah 42:18-25)
Observe the call given to this people, and the character given of them. Multitudes are ruined for want of observing that which they cannot but see; they perish, not through ignorance, but carelessness. The Lord is well-pleased in the making known his own righteousness. For their sins they were spoiled of all their possessions. This fully came to pass in the destruction of the Jewish nation. There is no resisting, nor escaping God's anger. See the mischief sin makes; it provokes God to anger. And those not humbled by lesser judgments, must expect greater. Alas! how many professed Christians are blind as the benighted heathen! While the Lord is well-pleased in saving sinners through the righteousness of Christ he will also glorify his justice, by punishing all proud despisers. Seeing God has poured out his wrath on his once-favoured people, because of their sins, let us fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of us should be found to come short of it.