Isa 42:1, 21 | JFB | STEP | 1. my servant —The law of prophetic suggestion leads Isaiah from Cyrus to the far greater Deliverer, behind whom the former is lost sight of. The express quotation in , and the description can apply to Messiah alone ( ; with which compare ). Israel, also, in its highest ideal, is called the "servant" of God ( ). But this ideal is realized only in the antitypical Israel, its representative-man and Head, Messiah (compare ). "Servant" was the position assumed by the Son of God throughout His humiliation. elect —chosen by God before the foundation of the world for an atonement ( ). Redemption was no afterthought to remedy an unforeseen evil ( ). In it is rendered "My beloved"; the only beloved Son, beloved in a sense distinct from all others. Election and the love of God are inseparably joined. soul —a human phrase applied to God, because of the intended union of humanity with the Divinity: "I Myself." delighteth —is well pleased with, and accepts, as a propitiation. God could have "delighted" in no created being as a mediator (compare ). spirit upon him — ( ). judgment —the gospel dispensation, founded on justice, the canon of the divine rule and principle of judgment called "the law" ( ; compare ). The Gospel has a discriminating judicial effect: saving to penitents; condemnatory to Satan, the enemy ( ), and the wilfully impenitent ( ). has, "He shall show, " for "He shall bring forth," or " cause to go forth. " Christ both produced and announced His "judgment." The Hebrew dwells most on His producing it; Matthew on His announcement of it: the two are joined in Him.

Isaiah 42:1

1. my servant—The law of prophetic suggestion leads Isaiah from Cyrus to the far greater Deliverer, behind whom the former is lost sight of. The express quotation in Mt 12:18-20, and the description can apply to Messiah alone (Ps 40:6; with which compare Ex 21:6; Joh 6:38; Php 2:7). Israel, also, in its highest ideal, is called the "servant" of God (Isa 49:3). But this ideal is realized only in the antitypical Israel, its representative-man and Head, Messiah (compare Mt 2:15, with Ho 11:1). "Servant" was the position assumed by the Son of God throughout His humiliation.

elect—chosen by God before the foundation of the world for an atonement (1Pe 1:20; Re 13:8). Redemption was no afterthought to remedy an unforeseen evil (Ro 16:25, 26; Eph 3:9, 11; 2Ti 1:9, 10; Tit 1:2, 3). In Mt 12:18 it is rendered "My beloved"; the only beloved Son, beloved in a sense distinct from all others. Election and the love of God are inseparably joined.

soul—a human phrase applied to God, because of the intended union of humanity with the Divinity: "I Myself."

delighteth—is well pleased with, and accepts, as a propitiation. God could have "delighted" in no created being as a mediator (compare Isa 42:21; 63:5; Mt 3:17).

spirit upon him— (Isa 11:2; 61:1; Lu 4:18; Joh 3:34).

judgment—the gospel dispensation, founded on justice, the canon of the divine rule and principle of judgment called "the law" (Isa 2:3; compare Isa 42:4; 51:4; 49:6). The Gospel has a discriminating judicial effect: saving to penitents; condemnatory to Satan, the enemy (Joh 12:31; 16:11), and the wilfully impenitent (Joh 9:39). Mt 12:18 has, "He shall show," for "He shall bring forth," or "cause to go forth." Christ both produced and announced His "judgment." The Hebrew dwells most on His producing it; Matthew on His announcement of it: the two are joined in Him.

Isaiah 42:21

21. his righteousness—not His people's, but His own; Isa 42:24 shows that they had no righteousness (Isa 45:24; 59:16). God is well pleased with His Son ("in whom My soul delighteth," Isa 42:1), "who fulfils all righteousness" (Mt 3:15) for them, and with them for His sake (compare Isa 42:6; Ps 71:16, 19; Mt 5:17; Ro 10:3, 4; Php 3:9). Perhaps in God's "righteousness" here is included His faithfulness to His promises given to Israel's forefathers [ROSENMULLER]; because of this He is well pleased with Israel, even though displeased with their sin, which He here reproves; but that promise could only be based on the righteousness of Messiah, the promised seed, which is God's righteousness.