Isaiah:42

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* Verse 1-4 - This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ , Matthew strkjv @12:17 . Let our souls rely on him , and rejoice in him ; then , for his sake , the Father will be well-pleased with us . The Holy Spirit not only came , but rested upon him , and without measure . He patiently bore the contradiction of sinners . His kingdom is spiritual ; he was not to appear with earthly honours . He is tender of those oppressed with doubts and fears , as a bruised reed ; those who are as smoking flax , as the wick of a lamp newly lighted , which is ready to go out again . He will not despise them , nor lay upon them more work or more suffering than they can bear . By a long course of miracles and his resurrection , he fully showed the truth of his holy religion . By the power of his gospel and grace he fixes principles in the minds of men , which tend to make them wise and just . The most distant nations wait for his law , wait for his gospel , and shall welcome it . If we would make our calling and election sure , and have the Father delight over us for good , we must behold , hear , believe in , and obey Christ . * Verse 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 . * Verse 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 . * Verse 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 . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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