42:1-7
Ob and In:
1. Repeated:
a. "Make just decrees"
The placing of "My Spirit" on "My Servant" Is to make Him able to make the just decrees go out to the nations v.1, and He will do it faithfully v.3 without being discouraged before it is done v.4.
just decrees=BDB divine law in gen, in 1 S 8:9-,11; 10:25=law of king
v.1b he will make just decrees for the nations
v.4b before establishing justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait in anticipation for his decrees.”
=He will be the king of the nations and establish the law of God in all over the world
Question: What will make the Servant discouraged? Does it refer to the rejection of the nations before the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom?
b. "people"
The commission of the Servant was given by God, the Creator, and the One who gives breath to the people on it. The Servant is a covenant mediator for the people and the purpose of the commission is to give light to the blind, those who are like prisoners living in darkness.
(NET) This does not refer to literal physical healing of the blind. As the next two lines suggest, this refers metonymically to freeing captives from their dark prisons where their eyes have grown unaccustomed to light...This does not refer to hardened, dangerous criminals, who would have been executed for their crimes in ancient Near Eastern society. This verse refers to political prisoners or victims of social injustice.
Prisoner=BDB taken in battle Is 10:4, ref. to exiled Israelites
The commission is similar to Mt 28:19-20. The Creator has the authority to commission His servant to let His just decrees to be known to His covenant people and let them be freed.
2. The relationship between the covenant and the bringing of light.
v.6 (NET) “a covenant of people.” A person cannot literally be a covenant; בְּרִית (bérit) is probably metonymic here, indicating a covenant mediator.
The 2 works of the Servant: be the covenant mediator and be the light to the prisoners in darkness. Are these 2 works related? In other word, the covenant is to make them see? If yes, then what they see? Is it the establishment of the just decrees?
3. v.2-4a He will not cry out or shout;
he will not publicize himself in the streets.
3 A crushed reed he will not break,
a dim wick he will not extinguish
he will faithfully make just decrees.
4 He will not grow dim or be crushed
before establishing justice on the earth;
How did the Servant make the just decrees to be known? Not by voice or making Himself known, nor by crushing the weak and oppressed. But, by doing it faithfully 3b, and not grow dim or be crushed v.4a.
Summary and Reflection: The Servant will be the king over the nations and bring the law of God over the world. Since, God is the Creator He has the authority to commission His Servant to free His people who is in the darkness to see His law. However, this is not a easy task. But by the commission, the taking hold of His hand, and God's protection, the Servant will make it, because He is faithfully doing it.
Pray to our Creator Who is care about us. Pray for our commission from the Servant: to be His witness until the end of the earth. Even the Servant has set back and danger we will face that, too. Pray that we can be faithful and finish the commission.
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