Isaiah
Messianic prophecies, and the remnant of Israel
Comfort and good news announced to the people of God
Chapter 42 c
The Lord tells the deaf to hear and the blind to see (verses 18 to 25).
This is the command to His people, Israel, here called "My servant”, whose eyes became blind, and "My Messenger" who became deaf, although he had ears.
This people of His did not follow His ways, nor did they obey His law. Even when subjected to the punishment of God, they did not realize and understand that it came from God. They had no recollection of the many things they saw, nor did they even listen to messages from God.
In His righteousness, the Lord exalted the law making it honourable. But the people did not pay attention, nor did they obey the covenant that God had made with them, and was now a "a people robbed and plundered; all of them are snared in holes, and they are hidden in prison houses; they are for prey, and no one delivers; for plunder, and no one says, "Restore!” (verse 22).
The glory of the law is later revealed in the character and life of the Lord Jesus. About Him we read in Psalm 40 verse 8: "I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart." His perfect obedience is briefly described in Philippians 2:8: "Christ Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross", i.e. He was obedient since the start of the day of His incarnation until the climax of His obedience on the cross.
In this way, the Son of God was the only human being, enabled because of His innocence, to take upon Himself the sin of those who repent and trust in him, receiving Him as their Lord and Saviour. His work on the cross was "a righteous act" (Romans 5:18), in contrast with the offense of the first man, Adam.
The law put all men under condemnation, but Christ's death brings "justification and life" (Romans 5:18). In this manner, the Lord demonstrated His unwavering justice by providing the basis on which justification is granted to the sinner through faith. The law was made honourable, i.e., glorious, so was "established" (Romans 3:31) and can be complied with, not to acquire life, but by those who already have spiritual life. This is the essence of the Gospel proclaimed by those who are sent by Christ.
The last verses of this chapter appeal to readers to heed the Lord's call, there contained, so that they can hear, see and take into account the origin of His judgment. There were, as there always has been, a small remnant of those who feared the Lord's name, expected the consolation of Israel, and were willing to obey the voice of God.
Today there are believers, saved by their faith in the Lord Jesus, whose ears are open to hear God's voice and will "give ear, listen and hear for the time to come" (verse 23). Scripture constantly points to the future events for the people of God, determined by the infallible plans of God. These texts are usually called prophecy, and not a few consider them too deep for their consideration and with little practical effect on the daily life and the work of the faithful.
The truth is the opposite. The church that met in Thessalonica was still very young when the apostle Paul, in his pioneering work, instructed them about the coming of the "day of the Lord" which would be preceded by the "man of sin" and other issues in the future (2 Thessalonians 2). This instruction not only guided his thoughts, but it was a bulwark against the influences of the world. Even more so today, when we are approaching the "times to come", it is important to hear what God tells us in His word about the future and our eternal destiny, so as to understand what is going on now and prepare ourselves for what's to come.
The saddest feature of the state of the people of Israel in the time of the prophet Isaiah, when they suffered the consequences of their sin against the Lord, was that they were not understanding the origin of the calamities coming to them. The Lord himself had delivered "Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the robbers" (verse 24).
The nation of Israel has been preserved until our days because the Lord has not definitely abandoned it, but He continues to pour the indignation of His wrath upon it. The Lord promises that, finally, one day "I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10)." This remnant recognises its sin, and will weep for having rejected and pierced (or crucified), the Lord incarnate in Jesus Christ.
These words were written so that we might not fail to discern the gracious purposes, wisdom, love, that are behind the punishing hand of the Lord. Let us all bow our heads in a submission that understands the motive and meaning of His behaviour toward us, quite aware that what He does is for our own good, that we may be partakers of His holiness. This is the pinnacle of bliss and embraces the means of power in our service! Thus, His ways will allow us to produce "the peaceable fruit of righteousness" (read Hebrews 12:4-11).
R David Jones
18 "Hear, you deaf; And look, you blind, that you may see.
19 Who is blind but My servant, Or deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is blind as he who is perfect, And blind as the LORD's servant?
20 Seeing many things, but you do not observe; Opening the ears, but he does not hear."
21 The LORD is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will exalt the law and make it honorable.
22 But this is a people robbed and plundered; All of them are snared in holes, And they are hidden in prison houses; They are for prey, and no one delivers; For plunder, and no one says, "Restore!"
23 Who among you will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come?
24 Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the LORD, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, Nor were they obedient to His law.
25 Therefore He has poured on him the fury of His anger And the strength of battle; It has set him on fire all around, Yet he did not know; And it burned him, Yet he did not take it to heart.
Isaiah chapter 42 verses 1 to 2