10 Sing to the Lord a new song , Sing His praise from the end of the earth ! You who go down to the sea , and all that is in it. You islands , and those who dwell on them. 11 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices, The settlements where Kedar inhabits . Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud , Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains . 12 Let them give glory to the Lord And declare His praise in the coastlands .
13 The Lord will go forth like a warrior , He will arouse His zeal like a man of war . He will utter a shout , yes , He will raise a war cry . He will prevail against His enemies . 14 " I have kept silent for a long time , I have kept still and restrained Myself. Now like a woman in labor I will groan , I will both gasp and pant . 15 "I will lay waste the mountains and hills And wither all their vegetation ; I will make the rivers into coastlands And dry up the ponds . 16 "I will lead the blind by a way they do not know , In paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them And rugged places into plains . These are the things I will do , And I will not leave them undone ." 17 They will be turned back and be utterly put to shame , Who trust in idols , Who say to molten images , "You are our gods ."
18 Hear , you deaf ! And look , you blind , that you may see . 19 Who is blind but My servant , Or so deaf as My messenger whom I send ? Who is so blind as he that is at peace with Me, Or so blind as the servant of the Lord ? 20 You have seen many things , but you do not observe them; Your ears are open , but none hears . 21 The Lord was pleased for His righteousness' sake To make the law great and glorious . 22 But this is a people plundered and despoiled ; All of them are trapped in caves , Or are hidden away in prisons ; They have become a prey with none to deliver them, And a spoil , with none to say , "Give them back !" 23 Who among you will give ear to this ? Who will give heed and listen hereafter ? 24 Who gave Jacob up for spoil , and Israel to plunderers ? Was it not the Lord , against whom we have sinned , And in whose ways they were not willing to walk , And whose law they did not obey ? 25 So He poured out on him the heat of His anger And the fierceness of battle ; And it set him aflame all e around , Yet he did not recognize it; And it burned him, but he paid no attention e .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 42:10-25
Commentary on Isaiah 42:5-12
(Read Isaiah 42:5-12)
The work of redemption brings back man to the obedience he owes to God as his Maker. Christ is the light of the world. And by his grace he opens the understandings Satan has blinded, and sets at liberty from the bondage of sin. The Lord has supported his church. And now he makes new promises, which shall as certainly be fulfilled as the old ones were. When the Gentiles are brought into the church, he is glorified in them and by them. Let us give to God those things which are his, taking heed that we do not serve the creature more than the Creator.
Commentary on Isaiah 42:13-17
(Read Isaiah 42:13-17)
The Lord will appear in his power and glory. He shall cry, in the preaching of his word. He shall cry aloud in the gospel woes, which must be preached with gospel blessings, to awaken a sleeping world. He shall conquer by the power of his Spirit. And those that contradict and blaspheme his gospel, he shall put to silence and shame; and that which hinders its progress shall be taken out of the way. To those who by nature were blind, God will show the way to life and happiness by Jesus Christ. They are weak in knowledge, but He will make darkness light. They are weak in duty, but their way shall be plain. Those whom God brings into the right way, he will guide in it. This passage is a prophecy, and is also applicable to every believer; for the Lord will never leave nor forsake them.
Commentary on Isaiah 42:18-25
(Read Isaiah 42:18-25)
Observe the call given to this people, and the character given of them. Multitudes are ruined for want of observing that which they cannot but see; they perish, not through ignorance, but carelessness. The Lord is well-pleased in the making known his own righteousness. For their sins they were spoiled of all their possessions. This fully came to pass in the destruction of the Jewish nation. There is no resisting, nor escaping God's anger. See the mischief sin makes; it provokes God to anger. And those not humbled by lesser judgments, must expect greater. Alas! how many professed Christians are blind as the benighted heathen! While the Lord is well-pleased in saving sinners through the righteousness of Christ he will also glorify his justice, by punishing all proud despisers. Seeing God has poured out his wrath on his once-favoured people, because of their sins, let us fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of us should be found to come short of it.