Isaiah 42 Scofield
Read Isaiah 42 · Matthew Henry on Isaiah 42
42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
“for a light of the Gentiles”
The prophets connect the Gentiles with Christ in a threefold way"
(1) as the Light He brings salvation to the Gentiles Luke 2:32; Acts 13:47; Acts 13:48
(2) as the "Root of Jesse" He is to reign over the Gentiles in His kingdom. Isa 11:10; Rom 15:12. He saves the Gentiles, which is the distinctive feature of this present age.; Rom 11:17–24; Eph 2:11; Eph 2:12 He reigns over the Gentiles in the kingdom-age, to follow this. See "Kingdom (O.T.),"; Gen 1:26–28; Zech 12:8.
(3) Believing Gentiles in the present age, together with believing Jews, constitute "the church which is His body." (See Scofield "Eph 3:6")
42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
“former things”
That is, Isaiah's prediction of Sennacherib's invasion and its results, Isaiah 10, 37. See also, (Isa 41:21–23); (Isa 43:8–12); (Isa 44:7); (Isa 48:3); (Isa 48:5); (Isa 48:16). This appeal of the prophet to the fulfilment of his former predictions strongly confirms the unity of the book.
Public domain (1917). Text from the BibleSupport.com e-Sword module.
42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
“servant”
There is a twofold account of the Coming Servant:
(1) he is represented as weak, despised, rejected, slain:
(2) and also as a mighty conqueror, taking vengeance on the nations and restoring Israel (e.g. Isa 40:10; Isa 63:1–4). The former class of passages relate to the first advent, and are fulfilled; the latter to the second advent, and are unfulfilled.