Who is the “servant” in the words, “Behold my servant, whom I uphold”?

The “servant” here is the promised Messiah, fulfilled in Jesus Christ. God calls him “my servant” because he took on a humble role to carry out God’s saving plan. He is also called “mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth,” showing that God chose him and fully delights in him. God puts his Spirit on this servant so that he can carry out a work too great for any ordinary person: bringing justice, healing, and light, not only to Israel but also to the nations who had been in spiritual darkness.

What does it mean that a bruised reed he will not break and smoking flax he will not quench?

The picture of a bruised reed and a smoking flax (a dimly burning wick) shows people who are weak, hurt, or barely hanging on in faith. God’s servant does not snap the bruised reed or snuff out the faint flame. Instead, he deals gently with struggling people, supports the broken, and fans weak faith instead of crushing it. At the same time, he still brings true justice, so his gentleness does not mean he ignores sin. It means he is patient and kind with those who are low and needy.

What does it mean that the servant is given as a covenant and a light of the Gentiles?

When God says, “I will give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles,” he is saying that this servant himself is the way God’s promises are carried out. Through him, God enters into a new, living relationship with his people. He is also a light for those outside Israel, opening blind eyes and freeing those trapped in spiritual darkness and bondage. So salvation is not limited to one nation. Through this servant, people from every place can be brought into God’s grace and truth.

What are the “new things” God declares and why is there a call for a new song?

God points to “former things” that have already come to pass and then speaks of “new things” he declares before they happen. These new things are centered on the coming servant, his gentle rule, light for the nations, and the freeing of the blind and prisoners. Because this work is greater and wider than what people had known before, the right response is a “new song.” That means fresh praise that fits these fresh mercies, rising from the sea, the islands, the wilderness, and distant peoples who now share in God’s salvation.

Why does God suddenly speak like a mighty warrior and a travailing woman in this passage?

At first, God describes his servant as quiet and gentle, not crying out in the streets. Later, God himself is pictured as a mighty man and even as a woman in labor, crying out and rushing to act. This shows that God’s patience has limits. He had long held his peace while people clung to idols and ignored him. Now he says he will act powerfully, both to judge his enemies and to rescue his people. The strong images show his deep concern and his readiness to step in with force after a time of delay.

Who are the “blind” and “deaf” in the middle of the chapter, and why are they called God’s servant?

The passage speaks of blind and deaf people who see many things but do not observe and who hear but do not truly listen. Here, the focus shifts from the faithful servant to Israel as a whole, including leaders who should have been God’s messengers. They had God’s law and many signs of his care, but they did not walk in his ways. So they are called blind and deaf servants, a painful contrast to the obedient servant at the start. This explains why they ended up robbed, trapped, and under God’s anger.

What does this passage teach about why Israel suffered and how God responds?

Near the end, the passage asks who gave Jacob and Israel to be plundered and answers that it was the LORD, the one they had sinned against. They would not walk in his ways or obey his law, so he poured out his anger and allowed battle and fire to surround them. Yet even then, they did not take it to heart. At the same time, earlier in the chapter God promises not to forsake those he leads. So their suffering shows both God’s holy anger against sin and his ongoing plan to restore through his servant.

How can this passage encourage someone who feels weak, guilty, or stuck in darkness?

This passage shows a servant who does not crush the bruised or put out the faintly burning wick. If you feel weak or broken, that is exactly the kind of person he deals gently with. He comes with God’s Spirit to open blind eyes, lead people in paths they did not know, make darkness light, and free those who sit in prison-like bondage. At the same time, it warns against clinging to idols or hardening the heart. The comfort is that if you turn to this servant, he will not cast you off or leave you alone.

Isa.42.1

Isaiah 42:1

Q: Why does God say, “My glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images”?

God reminds everyone that he alone created the heavens and earth, gives breath and spirit to people, and controls history. Because of who he is, he will not share his glory with idols made by human hands. To give worship to carved images is to rob God of what belongs to him. In this passage, that warning sits beside the promise of the servant. The same God who refuses to share his glory with idols chooses to reveal his glory through his servant and calls people to turn from false gods to him alone.

KJV GOD Jesus Holy Spirit

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.

Here Is My Servant

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.

2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

5 ¶ Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

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;

7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

8 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

A New Song of Praise

10 Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.

11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

12 Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands.

13 The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.

14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.

15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

17 ¶ They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.

Israel Is Deaf and Blind

18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.

19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’S servant?

20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

21 The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.

22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?

24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.

25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

Cross References

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