In Isaiah 41:21-29, the *Lord has discussed *idols. He declares that
they have no life in them. They have no use for anything. They have no
value whatever (see Psalms 135:15-18).
• But now, in the first verse of chapter 42, the *Lord discusses
‘my Servant’. The *Lord’s Servant is to perform a world... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS
GOD PROMISES COMFORT TO HIS PEOPLE
ISAIAH CHAPTER S 40 TO 48
_NORMAN HILLYER_
CHAPTER 42
The *Old Testament calls several people ‘the *Lord’s servant’.
Moses is one example (see Exodus 14:31). In the Book of Isaiah various
people are called ‘the *Lord’s servan... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah uses pictures in words to show the Servant’s quiet kindness
and care for all weak people (see Matthew 12:20-21).... [ Continue Reading ]
Difficulties will not disturb the Servant’s determination to help
other people.... [ Continue Reading ]
The word ‘*justice’ has much more than a legal meaning. Rather, it
has the meaning of ‘right order’. To establish right order is the
work of the *Lord God who creates all things (see Genesis 1:1-2).
• The Servant’s work is world-wide. It is not only for the benefit
of the people from Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
The *New Testament considers that these words are about Jesus (see
Matthew 11:5).... [ Continue Reading ]
The *Lord alone controls events. Therefore he alone can announce what
will happen.
A SONG TO PRAISE GOD
V10 Tell the whole world to sing a new song to the *Lord. Tell those
who sail the seas to join in the song. And tell those who live in
distant places to join in too. V11 Let people who live in t... [ Continue Reading ]
The declaration of a ‘new song’ (to praise God) is always because
of a new display of God’s goodness (see Psalms 40:2-3; Revelation
5:9).
• The *Lord is not only the God of the people from Israel. He is
everybody’s God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Kedar and Sela were cities in the country called Edom.
• Relations between the nations called Israel and Edom were never
good (see my note on Isaiah 34:5). So it is wonderful that even these
two nations can share in the universal joy at the *Lord’s victory
(success in battle).
GOD WILL HELP HIS PE... [ Continue Reading ]
God is like a brave officer who charges into battle with his soldiers.... [ Continue Reading ]
God’s people suffered many years as prisoners in a foreign country.
God seemed to be doing nothing to help them. But God must choose the
moment to act.... [ Continue Reading ]
When God does act, it will be plainly his work. Nothing will be able
to stand in his way. The bushes and trees in the forest will not delay
his arrival. Even the broadest river could not delay his progress.... [ Continue Reading ]
Some people cannot benefit from the promises in verse 16. They are the
people that choose to trust home-made *idols.
ISRAEL FAILS TO LEARN
V18 The *Lord says: ‘Listen, you people of mine who have been so
deaf. Look carefully, you people of mine who have been so blind. Pay
close attention to my wor... [ Continue Reading ]
God appointed Isaiah to be his special messenger (a servant who
carries a message) to the people in Israel. But, at the same time, God
warned Isaiah that the people would not listen (see Isaiah 6:9-10).... [ Continue Reading ]
God had chosen the people in Israel to be his witnesses. He wanted
them to obey his law (directions) and so to live happy lives. Then
other nations would want to leave their *idols and decide to follow
the *Lord’s directions.... [ Continue Reading ]
But the people in Israel refused to obey the *Lord. So he punished
them severely. The *Lord allowed a powerful enemy to take them to
Babylon as prisoners.
OLD TESTAMENT ~ the first part of the Bible. It contains 39 books all
from the time before Jesus was born.
LORD ~ God’s personal name in the Bibl... [ Continue Reading ]