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“Behold my servant …” (Isaiah 42:1).
Here he shows the divine love through the Son whom He promised. John 3:16: “For God so loved the world …” And first, from so great a benefit, he manifests God’s love; second, the perversity of the Jews: “These things I have done for them …” (Isaiah 42:16–20).
Concerning the first, three things are set forth. First, he foretells the coming of the Son of God; second, the fall of the wicked: “The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man …” (Isaiah 42:13); third, the restoration of the good: “And I will lead the blind in a way they do not know …” (Isaiah 42:16). Luke 2:34: “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel …”
Concerning the first, three things are treated. First, the condition of the one to be sent; second, the mission itself: “Thus says the Lord …” (Isaiah 42:5–7); third, the invitation to thanksgiving: “Sing to the Lord a new song …” (Isaiah 42:10).
Concerning the first, three points are noted.
First, the fullness of grace with respect to the grace of union: “I will uphold him” (Isaiah 42:1). Servant is said according to his human nature. Luke 1:54: “He has taken up (ἀντελάβετο, antelabeto) Israel his servant …”
Second, with respect to the grace of headship: “my chosen one” (Isaiah 42:1), that he might be head of the Church. Song of Songs 5:10: “My beloved is chosen out of thousands.” Psalm 65:4: “Blessed is the one whom you choose and bring near …” Matthew 3:17: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Third, with respect to habitual grace, singular in him: “I have put my Spirit upon him” (Isaiah 42:1). Isaiah 11:2: “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him …”
Second, he shows the equity of judgment in three respects.
First, the authority of judgment: “He will bring forth justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1). Psalm 72:1–2: “O God, give the king your judgment …” John 5:22: “The Father has given all judgment to the Son.” To this is joined meekness: “He will not cry out nor lift up his voice” (Isaiah 42:2). Ecclesiastes 9:17: “The words of the wise are heard in quiet …”
Second, he shows impartiality: “He does not show partiality” (implicit in Isaiah 42:1–4). Acts 10:34: “God is not a respecter of persons.” To this he adds piety in helping: “His voice will not be heard in the streets” (Isaiah 42:2), namely in Judea, because he first aided those to whom he was sent. Matthew 15:24: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Psalm 95:7–8: “Today, if you hear his voice …”
He also shows forbearance: “A bruised reed he will not break” (Isaiah 42:3), meaning the Jewish kingdom; “a smoldering wick he will not quench” (Isaiah 42:3), meaning the priesthood. Ezekiel 34:16: “What was broken I will bind up …”
Third, he shows the truth of judgment: “He will faithfully bring forth justice” (Isaiah 42:3). Psalm 96:13: “He comes to judge the earth in righteousness.” To this is joined interior joy: “He will not grow faint or be discouraged” (Isaiah 42:4). Christ was not sorrowful in heart nor turbulent in face, but preserved equality of soul, although with respect to the sensitive appetite there was propassion (προπάθεια, propatheia), not of necessity but of will. Matthew 26:38: “My soul is sorrowful even unto death.” Sirach 30:22: “Joy of heart is the life of man.”
Third, he shows the power of dominion: “Until he establishes justice on the earth” (Isaiah 42:4), either the final judgment or his law preached by the apostles—the Gospel. Genesis 49:10: “He shall be the expectation of the nations.” Isaiah 60:9: “For the coastlands wait for me …” Some explain this of Darius, king of Persia, chosen to liberate the Jews (cf. Ezra 1:1–4).
“Thus says the Lord God …” (Isaiah 42:5).
Here he foretells the mission. First, he shows the power of the sender: “who created the heavens” (Isaiah 42:5); “who spread out the earth” (Isaiah 42:5); “who gives breath to the people upon it” (Isaiah 42:5), breath of natural life and spirit of grace. Zechariah 12:1: “The Lord who stretches out the heavens …”
Second, he foretells the mission with the exaltation of the one sent: “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness” (Isaiah 42:6). This refers to eternal predestination to the unity of the divine Person. Romans 1:4: “Predestined Son of God in power …” “I have taken you by the hand” (Isaiah 42:6), indicating divine operation. John 14:10: “The Father who dwells in me does his works.” “And I have kept you” (Isaiah 42:6), lest you be held by death. Psalm 16:10: “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol.” Isaiah 49:1–2: “The Lord called me from the womb …”
He assigns the office: “I have given you as a covenant to the people” (Isaiah 42:6), as mediator. Genesis 9:13: “I set my bow in the clouds.” “As a light to the nations” (Isaiah 42:6). Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:16: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.” John 1:9: “The true light that enlightens every man.”
He shows the utility of the office: “To open the eyes that are blind” (Isaiah 42:7). John 9:39: “For judgment I came into this world …” “To bring out prisoners from confinement” (Isaiah 42:7). Zechariah 9:11: “By the blood of your covenant, I have set your prisoners free.”
Third, from the mission he concludes the singularity of divine majesty. “I am the Lord” (Isaiah 42:8). Psalm 68:4: “Sing to God … his name is the Lord.” Exodus 6:3: “By my name the Lord (Adonai) I was not known.” Concerning glory: Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest.” Concerning foreknowledge: Isaiah 42:9; 49:23.
“Sing to the Lord a new song …” (Isaiah 42:10).
Here he invites to thanksgiving. First, he proclaims praise to distant peoples: “From the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 42:10; cf. Isaiah 24:16). To sailors: “You who go down to the sea” (Isaiah 42:10). Psalm 107:23–24. To desert dwellers: “Let the wilderness lift up its voice” (Isaiah 42:11), especially the Ishmaelites, sons of Kedar (Genesis 25:13). Isaiah 35:1. To mountain dwellers: “Let the inhabitants of the rock sing” (Isaiah 42:11). Isaiah 55:12.
Second, he foretells the spread of praise: “They will give glory to the Lord” (Isaiah 42:12). Isaiah 66:19.
Mystically, all this concerns the conversion of the Gentiles.
“The Lord goes forth like a mighty man …” (Isaiah 42:13).
Here he foretells judgment through Christ’s advent. First, power: Exodus 15:3. Second, wrath: Isaiah 42:13; Job 37:5. Third, justice delayed then unleashed: Isaiah 42:14; Isaiah 30:18. Fourth, punishment: Isaiah 42:15; Ezekiel 35:3–4; Psalm 107:33.
“And I will lead the blind …” (Isaiah 42:16).
This concerns the restoration of the good: reformed action (Proverbs 4:11), illuminated intellect (Luke 1:79), and ordered affection (Isaiah 40:4).
“These things I have done for them …” (Isaiah 42:16–17).
Here he shows Jewish perversity: ingratitude (Jeremiah 5:7), hardness (Isaiah 42:18–20; Wisdom 2:21), obstinacy (Isaiah 42:24–25).
“Hear, you deaf …” (Isaiah 42:18).
They are sold to sin (1 Kings 21:20), blinded in heart (Jeremiah 5:21; Isaiah 6:10), yet commanded for their good (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
“Who among you will give ear to this?” (Isaiah 42:23).
Few understand (Hosea 14:9). God is the author of punishment (1 Samuel 2:6); guilt lies in disobedience (Baruch 4:13); punishment is poured out abundantly (Psalm 69:25).
They did not recognize correction (Psalm 82:5).
Christ is given as covenant (Genesis 9:13), fulfillment of promise (2 Corinthians 1:20), sign of divine love (John 3:16), and the cessation of the old sacrificial law (Psalm 40:6–8; Hebrews 10:8–10).
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