Isaiah 42:4

     4. fail—faint; man in religion may become as the almost expiring flax-wick (Isa 42:3), but not so He in His purposes of grace.

      discouraged—literally, "broken," that is, checked in zeal by discouragements (compare Isa 49:4, 5). ROSENMULLER not so well translates, "He shall not be too slow on the one hand, nor run too hastily on the other."

      judgment—His true religion, the canon of His judgments and righteous reign.

      isles . . . wait, &c.—The distant lands beyond sea shall put their trust in His gospel way of salvation. Mt 12:21 virtually gives the sense, with the inspired addition of another aspect of the same thing, "In his name shall the Gentiles trust" (as "wait for" here means, Isa 30:18). "His law" is not something distinct from Himself, but is indeed Himself, the manifestation of God's character ("name") in Christ, who is the embodiment of the law (Isa 42:21; Jer 23:6; Ro 10:4). "Isles" here, and in Isa 42:12, may refer to the fact that the populations of which the Church was primarily formed were Gentiles of the countries bordering on the Mediterranean.

Isaiah 50:7

     7. Sample of His not being "discouraged" (Isa 42:4; 49:5).

      set . . . face like . . . flint—set Myself resolutely, not to be daunted from My work of love by shame or suffering (Eze 3:8, 9).

Isaiah 50:10

     10. Messiah exhorts the godly after His example (Isa 49:4, 5; 42:4) when in circumstances of trial ("darkness," Isa 47:5), to trust in the arm of Jehovah alone.

      Who is, &c.—that is, Whosoever (Jud 7:3).

      obeyeth . . . servant—namely, Messiah. The godly "honor the Son, even as they honor the Father" (Joh 5:23).

      darkness— (Mic 7:8, 9). God never had a son who was not sometimes in the dark. For even Christ, His only Son, cried out, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"

      light—rather, "splendor"; bright sunshine; for the servant of God is never wholly without "light" [VITRINGA]. A godly man's way may be dark, but his end shall be peace and light. A wicked man's way may be bright, but his end shall be utter darkness (Ps 112:4; 97:11; 37:24).

      let him trust in the name of the Lord—as Messiah did (Isa 50:8, 9).

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