Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold
The Targum is,
``behold my servant the Messiah;''
and Kimchi on the place says, this is the King Messiah; and so
Abarbinel
F6 interprets it of him, and other Jewish
writers, and which is right; for the prophet speaks not of himself,
as Aben Ezra thinks; nor of Cyrus, as Saadiah Gaon; nor of the
people of Israel, as Jarchi; but of Christ, as it is applied, (
Matthew 12:17
Matthew 12:18
) who is spoken of under the character of a "servant", as he is;
not as a divine Person, for as such he is the Son of God; but as
man, and in his office as Mediator; a servant of the Lord, not of
angels, or men, but of his divine Father; who chose him, called and
sent him, and assigned him his work; which was principally the
redemption of his people, and which he diligently, faithfully, and
fully performed; in which he was "upheld" as man and Mediator by
his Father, not only in his being as man, but was strengthened and
helped in his mediatorial service so that he did not sink under the
mighty weight of the sins of his people, or of the wrath of God:
or, "whom I lean upon"
F7; as a master on his servant, so
Kimchi; he relied on him to do the work he undertook; he trusted
him with his own glory, and the salvation of his people. This
prophecy is ushered in with a "behold"; exciting attention to what
is said concerning Christ, as of the greatest importance; directing
the eye of faith to him for righteousness and salvation; and as
expressive of admiration at him, that he who was the Son of God
should become a servant, and undertake the salvation of men:
mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth:
this character of "elect" may respect the choice of the human
nature to the grace of union with the Son of God; which was chosen
out from among the people, and separated from them for that
purpose; and was preordained to be the Lamb slain for the
redemption of man, and appointed to glory; and likewise the choice
of Christ to office, to be the Mediator between God and man; to be
the Saviour and Redeemer of the Lord's people; to be the Head of
the church, and to be the foundation and the corner stone of that
spiritual building; and to be the Judge of quick and dead: and with
him, as such, was the Lord "well pleased, or delighted"; with his
person; as the Son of God; and with all his chosen, as considered
in him; with what he did as his servant; with the righteousness he
wrought out; with the sacrifice he offered up; and with his
sufferings and death, through which peace and reconciliation were
made with God for sinners:
I have put my Spirit upon
him;
my Holy Spirit, as the Targum; not on him as a divine Person, as
such he needed him not; but as man, with which he was filled
without measure at his incarnation, and which rested upon him, and
qualified him for his work and office, as Prophet, Priest, and
King:
he shall bring forth judgment to the
Gentiles;
the Gospel, the produce of divine wisdom; the Gospel of God, whose
judgment is according to truth; the rule of human judgment in
things spiritual and saving, and by which Christ judges and rules
in the hearts of his people; this he brought forth out of his
Father's bosom, out of his own heart, and published it in person to
the Jews, and by his apostles to the converted by it, became
subject to his rule and government. Gentiles, who being converted
by it, became subject to his rule and government.