Isa 42:10-17 | KingComments | STEP | apply to the realm of peace. This section contains some of the ‘new things’ of . For example, after the redemption is mentioned ( ) there is “a new song” ( ). It is the song of praise that the nations will sing that used to be in spiritual darkness. The first song of the Bible, the song of Moses ( ), is sung by a redeemed people. The same goes for the song of Moses and the Lamb ( ). This also applies here in . The verb ‘singing’ is never used for angels. Singing is reserved for redeemed people. It is a general call that sounds all over the earth. The call begins with those who are furthest away, the sailors; it continues to those who live in the neighborhood, the Arabs in the wilderness; and it ends with the Jewish people who live in the high mountains. speaks about Kedar. That is the name of the second son of Ishmael ( ). In this name the Arabs are introduced. It is the collective name for the Arabian tribes ( ; ). “The inhabitants of Sela” is also translated as “those who live in the rocks”. Sela is a place where the Edomites lived. The wilderness in question here is that of Arabia. In the future, the Arabs will no longer follow the false prophet Muhammad, but give glory to the LORD and proclaim His praise to the extreme of the earth ( ).

‏ Isaiah 42:10-17

Call to Praise the LORD

Isa 42:10-17 apply to the realm of peace. This section contains some of the ‘new things’ of Isa 42:9. For example, after the redemption is mentioned (Isa 42:9) there is “a new song” (Isa 42:10). It is the song of praise that the nations will sing that used to be in spiritual darkness. The first song of the Bible, the song of Moses (Exo 15:1), is sung by a redeemed people. The same goes for the song of Moses and the Lamb (Rev 15:3). This also applies here in Isa 42:10-12. The verb ‘singing’ is never used for angels. Singing is reserved for redeemed people.

It is a general call that sounds all over the earth. The call begins with those who are furthest away, the sailors; it continues to those who live in the neighborhood, the Arabs in the wilderness; and it ends with the Jewish people who live in the high mountains.

Isa 42:11 speaks about Kedar. That is the name of the second son of Ishmael (Gen 25:13). In this name the Arabs are introduced. It is the collective name for the Arabian tribes (Isa 21:13-17; Eze 27:21). “The inhabitants of Sela” is also translated as “those who live in the rocks”. Sela is a place where the Edomites lived. The wilderness in question here is that of Arabia. In the future, the Arabs will no longer follow the false prophet Muhammad, but give glory to the LORD and proclaim His praise to the extreme of the earth (Isa 42:12).

The LORD Goes Forth

The LORD will destroy the king of the North (Dan 11:45) – and thus the dominion of islam – as well as the false prophet of His people, the antichrist, together with the ten kings and the beast that reigns over them. To this end He will go forth like a warrior (Isa 42:13). When His zeal arouses and He utters the battle cry (cf. Joel 3:16; Jer 25:30), the enemies no longer have any chance.

He held back for a long time (Isa 42:14) and did not openly intervene to deliver His oppressed people, be they Israel or the church. This indicates His longsuffering which is so characteristic of the present day in which He has the gospel of His grace proclaimed despite all opposition and slander and apostasy (2Pet 3:9).

This present time is coming to an end. God’s silence is not endless. He will utter a shout. It is as if all the restrained anger about the ungodliness of the world and everything that has been done to His people comes out. With the heat of His wrath, He will lay waste “the mountains and hills” as a picture of the hostile powers, and “all their vegetation” as a picture of their prosperity and their works (Isa 42:15). All sources of blessing will dry up, every refreshment will come to an end.

On the other hand, He will show mercy to His people. He will open the eyes of those blinded by sin to their need and make them see His salvation (Isa 42:16). He will lead them out of misery and bring them on a path of light and blessing, on His own path of righteousness and peace. He will make darkness into light before them. He will free the road from obstacles and make it plain and passable.

In the first place this refers to the redemption from the Babylonian exile and the road by which they are led back to Jerusalem from Babylon (cf. Isa 43:19). The people need to understand that it is not Cyrus, but the LORD Who redeems them. Cyrus is but an instrument in His hand. Even more so, in the end time the LORD will act like this for the benefit of His people. Also the description of His actions here is so general, that we can apply it to the whole redeeming work of the Lord Jesus – He is the LORD – that He has done for His heavenly people, the church.

The LORD underlines His words with a solemn double declaration, one in a positive and one in a negative sense, in which both declarations reinforce each other: He will do and will not leave them undone. In this way every doubt is excluded.

This action of the LORD also has a consequence for the idolaters (Isa 42:17). When they see what He has done for those who put their trust in Him, they will recoil in terror and the red of shame will come upon their jaws. The foolishness of their idolatry and the uselessness of their idols will be highlighted.