Isaiah's First Servant Song

In the Bible, God's ultimate plan for mankind's redemption is found within Isaiah's four Servant Songs: Isaiah chapters 42, 49, 50 and 53. Isaiah 42 presents two servants, Israel and the Messiah. Their characteristics and profiles are quite different from one another. In Isaiah 49, the second of his Servant Songs, the prophet foretells Israel's abhorrence and rejection of their Messiah, the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 50, the third Servant Song, foretells the details of a suffering Messiah who is viciously beaten and not rebellious. Finally in Isaiah 53, the fourth Servant Song, the prophet prophesies the overall portrayal of the Messiah's rejection, suffering and death, and explains the reasons why His death became necessary.

Isaiah 42:1-7

"Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. (2) He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. (3) A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. (4) He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. (5) Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: (6) I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; (7) To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." - Isaiah 42:1-7

In Isaiah 42, the prophet introduces two servants³¹. Isaiah 42:6-7 describes an individual who is a "light of the Gentiles," and who opens the eyes of the blind. Meanwhile, Isaiah 42:18-20 describes a 'blinded servant' who sees many things yet does not understand. The Scriptures showing the contrast and distinction between God's two servants follow:

The servant that gives light:

Isaiah 42:6-7 "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; (7) To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."

The blinded servant:

Isaiah 42:18-20 "Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. (19) Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant? (20) Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not."

These two passages cannot possibly refer to the same servant. After all, how can a blinded servant who does not understand be a light? If an individual did not understand, would he or she be qualified to teach others? If someone walked in darkness, would they have the ability to lead the way? Of course not!

Isaiah identifies these two servants in the previous chapters in his writings. Isaiah 41:8 refers to Israel as one of God's servants. According to Isaiah 6:9-10, Israel is the blinded servant whose knowledge and understanding has been taken away by the LORD Himself. Isaiah 29:13-14 explains that the reason why Almighty God took away the knowledge and understanding from the children of Israel was because of their continued rebellion in their sin and their removal of their hearts from Him. The applicable Scriptures follow:

Isaiah 41:8 "But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend."
Isaiah 6:9-10 "And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. (10) Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed."
Isaiah 29:13-14 "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: (14) Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid."

After viewing these passages, it is clear that Israel is the blinded servant described in Isaiah 42:18-20.

As previously mentioned, Isaiah 42 describes another servant of God. Zechariah 3:8 testifies that the BRANCH, the Messiah, is God's servant. In contrast to Israel, Isaiah also reveals that the Messiah, called "a rod out of the stem of Jesse," possesses the spirit of wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Obviously, He is the most logical and qualified "light of the Gentiles." The applicable Scriptures follow:

Zechariah 3:8 "Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH."
Isaiah 11:1-2 "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: (2) And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD."

After viewing these passages, it is clear that Isaiah discloses two servants in his first Servant Song. However, only the Messiah is the qualified light of the Gentiles because it is He who has the spirit of wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Meanwhile, Israel is described as being in spiritual darkness. This is further established by the fact that Isaiah 11:10 refers to the root of Jesse, the Messiah, as an ensign of the people:

"And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."

Additionally, Isaiah 42:22 describes the blinded servant Israel as robbed and spoiled, snared in holes, and hid in prison houses. Meanwhile, Isaiah 42:7 reveals that the Messiah, the light of the Gentiles, as the one bringing out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house:

Isaiah 42:22 (Regarding Israel) "But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore."
Isaiah 42:7 (Regarding the Messiah) "To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."

The only possible conclusion that can be made by viewing these verses is the following: In Isaiah's first Servant Song, the prophet Isaiah refers to two servants, the Messiah and Israel. He prophesies of a time when the Messiah, who has wisdom, understanding and knowledge, will open the eyes and ears of God's blinded and deaf servant Israel.

Since the foundational basis of this chapter has now been established, let us further examine Isaiah's first Servant Song, Isaiah chapter 42.

Isaiah 42:1

"Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." -Isaiah 42:1

Though the name of God's servant is not mentioned in this verse, who can it be, the Messiah or Israel? By referring to other verses and passages in the Bible, this servant's identity can be easily uncovered. When reading Isaiah 42:1, it is important to recognize that this servant has three qualities:

1)   God's soul delights in him.
2)   God places His spirit upon him.
3)   This servant brings forth judgment to the Gentiles.

With respect to the first qualification, does God's soul delight in Israel? Regarding Israel, Jeremiah 5:7-9 provides the answer in the negative:

"How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses. (8) They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife. (9) Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?"

With respect to the second qualification, does Isaiah reveal the identity of the servant who God has placed His Spirit upon? The answer is provided in Isaiah 11:1-2. It is the "rod out of the stem of Jesse", the Messiah:

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: (2) And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD."

Finally, with respect to the third qualification, who will bring forth judgment to the Gentiles according to the Scriptures? Once again, Isaiah and Jeremiah foretell that this is a responsibility strictly for the Messiah:

Isaiah 11:1,4 "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: …But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked."
Jeremiah 23:5 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth."

The identity of God's servant in Isaiah 42:1 is now quite obvious. Since the Scriptures reveal that God's soul does not delight in Israel, it is eliminated as the subject of this verse. Furthermore, since God's Spirit shall rest on the Messiah and He will bring judgment to the Gentiles, He is unarguably the subject of Isaiah 42:1. Remembering this, the prophet's message throughout the rest of the Servant Song becomes much clearer.

