Isaiah 42

Isaiah 42:1

MY servant] Christ, Matth. 12. 18 so called in regard of his humane nature and office of mediatourship. Chap. 49. 3. & 53. 11. Phil. 2. 7. on whom are all the promises of God founded, and ratified in him. 2 Corinthians 1:20.

whom I uphold] With whom I am, to strengthen, support, and enable to the work, which I have assigned him unto. Chap. 49. 5, 8. & 53. 10. John 16:32.

in whom my soul delighteth] Or, I delight; as Chap. 1. 14. Who alone is acceptable to me; Matthew 3:17. and Matthew 17:5. and no means of reconcilement, free accesse to me, and gracious acceptnce with me, but by him. John 14:6. Ephes. 1. 4, 6. & 2. 14. 18.

I have put my Spirit upon him] Chap. 11. 2. & 61. 1. John 3:34.

be shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles] He shall be their Governour; calling, and ruling them, by his Word and Spirit. Psalms 2:8. & Psalms 110:2. Chap. 2. 3. 4. & 49. 6.

Isaiah 42:2

He shall not crie, &c.] He shall not come with noise and pomp; as the manner of worldly princes is. Zechariah 9:9. Matthew 12:19. and Matthew 21:5.

Isaiah 42:3

A bruised reed shall he not break] He shall not deal harshly with weak and feeble ones; but support and comfort them. Chap. 40. 11.

the smoaking flax] Or, dimly burning week. Chap. 43. 17. shall he not quench] Heb. quench it; as Psal 1. 3. The candle-week that is almost out, and burneth but dimly, like one that hath well-neer lost his eye-sight, (Genesis 27:1. 1 Samuel 3:2. Zechariah 11:17.) he will not extinguish, but raise, trim, snuffe, supply, and make to burn brighter. Exodus 27:21. 1 Samuel 3:3.

he shall bring forth judgement unto truth] Though he favour the weak; yet will he not spare the wicked; but judge according to truth and equitie. Exodus 23:2-3; Exodus 23:6. Leviticus 19:15. Chap. 11. 3. 4.

Isaiah 42:4

nor be discouraged] Heb. broken. Eccl. 12. 6.

till he have set judgement in the earth] Till he have set all things in right and good order.

the isles shall wait for his law] The isles, or, lands; vers. 10. Chap. 41. 1. & 51. 5. Lands for people, nations; as Chap. 37. 18. The Gentiles shall willingly embrace his doctrine. Acts 2:42. & Acts 13:48. & Acts 14:1.

Isaiah 42:5

he that, &c.] The Almighty God; who created heaven and earth. Genesis 1:1. Chap. 40. 26. 28.

created the heavens] Chap. 48. 13. Zechariah 12:1.

stretched them out] As a curtain, or canopie: Psalms 104:2. Chap. 40. 22.

spread forth the earth] Made it appear above the waters, under which it lay as drowned before. Genesis 1:9. Psalms 136:6. Chap. 44. 24. 2 Pet. 3 3.

that which cometh out of it] Heb. the off-spring of it. Chap. 34. 1.

giveth breath] The breath of life. Genesis 2:7. Proverbs 24:27. Job 33:4.

Isaiah 42:6

called thee] My sonne, and servant. Psalms 2:8. vers. 1. Heb. 5. 4, 5.

in righteousnesse] In a just course; or, in faithfulnesse; to fulfill my promise. Chap. 1. 27. & 41. 2. & 46. 13. Acts 13:23; Acts 13:32-33.

withhold thine hand] To direct and assist thee. Psalms 16:8. Chap. 41. 13. & 45. 1.

for a covenant of the people] To be a Mediatour between me and my people, the Jews. Chap. 49. 8. Romans 15:8. Hebrews 7:22. & 12 24.

for a light of the Gentiles] To be a Saviour of the Gentiles, by bringing them out of spirituall darknesse into the light of grace and life. Chap. 9. 2. & 49. 6, 9. Luke 2:32. Acts 13:47. & Acts 26:18. Colossians 1:13.

