Bring Justice to the Nations (Isaiah 42)

"I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth" (Isa 42:1,3,4).

This is the first of Isaiah's four Servant Songs, fulfilled in Christ. He is the servant of the Lord. He is God's alternative to our idols (Isa 41:22). He is not an abomination but a delight (Isa 42:1). He also stands in contrast with Cyprus the conqueror who "steps on people" (Isa 41:25b). But Jesus did not break a bruised reed nor snuff out a smoldering wick (Isa 42:3; Mt 12:15-21).

What does Isaiah mean by the word translated "justice"? "Justice" is the key word in 42:1-4. The Hebrew word translated "justice" in Isa 42:1,3,4 is mishpat. In many ways it is the antonym of "confusion" or "chaos" (Isa 41:29) [tohu]. It is much more than merely legality or legal correctness, as "justice" has come to connote in English. Mishpat is used in Ex 26:30 of the plan for the tabernacle, the blueprint God revealed from Heaven. In an analogous way, God has a blueprint for human existence. God knows how human beings and human society can be at their best. He knows how to make us happy and fulfilled. And through his servant Jesus he's bringing his plan down from Heaven, to reorder human civilization in a beautiful way. God's kingdom will come, and his will will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, and we were made for it.

Mishpat includes within its scope all our longings for a better life and a better world. A just world, to Isaiah, is human society as God means it to be, with no corrupting idolatries. Slums, poverty, oppression, illiteracy, pollution, human misery in all its forms prove that we are arranging human life according to idolatrous ideals. That's why people always end up shoving each other into the ground, just as Cyprus (Isa 41:25) and many with power and authority do.

Injustice is more than a political dysfunction. It is a spiritual evil, a denial of God. The world is in such a mess that it's beyond our powers of correction. Yet God desires that we work for a better society (Amos 5:24).

Thus, mishpat has the idea of "right order." This explains why it is often paralleled to tsedeq, which is usually translated "righteousness" but simply has the idea of "doing the right thing." Thus mishpat has a much larger pool of connotations than does our word "justice." To be sure, a world where the innocent are punished and the oppressors go free is a world where mishpat is lacking. The word contains everything we think of as "justice," but it contains more than that as well. Isaiah is saying that the coming Messiah will do all that is necessary to restore God's right order on the earth.

Light for the Nations (42:1-17, 18-25) [Kidner]

1. The first "Servant Song" (1-9).
2. The world acclaims its Master (10-12).
3. The Lord declares his zeal (13-17).
4. Blind leaders of the blind (18-25).
   

The great solution: The Servant's mission to the Gentile world [Motyer]

1. Justice on earth (1-4).
   
2. Confirmation by Yahweh of his plan for his Servant (5-9).
3. The world sings in response (10-12).
4. The cause for praise (13).
5. Yahweh speaks: How he sees his coming actions (14-17).
6. A servant who cannot be the Servant (18-25).
   

God's servant brings justice and is a light to the nations (42:1-13; 14-25) [Smith]

1. God's chosen servant will establish justice on earth (1-4).
2. God's servant will be a covenant and light (5-9).
3. Sing a hymn of praise to glorify God (10-13).
4. The blind are not forsaken (14-17).
   
5. The blind servant's sins result in punishment (18-25).
   

A Delusion, a Servant, a New Song (41:21-42:17) [Ortland]

1. A Delusion (41:21-29): "Behold, they are all a delusion" (41:29).
• God sues the idols for false advertising (21-24).
• God proves his own ability to activate history (25-27).
• God dismisses the idols as a delusion (28-29).
  
2. A Servant (42:1-9).
• The servant will bring perfection to the nations (1-4).
• God will discredit the idols through his servant (5-9).
  
3. A New Song (42:10-17).
• The whole world is invited to worship God (10-12).
• God will rid the world of all idol-worship (13-17).
  

No Reason to Fear (Isaiah 41)

"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you," declares the Lord, "and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel" (Isa 41:10, 14, NASB).

Fear. If we are able to not fear about anything regarding our life and future, life would be such a happy, joyful and peaceful endeavor. But alas, fear arises in our hearts, often seemingly out of nowhere. We fear everything from vague uncertainties to an increasingly likelihood of a Trump presidency!

If Isaiah 40 is about starting over on a new day, Isaiah 41 is about starting over with a new attitude. Isaiah 40 is about having hope. Isaiah 41 is about having confidence with no fear.

God and History (41:1-29) [Derek Kidner, New Bible Commentary]

1. God's challenge to the nations  (1-7).
2. God's servant reassured (8-20).
3. God's challenge renewed (21-29).
   

God, his people, and the nations (41:1-29) [Barry Webb]

1. The nations on trial (1-7, 21-29).
2. Israel, God's servant (8-20).
   

The Reality of God in an Unreal World (41:1-20) [Ray Ortland, God Saves Sinners]

1. God alone activates history (1-7).
1. God invites the nations to settle a question (1).
2. Who controls history? "I, the Lord" (2-4).
3. The nations flee to their idols (5-7).
   
2. God alone emboldens us (8-20).
1. He upholds his fearful servant (8-13).
2. He transforms his worm into a threshing sledge (14-16).
3. He refreshes his thirsty pilgrims (17-20).
   