Isaiah 42:2-3

"He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth." -Isaiah 42:2-3

Since the identity of the servant in Isaiah 42:1 has been established in King Messiah, this following passage repeats that He will bring forth judgment. Isaiah 11:4 and Jeremiah 23:5 have already confirmed this. Furthermore, this passage reveals that the Messiah will be gentle and kind. He will represent all that is true! These qualities are directly related to having the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:2 illustrates that the rod out of the stem of Jesse, the Messiah, will have the fear of the LORD and, according to Hebrews 5:7 in the New Testament, Jesus had the fear of the LORD:

Isaiah 11:2 "And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD."
Hebrews 5:7 (Regarding Jesus) "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared."

Isaiah 42:4

"He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law." -Isaiah 42:4

Once again, this chapter stresses that the Messiah will set forth judgment in the earth. This is supported in Isaiah 11:4 and Jeremiah 23:5. With reference to this verse, the Scriptures teach that the Messiah will sit upon the throne of David as King forever (Isaiah 9:7, Zechariah 6:12-13, Psalm 2:6-7). Isaiah 2:2-3 specifically teaches that the law will proceed out of Zion. It will come from Him, the King over all the earth:

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. (3) And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."

Isaiah 42:5-6

"Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: (6) I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles." -Isaiah 42:5-6

According to this passage, the LORD has called King Messiah in righteousness. Isaiah 11:4-5 and Jeremiah 23:5-6 describe the Messiah as righteous. In contrast, Deuteronomy 9:4-6, Isaiah 1:4 and Isaiah 48:1 describe Israel as unrighteous. Isaiah 48:1,8 depicts Israel as "a transgressor from the womb." The applicable verses and passages follow:

Regarding the Messiah:

Isaiah 11:4-5 "But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. (5) And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins."
Jeremiah 23:5-6 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. (6) In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

Regarding Israel:

Deuteronomy 9:4-6 "Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. (5) Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (6) Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people."
Isaiah 1:4 "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward."
Isaiah 48:1 "Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness…(8) Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb."

From this Biblical evidence, it is clear that the Messiah is righteous and Israel is unrighteous. This fact supports the conclusion that He is the subject of Isaiah 42:1-6. Furthermore, Isaiah 42:6 states that it is He who is given as a covenant of the people.

Though Israel is called a sinful and unrighteous nation in the Scriptures, it is important to remember that all of the nations of the world are sinful. Israel is no exception! As the result of our sins, we are all unclean before the holy God of Israel. Once again, Israel is no exception.

Psalm 51:3,5 (the words of King David) "For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. (5) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."
Romans 3:23 (the words of the apostle Paul) "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

Isaiah 42:7

"To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." -Isaiah 42:7

As previously shown, Israel is the servant that has blind eyes, who is in darkness, and who is in prison houses (Isaiah 6:9-10, Isaiah 29:9-14 and Isaiah 42:18-20, 22). According to the New Testament, Romans 11:25-27 indicates that blindness in part has happened to Israel. According to Isaiah 42:6-7, Israel's blindness will be removed by the Messiah, the Light of the world! Romans 11:25-27 teaches that their blindness will continue "until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in:"

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. (26) And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (27) For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins."

This blindness "in part" is mostly due to the fact that Israel's knowledge and understanding about their Messiah has been taken away.

Isaiah 42:16

"And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." -Isaiah 42:16

The LORD will certainly bring the blind servant Israel by a way that they knew not. For them, redemption and salvation will arrive in an unexpected fashion. Israel, which has walked in darkness, will see a light, their Messiah! As shown in the previous chapter, Isaiah 9:2-7 prophesies of the time when the Messiah will set up His kingdom that will last forever. Isaiah 9:2 shows that, in that day, those who walked in darkness, Israel, will see a great light, their Messiah:

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."

According to the Scriptures, there will come a day when the Messiah will set up His kingdom of peace that will last forever. This kingdom will not be established until the day when all nations come against Jerusalem to battle and victory is obtained by burning and fire when the LORD stands on the mount of Olives (Psalm 97:1-6, Zechariah 14:3-4). Once again, Israel's victory is foretold in Isaiah 9:5 and Zechariah 14:12:

Isaiah 9:5 "For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire."
Zechariah 14:12 "And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth."

In that day, when all nations come against Jerusalem and the nations that come against her are destroyed by God, Israel will no longer walk in darkness. They will see a great light, their Messiah! This day has not yet occurred, but it will! In other words, Israel is still walking in spiritual darkness.

Isaiah 42:17

"They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods." -Isaiah 42:17

In this verse, the subject is Israel. It is they who will be greatly ashamed after God leads them by a way that they did not know and they finally begin to understand. Here, the prophet makes reference to Israel as the servant who trusted in graven images, etc. This is a connection to their forefathers who built the golden calf along with Aaron during the time when Moses went up to mount Sinai to receive the tablets of the covenant. Exodus 32:35 states, "And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made."

Isaiah 42:17 reveals that Israel will be greatly ashamed. Ezekiel 36:31-32 supports the shame of Israel when God brings them back and they finally comprehend what they had done. According to this passage, He will not bring them back because of anything good they will do. Micah 7:18-20 explains why God brings them back: He will do it because of His mercy and love for His people, and to honor the covenant that He made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob:

Ezekiel 36:31-32 "Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. (32) Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel."
Micah 7:18-20 "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. (19) He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (20) Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old."

Notes

31.	John McTernan & Louis Ruggiero in their book: Jesus of Nazareth: King Messiah, chapter 4, pp 59-70 (Oklahoma City, OK: Hearthstone Publishing, 2002).

Isaiah 42:1-7: Isaiah's First Servant Song