Isaiah 42:7

To open the blinde eyes] To illighten their mind with the sound knowledge of saving truth. Chap. 35. 5. Acts 26:18. 2 Cor. 4. 4, 6. Eph. 1. 18. Revelation 3:18.

to bring out the prisoners] To deliver them ftom the thraldome of sin and Satan. Chap. 61. 1. Luke 4:18. Rom. 6. 6, 14. & 7. 24, 25. Galatians 1:4. Colossians 1. 13. 2 Timoth. 2. 26. Titus 2:14. Hebrews 2:14-15.

that sit in darknesse] Like close prisoners in a dungeon, into which light hath no accesse. Chap. 9. 2. Luke 1:79.

the prison-house] Heb. house of restraint. 1 Kings 22:27. Jeremiah 37:4. vers. 22.

Isaiah 42:8

the LORD, that is my name] Jehovah. Psalms 83:18. the name whereby I will in more speciall manner be known to my people, by making good all my gracious promises to them for their good. See Exodus 6. 3.

my glory will I not give to another] I will not suffer my glory to be diminished; as it would be, if I should fail in the performance of my promise, and thereby give idolaters occasion to advance their idols above me. Chap. 48. 11.

Isaiah 42:9

the former things are come to passe] As in times past I have been true in promises; so will I be for time to come. Joshua 1:5. & 23. 3, 5. 1 King. 8. 23-25.

Isaiah 42:10

a new song] An excellent one, or, of a new matter; such as formerly hath not been. Chap. 43. 19. Jeremiah 31:22. Psalms 33:3. & Psalms 6:1. & Psalms 98:1.

that go down to the sea] That use shipping. Psalms 107:23. Let all praise God every where, both by sea and by land. Psalms 96:11-12.

all that is therein] Heb. the fulnesse thereof. Chap. 34. 1.

the isles] Or, lands. vers. 4.

Isaiah 42:11

Let the wildernesse, &c.] Chap. 35. 1.

Kedar] The Arabians, or Ishmaelites. Genesis 25:13. Chap. 21. 17.

the rock] Or, Petra. Chap. 16. 1.

the top] Heb. Head. Chap. 2. 1.

of the mountains] Even those that are most savage; as those mountains usually were. Jeremiah 3:2.

Isaiah 42:12

the islands] Or, lands, countreys. Vers. 10.

Isaiah 42:13

he shall stirre up jealousie] To shew his zeal for his Church, and his might in saving and preserving it. Psalms 78:65.

a man of warre] Heb. warres. 1 Chronicles 28:3.

rore] Amos 1:2. & Amos 3:8.

prevail] Or, behave himself mightily: or, play the valiant man. Job 15:25.

Isaiah 42:14

holden my peace] Forborn executing judgement, and taking vengeance in behalf of my people. Psalms 50:21. & Psalms 83:1.

now will I crie like a travelling woman] I will now hasten the execution of it with all speed, without further delay; as if I travelled and were in pain, untill it were executed. Chap. 1. 24. & 65. 6. Luke 12:50.

destroy and devour] Heb. swallow, or sup up. Chap. 25. 8. & 28. 4. An allusion to ravenous wilde beasts, that suddenly shallow down what they have slain; or, slay and swallow at once. Psalms 124:3.

Isaiah 42:15

drie up] Chap. 50. 2.

I strnds] Or, drie lands. Jeremiah 47:4. vers. 10.

Isaiah 42:16

the blinde] My poor people, that are in much grief and perplexity. Psalms 6:7. & Psalms 31:9. & Psalms 38:10. or, that were by nature blinde, though illightened now by grace. John 9. 13, 17. Ephesians 5:8. Chap. 43. 8.

by a way that they knew not] I will lead them a new way; the way to peace and life; Luke 1:79. Hebrews 10:20. a way, they never went before; (as Jeremiah 16:13.) or, that they were never acquainted with before. Romans 15:20. John 14:6.

make darknesse light before them] Furnish them with light, going before them, as I did the Israelites in their passage to Canaan. Exodus 13:21.

crooked things streight] Heb. into streightnesse. Romove all impediments that might hinder their free passage. Chap. 40. 4. & 45. 2.

unto them] Or, for them. Chap. 26. 12.

Isaiah 42:17

turned back] As men forced to flee, or that turn their faces away for shame. Psalm. 40. 14. & 129. 5. See Psalm. 97. 7. Chap. 1. 29. & 44. 11. & 45. 16.

Isaiah 42:18

ye deaf, &c.] Ye among mine own people, that continue still spiritually deaf and blinde, notwithstanding the meanes of grace afforded you; or that are voluntarily such. Ezekiel 12:2.