John Oswalt (41:1-20).

1. God's Challenge to the Nations (1).
2. God's Activities as Evidence (2-7).
3. No Need for God's People to Fear (8-20).
   

Alec Motyer (41:1-20)

1. Who rules the world? (1-4)
2. A hopeless reaction: Make new gods! (5-7)
3. By contrast: Life with Yahweh--three pictures (8-10).
1. Picture 1: Victory for the weak (8-13).
2. Picture 2: Transformation for the negligible (14-16).
3. Picture 3: Provision for the needy (17-20).
4. The wider Gentile world (21-29).
1. Gentile need exposed (21-24).
2. Yahweh by contrast (25-27).
3. Summary in conclusion: The plight of the Gentile world (28-29).
   

Starting Over on a New Day (Isaiah 40:1-11; 12-26; 27-31)

Isaiah 40: A New Day. A New Beginning. Starting Over. Soar Like An Eagle.

Isaiah 40 begins a major new section of the book. Isaiah is no longer addressing Judah in his own day. He is being projected by the Holy Spirit out into the future, like the Apostle John in Revelation. He is looking into his prophetic crystal ball, so to speak, seeing a future day and declaring the gospel to the Jews languishing in Babylonian exile. He is saying to them and to us, "God has not abandoned you. Your best days are still ahead. God has a purpose of grace for you better than ever. He is coming to save you. Believe it, and let this hope fill your sails." [Ray Ortland]

The Motive and Means of Servanthood is Grace (Isaiah 40-55). The dominant idea of Isaiah 40-55 is the undeserved grace of God. This is what will motivate people to trust God, just as was intimated in Isaiah 12. When God delivers his people without any deserving on their part, they will at last be willing to cast themselves on him without reservation. If Isaiah 7-39 were about trust as the basis for servanthood, Isaiah 40-55 are about grace as the motive and the means of servanthood.

Isaiah 40 has two main subdivisions: 1-11 and 12-26 with 27-31 as a summary conclusion. [John Oswalt]

1. 1-11 addresses whether God has cast his people away. Echoing Isaiah 12, where this event is anticipated, God speaks not judgment but comfort. He will deliver them, and they will be in a position to tell the world of the deliverance.
2. 12-26 speaks of God's ability to deliver them. God is the incomparable God, like whom there is no other. The nations of the earth are nothing to him, so they need not fear that they have been abandoned.
3. 27-31 says that God's people need only to wait in hope for God will do what he promised and deliver them.

New Bible Commentary [Derek Kidner]

1. The long-awaited Lord (1-11).
2. God the incomparable (12-31).
1. The Creator (12-20).
2. The Disposer (21-26).
3. The very present help (27-31).
   

God's Glory, Our Comfort (40:1-11) [Ray Ortland]; The Long Awaited Lord [Derek Kidner]

1. The occasion (1-2). The gentle voice.
   
2. The content (3-5). The herald's call.
   
3. The certainty (6-8). The preacher's word.
   
4. The spreading (9-11). The crier's news.
   

God's Uniqueness, Our Assurance (40:12-26) [Ortland] God is...

1. The wise Creator (12-13).
2. The immense Lord over the nations (15-17).
3. God alone is God (18-20).
4. The active Lord over world leaders (21-24).
   
5. The watchful Creator (25-26).
   

God's Greatness, Our Renewal (40:27-31) [Ortland]

1. Our despair (27).
2. God's greatness (28-29).
3. Our renewal (30-31).
   

Confrontation, Consolation, Conquest (Isaiah 1-39, 40-55, 56-66)

Isaiah 1-66 in broad strokes

Chapters	Isaiah 1-39	Isaiah 40-55	Isaiah 56-66
Tone	Confrontation	Consolation	Conquest
Thrust	Conviction	Comfort	Character
Theme	Trust	Grace	Power

An Acts 20 Christian

Acts 20:17-38

1. One always lives transparently among people (Ac 20:18).
2. Serving God with humility and tears while severely tested (Ac 20:19).
3. Preaching publicly from house to house (Ac 20:20).
4. Everyone must turn to God in repentance and faith (Ac 20:21).
5. No anxiety about not knowing what will happen in the future (Ac 20:22).
6. No problem with facing prison and hardships (Ac 20:23).
7. Life's only aim of always testifying to the gospel of the grace of God (Ac 20:24).
8. Able to let go of his disciples and not see them again (Ac 20:25).
9. Innocent of not hurting others (Ac 20:26).
10. Proclaiming the whole counsel of God (Ac 20:27).
11. Keeping watch over oneself and others (Ac 20:28).
12. Aware of savage opposition toward the weak and vulnerable (Ac 20:29).
13. Betrayal and distortion of the truth from within (Ac 20:30).
14. Repeated urgent constant daily warning to be on guard (Ac 20:31).
15. Not holding onto but committing others to God (Ac 20:32).
16. No coveting of what is desired (Ac 20:33).
17. Responsible to support oneself (Ac 20:34).
18. Working hard to help the weak (Ac 20:35a).
19. True blessedness is in giving, not receiving (Ac 20:35b).
20. Collective prayer, weeping, embracing and grieving (Ac 20:36-38).