Isa 42:18-20 | KingComments | STEP | In we see that the servant of the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. Here in we see that the deaf hear and the blind see through the work of the Servant of the LORD. But then says that the servant of the LORD is blind and deaf. It is clear that in the book of Isaiah there are two servants. There is a servant who is blind and deaf ( ) and who must first be healed before he can be used by the LORD. That servant is Israel ( ). There is also another Servant. That is none other than Christ, in Whom God has found all His delight. These verses contain a powerful and instructive message for us who have been called into His service by grace. Much comes toward us that can darken our view of the Lord and make us deaf to His voice. These are all things to which our flesh is all too inclined to respond. We are tempted in countless ways to forget that we are on earth to simply do the will of Him Who has called and sent us. Doing our own will only results in sorrow for our hearts.

‏ Isaiah 42:18-20

Deaf and Blind

In Isa 42:7 we see that the servant of the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. Here in Isa 42:18 we see that the deaf hear and the blind see through the work of the Servant of the LORD. But then Isa 42:19 says that the servant of the LORD is blind and deaf. It is clear that in the book of Isaiah there are two servants. There is a servant who is blind and deaf (Isa 6:10) and who must first be healed before he can be used by the LORD. That servant is Israel (Isa 43:10). There is also another Servant. That is none other than Christ, in Whom God has found all His delight.

These verses contain a powerful and instructive message for us who have been called into His service by grace. Much comes toward us that can darken our view of the Lord and make us deaf to His voice. These are all things to which our flesh is all too inclined to respond. We are tempted in countless ways to forget that we are on earth to simply do the will of Him Who has called and sent us. Doing our own will only results in sorrow for our hearts.

Seeing Blind and Hearing Deaf

In Isa 42:20 the reproach of the blindness and deafness of the people is further explained. They do see a lot, but the real content passes them by because they do not observe it. Literally it says that they do not ‘keep’ it or ‘guard’ it. The expressions ‘keep’ – Hebrew samar – and ‘listen’ – Hebrew sama – are characteristic of the book of Deuteronomy in connection with God’s law (Deu 28:15 ; Deu 29:2-4; cf. Isa 6:9-10).

They do open their ears, but what they hear doesn’t penetrate them. That is because their heart has become fat; it is not directed toward the LORD, and they only pursue their own interests. They do not want to walk in His ways and do not obey His law. Yet it has been His purpose to show them His glory from His Word, the law (Isa 42:21).

It is His joy to make the law “great and glorious”. This can also be translated as “giving a great, glorious teaching”. This is the law, but not in the limited sense of the Ten Commandments, but in all the glorious statements revealed by a God Who, with His law, His teachings, has the blessing of His people in mind. His righteousness desires it, but their iniquity has made it impossible.

God’s proposal has found its full fulfillment in the perfect life of the Lord Jesus on earth. We see that it is His delight to do God’s will. God’s law is within His heart and defines His whole life (Psa 40:8), which is characterized by perfect obedience from beginning to end (Phil 2:8). The LORD has made the law great and glorious in the Person of His Son, both in His life and in His death. With Him we see in everything the glory of the law in contrast with the ways of the people to whom the law has been given.

The people are in a state of hardening. Instead of glorifying God by teaching the law to the nations around them, they have ignored God’s law, His ‘glorious teaching’. As a result, they are delivered into the hands of the nations. They are a people who have been “plundered and despoiled” (Isa 42:22). It is also a people trapped in caves and hidden away in prisons. There is no more freedom of movement. They need redemption themselves.

This is also the case spiritually when a believer starts to live outside the will and the way of God. Then spiritual powers will rob such a person of all Christian values and make him a slave to sin and a dishonor of God.