Summary
In Isaiah 42, God declares the coming Servant who will bring judgment to the Gentiles with compassion and steadfastness, refusing to break a bruised reed or quench a weak spirit. The Servant’s role is to restore truth, bring law to distant isles, and illuminate darkness for the blind. God emphasizes His covenantal calling, offering the Servant as a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes, free prisoners, and bring out those in darkness. The passage declares God’s exclusive glory, His restraint in the past, and His imminent wrath against idolatry, especially the worship of false images. The Servant will guide people onto new paths, turning away from false idols, while God’s anger is directed at those who ignore His law. The chapter concludes with a lament about Israel’s neglect of God’s covenant, urging listening to God’s impending judgment.