The following commentary covers Chapters 41, 42, and 43.
Cyrus
raised up to overthrow idolatry: Israel the elect servant
of God
Chapter 41 begins the
historical details which prove this. Who raised up Cyrus
to overthrow idolatry? But in the midst of the havoc he
made of it, Israel is the elect servant of God, the seed
of Abraham [1]
(this title of "servant" is a key to the rest
of the book). He is not to fear: God will uphold him; and
they that strive with him shall perish. God will hearken
to His poor, and minister to their need. The besotted
idolaters of the nations know nothing of what God is
about to do in judgment and for the deliverance of His
people.
But although Cyrus is
Jehovah's instrument for inflicting judgment and for
delivering His people, this is but a passing and partial
thing. Above all this there is a servant of God, His
elect, who will appear in humility and without
pretension, but who shall not fail nor be discouraged,
till He have set judgment in the earth; and the isles of
the Gentiles shall receive His law (chap. 42). This
testimony was needful, and secures the blessing of Israel
by the unfailing purpose and grace of God; but nothing
more is said of the Messiah in this part of the prophecy.
The result of bringing in the work of the Messiah is the
glory of Jehovah, who alone in fact shall be glorified,
and that unto the ends of the earth. In the manifestation
of this glory He who had for a long time held His peace,
will deliver His blind and deaf people Israel, who had
not understood His ways. He will magnify His law. But why
then are the people robbed and spoiled? Jehovah had given
them up because of their disobedience.
But now He delivers and
saves them (chap. 43). He created them for His glory. The
blind have eyes; the deaf, ears; they are witnesses that
Jehovah alone is God. The judgments on Babylon—the
commencement and the figure of the final judgments [2] —prove this. Jehovah had
formed this people for Himself, and the people had grown
weary of their God; and, as it were, had made Him to
serve with their sins. But now He pardons it all for His
own glory. Glorious and striking testimony of Him who, in
grace to the sinner when the sin becomes unbearable, puts
away the sin instead of the sinner! This is what God has
done through Christ.
[1] It will be remarked that, though
there is the fullest discovery of Israel's sin, yet these
chapters are the expression of grace and sovereign
goodness, and a remnant preserved; not the responsibility
of the nation and judgment.
Isaiah 43 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
Cyrus raised up to overthrow idolatry: Israel the elect servant of God
Chapter 41 begins the historical details which prove this. Who raised up Cyrus to overthrow idolatry? But in the midst of the havoc he made of it, Israel is the elect servant of God, the seed of Abraham [1] (this title of "servant" is a key to the rest of the book). He is not to fear: God will uphold him; and they that strive with him shall perish. God will hearken to His poor, and minister to their need. The besotted idolaters of the nations know nothing of what God is about to do in judgment and for the deliverance of His people.
But although Cyrus is Jehovah's instrument for inflicting judgment and for delivering His people, this is but a passing and partial thing. Above all this there is a servant of God, His elect, who will appear in humility and without pretension, but who shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth; and the isles of the Gentiles shall receive His law (chap. 42). This testimony was needful, and secures the blessing of Israel by the unfailing purpose and grace of God; but nothing more is said of the Messiah in this part of the prophecy. The result of bringing in the work of the Messiah is the glory of Jehovah, who alone in fact shall be glorified, and that unto the ends of the earth. In the manifestation of this glory He who had for a long time held His peace, will deliver His blind and deaf people Israel, who had not understood His ways. He will magnify His law. But why then are the people robbed and spoiled? Jehovah had given them up because of their disobedience.
But now He delivers and saves them (chap. 43). He created them for His glory. The blind have eyes; the deaf, ears; they are witnesses that Jehovah alone is God. The judgments on Babylon—the commencement and the figure of the final judgments [2] —prove this. Jehovah had formed this people for Himself, and the people had grown weary of their God; and, as it were, had made Him to serve with their sins. But now He pardons it all for His own glory. Glorious and striking testimony of Him who, in grace to the sinner when the sin becomes unbearable, puts away the sin instead of the sinner! This is what God has done through Christ.
[1] It will be remarked that, though there is the fullest discovery of Israel's sin, yet these chapters are the expression of grace and sovereign goodness, and a remnant preserved; not the responsibility of the nation and judgment.
[2] That is, earthly judgments.