Bible Study Lesson/Notes for Isaiah 42:18-25: Israel, the Blind and Deaf Servant

We move into the third and final section of this chapter. Here Israel is reminded that they are in captivity because of their sin and encouraged to return to God.

Read Isaiah 42:18. God is rebuking the Jews by calling them "deaf" and "blind." Note, however, that he commands them to "hear" and "see" which tells us that they are deaf and blind by choice! Read Matthew 13:15. But the fact that God appeals to them here says that they do have some glimmer of moral discernment or moral vision left, if they but take the effort to leave their apathy and use it. Remember what we read earlier in this chapter "a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." If there is even a spark of faith left, he will do all he can to feed it.

Read Isaiah 42:19. This section can be somewhat confusing when we compare it to the first section, since here, too, we read about "my servant." This servant, however, is clearly not the same as the one at the beginning of the chapter, for God rebukes this servant, calling him blind, in contrast to the first one, which he honors and esteems. Two commentaries that I've looked at say that this second servant is Israel - which does make sense, for Israel was originally intended to be God's representative here on earth to the other nations. Because of her failure, God has to send the Messiah as his true and final Servant.

Read Isaiah 42:20. I can not fathom God speaking this verse to Jesus, this is clearly spoken to a rebellious person or nation, such as Israel. "You have seen many things" is referring to all the wonderful miracles and prophecies fulfilled that God had given to Israel. But they ignore these deeds, as if they are meaningless. "your ears are open, but you hear nothing." The Jews could physically hear all the words of the prophets, both present and past, but they don't allow the words to sink in or repent because of them.

Read Isaiah 42:21. Here we have a change in speakers, from the Lord speaking to Isaiah speaking. The law being spoken of here is not just the law given on Mount Sinai to Moses, but all the additional insights and commands given to the Jews through the centuries by the prophets. Why this verse is here, after the rebuke for being blind and deaf, isn't really clear until we jump down to verse 24, the second half. "they did not obey his law." Isaiah is making it clear that obedience to the law, obedience to God, is of extreme importance. He is setting us up for what he says next.

Read Isaiah 42:22. Isaiah is describing how Judah was attacked and looted by the Babylonians, the people then taken into captivity and made slaves in Babylon. Isaiah uses the phrase "hidden away in prisons." We have a specific example of this happening to the second to the last king of Judah, Jehoiachin. Read 2 Kings 24:8-17, 25:27-30. Jehoiachin reigned for 3 months and then spent 37 years in prison.

Isaiah continues with "they have been made loot with no one to say 'send them back'." Isaiah is saying who is going to ransom an entire nation? Individuals or people of royal blood might have someone willing to pay a high price to ransom them, but a whole nation? If we jump ahead to the next chapter we see that the Lord will not leave His people as prisoners and slaves. He will provide a ransom for them. Read Isaiah 43:3-4. We'll look at these verses in greater detail later, to better understand the specifics of this ransom.

Read Isaiah 42:23. Isaiah is reaching out to those individuals who aren't quete as hardened as the rest: those who aren't completely deaf of blind. In order for the Lord to rescue them, there has to be a significant heart change among the masses. There needs to be true repentance. And that starts with an understanding of how they came to this hard, miserable place. The next verse helps to further this understanding.

Read Isaiah 42:24. Isaiah makes it pretty clear: God did this. He was in complete control of the Babylonians and used them as a way to discipline the Jews for their sin and disobedience. Notice that Isaiah includes himself as part of this guilty nation. The prophets Daniel and Ezra had this same loving compassion and humility in their ability to take on the burden of sin of their people, though as individuals they probably had little to repent of. Read Daniel 9:4-6, Ezra 9:5-7.

Read Isaiah 42:25. Here we get some specifics of the punishment: the violence of war with images of flames. Jerusalem was burned in the final attack. Read 2 Kings 25:8-9. This image of great devastation "It enveloped them in flames", "it consumed them" could also be referring to the general devastation of Judah as a whole. Jeremiah is filled with examples. Here is just one. Read Jeremiah 44:19-23. (The Queen of Heaven was Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess of fertility.)

Isaiah because it clear in 42:25 that he didn't really see any great repentance coming out of the Captivity up to this point. The Jews go through all this anguish and suffering and they "still don't get it!" If they had, Isaiah would not have needed to preach this chapter.

Blessings!

Sources
Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford (notes). The Student Bible. NIV Version
H.D.M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell (editors). The Pulpit Commentary Volume 10: Isaiah