Isaiah 42:19

my servant] Israel: that should have most light, and best sight, in regard of my law. Psal 147. 19, 20. Rom. 3. 1, 2. & 11. 25. 2 Corinthians 3:14.

my messenger] The Priests; unto whom Gods word was committed, both to hear it themselves, and to declare it to others. Deuteronomy 33:10. Malachi 2:7-8. Chap. 28. 7.

he that is perfect] The Priests and Prophets, that should be perfect and unblamable, that they might be lights and types to others, 1 Timothy 3:2. & 1 Timothy 4:12. Titus 2:7. but were blinde and bad guides, Chap. 3. 12. & 56. 10, 11. Matthew 15:14. & 23. 16, 19. Or, he that hath been recompensed and rewarded, 1 Samuel 2:4. 19. upon whom God hath bestowed many blessings: to wit, the Jewish people. Exodus 19:4-5. Deuteronomy 4:7. Amos 3:2.

Isaiah 42:20

Seeing, &c.] Deut. 29. 3, 4. Chap. 6. 9.

many things] So many of Gods wonderfull works wrought, either in, or for his Church. Deuteronomy 4:3. & Deuteronomy 11:7. Psalms 106:7.

but] Heb. and. as Chap. 29. 13.

observest not] Romans 2:20-23.

opening the ears] As if they did hearken, and desired to hear. Chap. 58. 2. Jeremiah 42:2-3; Jeremiah 42:5-6. Ezekiel 14:1. 3. & 33. 30. 31.

but] Heb. and.

heareth not] No more observe, or regard, then as if they heard not at all: Ezekiel 33:32. or, hear with the outward ear, but not with the inward; of which Chap. 50. 4, 5.

Isaiah 42:21

The LORD is well pleased for his righteousnesse sake, he will magnifie the law, and make it honourable] Gods pleasure is to magnifie his Law and honour it, as well by execution of judgement upon the transgressours of it, as by making good his promises unto those that observe it. Deuteronomy 33:2. & Deuteronomy 32:47. & 29. 19, 20. Or, God set his love and affection on this people; Deuteronomy 7:7. & Deuteronomy 33:3. and honoured them, by bestowing on them, and committing unto them, his Law. Deuteronomy 4:8. Psalms 147:19. 20. Chap. 43. 4. Rom. 2. 1, 2.

is well pleased] Or, delighted in him. Psalms 149:4. Chap. 62. 4.

his righteousnesse] His justice: or, his fidelitie, vers. 6. in fulfilling his promises made to their fathers. Deuteronomy 7:8.

he will magnifie the law] Or, to magnifie; or, that he magnifie: as Psalms 9:20. Or, he magnified and dignified him with his law: as Psal. 17. 13, 14.

it] Or, him.

Isaiah 42:22

But] Heb. And: as Chap. 53. 5. vers. 19.

robbed] Because they regard not the blessing of Gods word and grace vouchsafed them and tendred unto them, but wilfully shut their eyes and stop their ears against either, God will expose them to direption and thraldome without relief or release. Chap. 28. 13.

spoiled] Or, troden down Chap. 17. 14.

they are all of them snared in holes] Or, in snaring all the young men of them: as Chap. 40. 30. Taken, as birds or beasts in snares and pit-falls. Psalms 35:7. Chap. 24. 17. Lamentations 4:20. Ezekiel 17:20. & Ezekiel 19:4. 8, 9.

prison-houses] Heb. houses of restraints; or, persons restrained. Vers. 7.

a spoil] Heb. a treading. Jeremiah 30:16.

Isaiah 42:23

hearken, and hear] To reform himself, and for time to come grow wiser and better by the present afflictions; considering from whom, and for what they come. Jeremiah 9:12. Mic. 6. 9. Or, to grow wiser and more wary, by looking backward on judgements formerly inflicted. Vers. 24. Joshua 22:17. Nehem. 13. 18. Zech. 1. 5, 6.

for the time to come] Heb. for the after-time: or, for backward. Chap. 1. 4.

Isaiah 42:24

for] Or, because; or, yet: as Chap 9. 1.

Isaiah 42:25

the fury of his anger] Or, his wrath with fervour, or, fry, as vers. 21.

the strength of battell] Or, warre: that is, forain forces of great strength sent in upon him. Chap. 21. 15. & 36. 2.

it hath set him on fire round about] Wasted his countrey with fire and sword; and set all on a light fire. Chap. 9. 18. 19.

he knew not] He taketh no notice of it. Hosea 7:9. such was their extream stupiditie; not sensible of Gods judgements present upon them. Jeremiah 5:3.