Isaiah 42:1

My servant. For the setting of ch. 42, see on ch. 40:1. “Servant” is here a designation for Christ (see on ch. 41:8). In Matt. 12:18 this prophecy is specifically applied to Christ. Indeed, many expressions in this chapter can apply to no other. Jesus frequently referred to Himself as having been sent by His Father to carry out an assigned mission (John 4:34; 6:38; 14:31). Concerning the nature of His work He declared that He “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28) and that He was among His people “as he that serveth” (Luke 22:27). Here and in the chapters that follow, Isaiah sets forth the most complete picture of Messiah and His earthly mission to be found anywhere in the OT. Largely because of these prophecies Isaiah is known as “the gospel prophet.”

Delighteth. See on Matt. 3:17.

My spirit upon him. Here Isaiah clearly refers to the three members of the Godhead: “I [the Father] have put my spirit [the Holy Spirit] upon him [the “Servant,” Messiah]” (Matt. 12:18). In a special sense the Holy Spirit came upon Christ at His baptism (see on Matt. 3:16; Luke 4:18; see also John 1:32, 33; Acts 10:38).

Judgment. Or, “justice.” Christ’s mission to the Gentiles is prominent in this section of Isaiah (see chs. 45:22; 49:6, 7, 12, 22; 54:3, 5; 56:3-8; 60:3-5; 62:2). That the message of divine grace was not to be alone for the Jews, but for all men, is one of the outstanding truths uniquely set forth by Isaiah.