- Isaiah 42 (Contemporary English Version)
- Here is my servant! I have made him strong. He is my chosen one; I am pleased with him. I have given him my Spirit, and he will bring justice to the nations.
- He won't shout or yell or call out in the streets.
- He won't break off a bent reed or put out a dying flame, but he will make sure that justice is done.
- He won't quit or give up until he brings justice everywhere on earth, and people in foreign nations long for his teaching.
- I am the LORD God. I created the heavens like an open tent above. I made the earth and everything that grows on it. I am the source of life for all who live on this earth, so listen to what I say.
- I chose you to bring justice, and I am here at your side. I selected and sent you to bring light and my promise of hope to the nations.
- You will give sight to the blind; you will set prisoners free from dark dungeons.
- My name is the LORD! I won't let idols or humans share my glory and praise.
- Everything has happened just as I said it would; now I will announce what will happen next.
- Tell the whole world to sing a new song to the LORD! Tell those who sail the ocean and those who live far away to join in the praise.
- Tell the tribes of the desert and everyone in the mountains to celebrate and sing.
- Let them announce his praises everywhere.
- The LORD is marching out like an angry soldier, shouting with all his might while attacking his enemies.
- For a long time, I, the LORD, have held my temper; now I will scream and groan like a woman giving birth.
- I will destroy the mountains and what grows on them; I will dry up rivers and ponds.
- I will lead the blind on roads they have never known; I will guide them on paths they have never traveled. Their road is dark and rough, but I will give light to keep them from stumbling. This is my solemn promise.
- Everyone who worships idols as though they were gods will be terribly ashamed.
- You people are deaf and blind, but the LORD commands you to listen and to see.
- No one is as blind or deaf as his messenger, his chosen servant,
- who sees and hears so much, but pays no attention.
- The LORD always does right, and so he wanted his Law to be greatly praised.
- But his people were trapped and imprisoned in holes with no one to rescue them. All they owned had been taken, and no one was willing to give it back.
- Why won't his people ever learn to listen?
- Israel sinned and refused to obey the LORD or follow his instructions. So the LORD let them be robbed of everything they owned.
- He was furious with them and punished their nation with the fires of war. Still they paid no attention. They didn't even care when they were surrounded and scorched by flames.
The Servant Messiah will come to do what the servant Israel failed to do - to help bring the world to a knowledge of God. The Servant Messiah will bring justice to the nations, will be gentle, will not be boisterous or engage in conflict, and will not grow weak or discouraged before His task is completed. (42:1-4) By contrast, the servant Israel has become blind and deaf. She has become disobedient. (42:18-25) Regarding the Servant Messiah, the Lord will "hold you by your hand. I will keep you, and I make you a covenant for the people and a light to the nations." (42:6) But concerning servant Israel, the Lord will give her over to robbers and plunderers because of her disobedience.
Up to this point the Lord God has remained quiet and restrained Himself, but now He will no longer allow His glory to be given to another, or His praise to idols as servant Israel has done. Those who trust in idols and call metal-plated images their gods will be put to shame. Therefore, the Lord will "lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them, and rough places into level ground." (42:16) But the Lord will not forsake them.
The time has come to "Sing a new song to the Lord; sing His praise from the ends of the earth."
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