Isaiah 42 About Judgement

seekeroftruth

Well-Known Member
Isaiah 42:1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”
5 This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
8 “I am the Lord; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.

9 See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you.”
10 Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise from the ends of the earth,
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
you islands, and all who live in them.
11 Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices;
let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice.
Let the people of Sela sing for joy;
let them shout from the mountaintops.
12 Let them give glory to the Lord
and proclaim his praise in the islands.
13 The Lord will march out like a champion,
like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
with a shout he will raise the battle cry
and will triumph over his enemies.
14 “For a long time I have kept silent,
I have been quiet and held myself back.

But now, like a woman in childbirth,
I cry out, I gasp and pant.
15 I will lay waste the mountains and hills
and dry up all their vegetation;
I will turn rivers into islands
and dry up the pools.
16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.

These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.
17 But those who trust in idols,
who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’
will be turned back in utter shame.
18 “Hear, you deaf;
look, you blind, and see!
19 Who is blind but my servant,
and deaf like the messenger I send?
Who is blind like the one in covenant with me,
blind like the servant of the Lord?
20 You have seen many things, but you pay no attention;
your ears are open, but you do not listen.”
21 It pleased the Lord
for the sake of his righteousness
to make his law great and glorious.
22 But this is a people plundered and looted,
all of them trapped in pits
or hidden away in prisons.
They have become plunder,
with no one to rescue them;
they have been made loot,
with no one to say, “Send them back.”
23 Which of you will listen to this
or pay close attention in time to come?
24 Who handed Jacob over to become loot,
and Israel to the plunderers?
Was it not the Lord,
against whom we have sinned?
For they would not follow his ways;
they did not obey his law.
25 So he poured out on them his burning anger,
the violence of war.
It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand;
it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.

The commentary this morning is from the bible-studys.org site..... once again.

“My servant” is identified here as a person rather than a personification of the nation of Israel. With all the traits of King, Prophet and High Priest, He is none other than the Messiah, Jesus Christ Himself. He is also call “mine elect” (bechirl), “set apart for a definite purpose”), and the One in whom “I have put my spirit.” The New Testament quotes this prophecy as being fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 12:18-21).​
The ministry of the Servant of the Lord will be to bring forth “judgment” (or justice), “to the Gentiles” and “in the earth.” His kingdom knows no barriers of nationality or race. Of all the Old Testament prophets, Isaiah saw this fact the most clearly. While Jesus’ early ministry was to the house of Israel, His ultimate commission extended to the Gentiles as well.
Others deserve the title “my servant” but this personal Servant of the Lord is the Messiah, who was chosen because the Lord delights in Him and puts His Spirit upon Him.​
“Judgment to the Gentiles” At His second coming, Christ will rule over a kingdom in which justice prevails throughout the world. The millennial kingdom is not for Israel alone, though the Messiah will reign on the throne of David in Jerusalem and Israel will be the glorious people. In fact, all the nations of the world will experience the righteousness and justice of the Messiah King.​
“God the Lord” is pictured as the Creator who “created the heavens, and stretched them out “and “spread forth the earth.” He also gives both “breath” and “spirit” to His “people.” The ministry of the Messiah is described (in verse 6), as a “covenant” to the Jews and a “light” to the Gentiles. It foreshadows the twofold purpose of Christ’s ministry to both the Jews and the Gentiles.
The Lord charged Israel, His servant, with unfaithfulness. In an important comparison, positive qualities of the Servant, are personified into an individual, the Messiah. But terms of reproach toward God’s servant, are personified in the nation, Israel.​
Though they are called “My servant” and “My messenger” and were perfectly fitted with the truth, Isaiah’s commission to prophesy highlighted the spiritual deafness and blindness of Israel. They were deaf to the voice of God and blind to spiritual reality and duty.
The sadness of this verse is that they did not realize why this happened to them. Because they chose false gods and they chose to be unfaithful to God, He poured out His fury on them. He wanted them to repent, but they did not.
So.... This reminds me of a "don't make me come in there" moment. When I was a kid.... my sister and I shared a bedroom. When my mother would put us to bed.... she would finally have some time to herself.... so she would get on the phone. When we heard the conversation begin.... we would begin to play.... we were very very quiet at first.... we didn't want a repeat of the night before.... when Mom had to "come in there" and we got our behinds brightened. After a few minutes we would start to enjoy ourselves..... and get louder.... and that's when we heard..... "don't make me come in there". Like the people of Israel, we'd quiet down for a little while.... promise to lay down and go to sleep.... but soon we were loud again.... generally this time it was the nightly prayer that got out of hand.... One of us would sing a made up hymn or hum a long made up melody while the other prayed. We were clever.... thinking we wouldn't get out butts brightened over prayer..... and most of the time we could keep it down for a while.... but sooner or later..... we would get louder again.... and Mom would warn us again.... and most times.... we would stop before she had to hang up the phone and "come in there".

So.... this chapter reminds me of a "don't make me come in there" moment. God's been warning the people. God tried to show them that He wouldn't tolerate any foolishness. He blew up Sodom and Gomorrah with meteors..... but they wouldn't listen. He flooded the whole world.... and all but a handful of those stupid humans died.... but they wouldn't listen. God had the Babylonians take them into captivity..... and God had the Babylonians force march them all the way out of Judah to Babylon in Iraq.... where they were "in time out" for 70 years..... and they still wouldn't listen. So now.... God is telling His humans..... quiet down.... behave our I will send my son in there......

God's not going to "come in there" Himself. He's going to let Jesus come first. Jesus won't come in the first time with the switch or the belt.... Jesus will try the "nice guy" routine. Jesus will "come in there" and sit down on the end of the bed and explain that if I don't behave.... then the switch or the belt will come out. But the humans in Judah, and Israel..... were really stupid.... they didn't get the message. Isaiah told them it was time to shush..... but they didn't listen.... they even beat God's Son and humiliated Him.

My sister and I were always smart enough to take the second warning. Prayer or no prayer.... we knew we were too loud and we knew we had to get serious about getting to sleep. If we didn't calm down and go to sleep.... Mom would soon get off the phone and Mom would have no qualms about using that switch or belt.... after all my sister and I put her through this routine often enough.... My sister and I knew better.

They call it Armageddon..... That's when God has had enough.... the phone is back in its cradle. The switch is out.... the kids didn't listen.....

And then my sister and I were the sweetest little girls..... we would go right to sleep.... wouldn't hear a peep out of us..... in the morning.... there would be cereal and smiles..... heaven.

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