Today let’s begin to look at Isaiah 42.

I. The Lord’s servant, Jesus Christ (vs. 1)
First let’s look at verse 1.
Vs. 1
“My servant” refers to the Messiah, Jesus Christ who is to come in the course of time. This is quoted in the New Testament. Please open your Bibles to Matt. 12:17 to 21.
On a Sabbath day Jesus entered the synagogue and there was “a man with a shriveled hand.” (Matt. 12:10) The scholars of the law and the Pharisees were desperately trying to find an excuse to accuse Jesus. It is right to do good on the Sabbath so Jesus healed the man. Of course the Pharisees were going to accuse Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, but Jesus knew that and left there. Then those who followed him were all healed. However, Jesus commanded them not to tell others about him. That was because his time had not come yet. The time for him to be put on the cross had not come yet. Therefore, he commanded them not to tell other people about him. Matthew said this was to fulfill what was written in the book of Isaiah and quotes Isaiah 42:1-4 in Matt. 12:18 to 21. Therefore, “My servant” (1) is Jesus Christ. Isaiah prophesized that Jesus would be born 700 years before he was born.
“my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.” (1) This too you know was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Please look at Matt. 3:16 and 17.
Matt. 3:16, 17
This is when Jesus became 30 years old. It is the spectacle of when Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River. From this time on Jesus entered into his public ministry. The beginning was his baptism. At that time there was voice from heaven, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17) The Father God is pleased with his Son, Jesus Christ as a faithful servant. In other words, Jesus is really acknowledged by God, the heavenly Father, as the child of God. He was God’s faithful servant. All that Jesus does pleases God and is acceptable to God. At the very least it is o.k. to say that this is positive proof that Jesus is God’s Son, the Savior.
“At that moment heaven was opened, and …the Spirit of God” (Matt. 3:16) descended on Jesus like a dove. This means that when Jesus was baptized by water, at the same time he was baptized by the Holy Spirit. It is just as it says in Isaiah 42:1, “I will put my Spirit on him.” God’s servant, Jesus, received a pouring of the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit on him. By the power of the Holy Spirit Jesus began the work of God. Jesus is a model to us of the need to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to do the work of the Lord. Today Christians who believe in Jesus are given the same power. Open your Bibles to Acts 1:8.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you too will receive God’s strength, and “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) you will be able to do God’s work. Without that strength we can’t do anything. It is truly by receiving the power of the Holy Spirit that we can do great works of God.

II. The humbled Servant of God with a kind heart (Vs. 2-4)
Next, please look at verses 2 to 4. “He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his law the islands will put their hope.”
“He” (2) is the “servant”. (1) “He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.” (2) This does not mean that just as it says, Jesus never shouted, cried out or raised his voice. Jesus during 3 and half years, threw out demons, healed the sick and raised his voice proclaiming the kingdom of God. Therefore, this is not meant to be literally understood. This is how Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God. Also Jesus’ ministry of proclamation was completely quiet and inconspicuous. Jesus didn’t flaunt himself. He didn’t gather people together for a huge evangelistic meeting. Jesus just chose 12 fameless disciples and while living with them proclaimed the kingdom of God. There weren’t any powerful or rich men. Many of them were fishermen. In other words, they were uneducated, average people. Among them were former tax collectors. There were zealous party members but there was no one with authority, riches, or who was famous. They were quite common, unknown, unsophisticated people. It was through such people that the Gospel was proclaimed.
Therefore, John the Baptist who had been put in prison sent two of his disciples to Jesus and asked Jesus, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Luke 7:20) John should not have had to ask such a question sine he himself had announced the coming of the Messiah. He had been languishing in prison for months and the work of Jesus had not brought the results he apparently expected. Jesus’ preaching was quiet and inconspicuous. He did “not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.” (2)
That’s not all. Here it says, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.” (3) A “reed” (3) is weak and easily bent when the wind blows. Moreover, this is ”a bruised reed”. (3) It is a bruised and damaged reed. The reed is just about to break. It’s completely worthless. The “servant“(1) “will not break” (3) the bruised and damaged reed saying, “you are no good”, but will kindly watch over it and support it. The “servant” (1) will mend lives.
Also here it says, “a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. “ (3) “A smoldering wick”(3) is useless because it is no longer giving light. However, the “servant” (1) does not say to those whose faith is just about to die out, “I don’t need this anymore and snuff it out”, but instead blows it up into a flame. For example, if you think that you are losing your faith, the “servant” (1) will not “raise his voice” (2) or do something that stands out, but gently blow your heart into a burning flame.
Matt. 11:28 & 29
This is what our Savior Jesus Christ is like. He is “gentle and humble in heart.” (Matt. 11:29) Therefore, even if we are “a bruised reed he will not break” (3) us or if we are “a smoldering wick he will not snuff (3) us out, but will mend our lives and blow our hearts into a burning flame and give us “rest for” (Matt. 11:29) our souls.
That’s not all. In verse 4 it says, “he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.” This means that the “servant” (1) does not give up, fail or become “discouraged”. (4) No matter what difficulties he faces, he does not give up, and he will never fail. No matter how badly people resist and attack him, he doesn’t get discouraged, and completes his commission to the end, “till he establishes justice on earth.” (4) That is because God is “the Creator of the ends of the earth.” (40:28) Let’s read 40:28-31 one more time.
“Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom,
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
This is the Lord’s “servant” (1), the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. To believe in and walk with him is so encouraging! Let’s look to him.

