By Adam Winn, Ph. D.
Chair and Professor, Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Samford University
THE GREATEST NAME
Isaiah 42:1–12
God brings glory to His name through His Chosen One. (1–4)
This text is set in a distinct section of Isaiah that is looking forward to the time after Israel’s exile, a time in which God’s restoration for Israel is promised.
Isaiah 42 introduces the reader to a servant of God who will play a role in this restoration. At the time of Jesus, some Jews interpreted this servant song messianically.
The first four verses tell us this servant is chosen and delighted in by God, and God has placed His Spirit upon him. Three times in four verses we are told that this servant will bring forth justice in the world.
This justice seems to be closely related to helping the powerless and those in need, as amid these claims regarding justice, we are told, “He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick.”
Thus, those who are suffering, weak and close to death will be the beneficiaries of the servant’s justice.
The Gospel of Matthew understands these texts to be fulfilled in the person of Jesus particularly through His healing ministry (12:17–21).
God’s name deserves glory for the purpose and relationship He offers. (5–8)
Verse 5 describes the great power and glory of the God who sends this servant, specifically describing His creation of the heavens and earth and His breath that gives life to all people.
The song then describes God’s calling and support of the servant and declares that the servant is given as a covenant to the people, which suggests he plays a role in facilitating human relationships with God.
Additionally, the servant will be a light to the nations and will open eyes that are blind and free prisoners from dungeons and darkness. These actions likely have a figurative sense, referring to people who are not walking rightly with Israel’s God.
Some Jews at the time of Jesus also perceived a literal dimension to these words through Jesus’ healings. In verse 8, God declares His name — Yahweh — and says He does not share His glory with another.
This last verse takes on great significance considering Jesus’ words in John 17:5: “Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.”
Yahweh does not share His glory with another, but Jesus shared this glory with the Father before creation, which points to Jesus’ divine identity.
God’s name deserves glory from all people. (9–12)
Verse 9 further declares that Israel’s failures and punishment have passed, and a new future lies before them. With a new future comes a new song of praise. Verses 10–12 describe this new song sung to God by people on the coastlands, deserts and mountaintops.
Authors of the New Testament refer to Isaiah 45:23 to identify Jesus as a recipient of this great future praise. In this text, God declares, “Every knee will bow to me; every tongue will swear allegiance.”
Paul uses this text when describing Jesus in Philippians 2:10–11, declaring, “At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow — in heaven and on earth and under the earth — and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Through Paul and John, it seems clear that Christians not only understood Jesus as the servant of Isaiah’s servant songs, but they also understood Him to be the God of Israel to whom all glory is due.
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