We continue moving through Isaiah, a section filled with “favorite verses.” Today, a clear Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 42:

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

• I have put my Spirit upon him;
• he will bring forth justice to the nations.
• He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;
• a bruised reed he will not break, and
• a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
• he will faithfully bring forth justice.
• He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. (Isaiah 42.1 – 4, ESV)

The Gospel of Mathew cites it:

But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him (after healing someone(!)…on the Sabbath).

Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12.14 – 21, ESV)

Wait! There’s more about the Messiah in Isaiah 42:

• I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness;
• I will take you by the hand and keep you;
• I will give you as a covenant for the people,
• a light for the nations,
  • to open the eyes that are blind,
  • to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. (Isaiah 42.6, 7, ESV)

There’s also a promise for guidance:

And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. (Isaiah 42.16, ESV)

And, as Eugene Peterson pointed out, even though the predominant themes of chapters 1 – 39 is judgment, and 40 – 55 is comfort, and 56 – 56 is hope, all three themes are sprinkled throughout. Here’s a judgment section in Isaiah 42:

Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see! Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the LORD? He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear.

The LORD was pleased, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious. But this is a people plundered and looted…Who among you will give ear to this, will attend and listen for the time to come? Who gave up Jacob to the looter, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, in whose ways they would not walk, and whose law they would not obey? (Isaiah 42.18 – 24, ESV)

Back to Jesus:

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3.16, 17, ESV)