III. The light of the nations (Vs. 5-9)
Lastly let’s look at verses 5 to 9. First please look at verses 5 to 7. “This is what God the LORD says-he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it; 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, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”
The “you” of verse 6 is the Lord’s “servant” of verse 1. It is Jesus Christ. God “who created the heavens” (5) and earth and who gives breath “(5) and life to people has called the Lord’s “servant”. (1) The commission that God has given him is “to be a covenant for the people” (6) to be “a light” (6) so that they will be saved. He is to open eyes that are blind,” (7) and “to free captives from prison.” (7) He is not only to set free those who are physically and politically bound, but also those who are spiritually bound and set them free from sin.
Just as this prophecy says, 700 years after this prophecy, God’s child, the Messiah, the Savior came into this world. Then he saved those who were in darkness who were blind in the midst of their sin and ignorance. By Christ being put on the cross and dying and 3 days later rising again he set free the people who were bound by sin.
In John 9 the opening of the eyes of the man who had been born blind is recorded. In response to the disciples question, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”, (John 9:2) Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned…but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (John 9:3) The blind man’s eyes were opened. That means that now only were his eyes opened, but also his spiritual eyes were opened too.
“Who sinned…that he was born blind?” (John 9:2) is a question that we often ask. All those people who have not had their spiritual eyes opened can only have such a near sighted point of view. However, people who believe in Jesus and have had their eyes

opened can see God’s glory in the background of all events. “Neither this man nor his parents sinned…but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed.” (John 9:3) In this person’s life how full of comfort this light was!
Hajime Suetomi, a missionary sent to Turkey came and gave his testimony at our church. For many years he worked in the building field and he wasn’t a Christian then. However, in 2002 he became a Christian through a happening in his life. He went even so far as to become a missionary.
At that time he was arrested for what was a customary business transaction which violated commercial law. He was put in jail. His wife who was already a Christian brought him a Bible. During the 2 years and 11 months that he was in jail, he read the Bible desperately. At last he believed in Jesus. He repented of his sin, believed in Jesus and was saved. After that he began to live a life of walking in faith. At that time he was 63 years old. He said the following about his mind at that time.
“However, at that time I still didn’t have any idea that I was going to as a missionary share about this grace overseas, moreover I had no idea I was going to share to Moslems either.”
At that time it never even entered his mind that he would become a missionary. However, when a person believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord, and begins a life of following God, God can use him no matter what kind of person he is. About 3 years after Mr. Suetomi was saved, when he became the age of 66 (now he is 71), he became a missionary. He and his wife were sent to Turkey, and are evangelizing in an extremely pagan area.
When he became near to the end of his life, why was he arrested and put in jail? That was for God’s glory.
Many of us are now walking in the dark, we are bound in prison. God has sent his “servant” (1) to this darkness “to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” (7) That is Jesus Christ.
In verses 8 and 9 it says, “I am the LORD; that is my name!
I will not give my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you.

This LORD is Yahweh which is the Lord’s name. It means “I am who I am.” (Exodus 3:14) It means that God exists of himself. He isn’t dependent on anything. In other words, God is perfect and his glory is perfect so it is never darkened nor does it change. That is God’s glory. This glory is hardly appropriate for idols. He doesn’t give his “praise to idols.” (8) This glory is appropriate for only the Lord, God’s “servant,” (1) the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord declares “new things”. (9) “The former things” (9) are things that “have taken place”. (9) These are probably the predictions that Isaiah had made that have already been accomplished. They happened just as they had been prophesized they would. The Lord who declared these “former things”(9) is now declaring “new things”. (9) That is concerning the Lord’s “servant,” (1) the Messiah. This will definitely happen. By this “servant” (1) we will definitely see God’s glory. He is truly our Savior Jesus Christ who saves us from our sin.
In verse 1 are the words, “Here is my servant”. God is introducing his servant to us. God introduces him as “my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.” (1) In chapter 41 we are told to “see” (41:29) that the idols “are all false! Their deeds amount to nothing.” (41:29) However, this “servant” is different. This is the Savior that will bring us God’s kingdom. “Here he is: Jesus Christ, God’s servant, the Messiah!
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts. 4:12)
Depend on him and put all in his hands. Even if you don’t know what the future holds, he knows everything about you including your future. He is able to declare “new things”(9) to you. He is the Savior that can save you. Therefore, to put all in his hands is the wisest thing to do. Though we don’t know what is ahead of us and we worry, and even if by our own strength we desperately try to open the future, there is no guarantee. Sometimes things go contrary to our expectations. However, God will definitely not betray our expectations. God through his own “servant” (1) became our salvation. Therefore, you can put all in his hands. You can put your future in his hands. That is the wisest thing to do. God has promised you that through his own “servant” (1) he will bring you “justice (God’s kingdom) on earth.” (4) What you must do is depend on the Lord’s “servant”, the Savior Jesus Christ and put all of your life in his hands. Then God will perform a mighty work in your life.