Isa 42:1-7 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 42:1-4: 42:1-4 The servant here is not the people Israel (as in 41:8-28 and elsewhere in chs 41–48 ; see 49:5-6 ) but is a royal figure who accomplishes his mission with care for people, especially for those who are hurting. The passage is the first of four songs about this servant (42:1-4 ; 49:1-13 ; 50:4-11 ; 52:13–53:12 ). He brings in an era of universal justice. For the connection of the servant with Jesus Christ, see Matt 12:18-21 . 42:1 who pleases me: God used similar language at Jesus’ baptism (Matt 3:17 ). • I have put my Spirit upon him: Any leader might be called a servant, but the presence of the Spirit suggests a king of David’s line or a prophet like Moses (see Num 11:17 , 24-29 ). • Establishing justice is the responsibility of a king (see Isa 9:6-7 ; Ps 72:1 ). • This king’s mission will be a greater mission to the nations than simply governing the small nation of Judah.

Summary for Isa 42:1-4: 42:1-4 ^a The servant here is not the people Israel (as in 41:8-28 ^b and elsewhere in chs 41–48 ^c; see 49:5-6 ^d) but is a royal figure who accomplishes his mission with care for people, especially for those who are hurting. The passage is the first of four songs about this servant (42:1-4 ^e; 49:1-13 ^f; 50:4-11 ^g; 52:13–53:12 ^h). He brings in an era of universal justice. For the connection of the servant with Jesus Christ, see Matt 12:18-21 ⁱ. 42:1 ^j who pleases me: God used similar language at Jesus’ baptism (Matt 3:17 ^k).

• I have put my Spirit upon him: Any leader might be called a servant, but the presence of the Spirit suggests a king of David’s line or a prophet like Moses (see Num 11:17 ^l, 24-29 ^m).

• Establishing justice is the responsibility of a king (see Isa 9:6-7 ⁿ; Ps 72:1 ^o).

• This king’s mission will be a greater mission to the nations than simply governing the small nation of Judah.
42:2 ^p shout or raise his voice: The royal servant will have calm confidence in his message and calling from God (see also 11:1-5 ^q).
42:3 ^r The royal servant will be gentle with the oppressed and discouraged (see 3:15 ^s; 41:17 ^t).
42:4 ^u distant lands: The nations long for justice and for instruction on bringing it about. In this regard the servant is like Moses, to whom the law was given. However, the servant is greater in that he extends justice beyond Israel to all the nations.
42:6 ^v my people, Israel ... my covenant with them (literally a covenant for the people): It is also possible that “the people” referred to all the peoples/nations of the earth (see 49:6 ^w).

• light to guide the nations: See also 51:4 ^x; Acts 13:47 ^y.
42:7 ^z The servant will open the eyes of the spiritually blind (see 6:10 ^aa; 29:18 ^ab) and free the spiritual captives from the prison of sin, in addition to those who were captive in the Babylonian exile (see 61:1 ^ac with Luke 4:18 ^ad).