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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Isaiah 42:18 - 42:25
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The Wrath of God upon Israel
v. 18. Hear, ye deaf, and look, ye blind, that ye may see, so the prophet now addresses the people of Israel in general, on account of their spiritual callousness, which is rapidly turning into hardness of heart.
v. 19. Who is blind but My servant? the reference here being to Israel itself, or deaf, as My messenger that I sent? not hearing a word of the message which the Lord entrusted to him to be given to the Gentiles. Who is blind as he that is perfect, one whom the Lord had regarded as His friend, and blind as the Lord's servant, this very fact making the blindness almost unexplainable and causing the Lord to refer to it so continually. Cf Joh_9:41.
v. 20. Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. Israel has reached a point where most of its members are unable to understand although they have both eyes and ears open; the many miracles of God's grace are overlooked or speedily forgotten. All this in spite of the wonderful exhibitions of grace which the Lord gave them time and again.
v. 21. The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will magnify the Law and make it honorable, literally, "It pleased Jehovah for the sake of His righteousness; great lie made His instruction and glorious," revealing Himself in His Word for the sake of His covenant faithfulness; yet they did not understand.
v. 22. But this is a people robbed and spoiled, Israel, in spite of all the Lord's efforts, lying on the ground helpless; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison-houses, the very ones who were called to the liberty of the children of God; they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. The very people who, as the friend and messenger of Jehovah, should enjoy the most perfect freedom is being held in the most disgraceful captivity. This unnatural condition should surely open their eyes.
v. 23. Who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come? realizing the gravity of the situation properly and being guided by it.
v. 24. Who gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the robbers? Was it merely the work of chance? Did not the Lord, He against whom we have sinned? the prophet here identifying himself with the disobedient people of his nation. For they would not walk in His ways, neither were they obedient unto His Law, they were very emphatic in their refusal to be guided by his Word and will.
v. 25. Therefore He hath poured upon him the fury of His anger and the strength of battle, the fury of warfare; and it hath set him, Israel, the Lord's people, on fire round about; yet he knew not, did not realize even then what the Lord intended them to feel; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart, even the Lord's punishment did not make them wise. The prophet's complaint is the same as that which was made by Jesus when He looked upon the city of Jerusalem and wept over it with the exclamation that the matters conducive to her welfare were hidden from her eyes. Luk_19:42.