Isaiah Message Series

His Glory Our Redemption

Isaiah 42:5-9
July 6, 2014
Discussion Guide
Passage

Isaiah 42:5-9 (NIV)

5
This is what God the LORD says-- he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who
spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those
who walk on it: 6 "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I
will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,
7
to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those
who sit in darkness. 8 "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my
praise to idols. 9 See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they
spring into being I announce them to you."
Ice Breaker...
How many of you know someone whose word you trust? What characteristics do they have or what
interactions have you had with them that backs up their word so that you believe them? (List the
characteristics/interactions the group comes up with on the board.) Transition: In the first verse of
our passage today, the Lord announces a statement from Him and backs it up with words that let us
know why we can trust Him. Lets see what they are and then examine the Servant He said He would
send.
Getting into the Word
Verse 5
o What reasons does the Lord give for us trusting what He is about to say?
Powerful, creator God of all the earth and heavens
The Creator of mankind, in the beginning and now
The giver of life, real life. Notice how this is different from the previous phrase on
giving breath. He gives life in a physical sense, but also in a sense in which we can
have a real life as in having a real, purpose-filled life.
o Who the Lord talking to in verse 6? (the Messiah)
o In verse 6, what will he do to sustain the Messiah?
Take hold of His hand What is a good paraphrase for what that means?
Keep you - What is a good paraphrase for what that means?
Make you to be a covenant - What is a good paraphrase for what that means?
Light for the Gentiles - What is a good paraphrase for what that means?
o In verse 7, what is the purpose/mission of the Messiah?
To open eyes that are blind - What is a good paraphrase for what that means?
To free captives from prison - What is a good paraphrase for what that means?

o
o

Release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness - What is a good paraphrase for
what that means?
In verse 8, to whom does the glory belong and why? How do we struggle with giving away
Gods glory to idols?
Verse 9 - Why is it comforting that God continues to do new things? And that He announces
His works and ways to us through His Word? How valuable of a treasure is His Word?

Application
The thing that strikes me the most in this passage as far as trying to live it out is verse 8 where He
says, I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. I want my life to be focused on Him
and not get sidetracked with idols that fill my mind and attention. What do you need to do to make
sure you do not lose focus and get side tracked, or backslidden as Baptists like to say?

Commentaries on Isaiah 42:5-9

Bible Knowledge Commentary
42:5-7. The LORD promised to assist the Servant in His mission, which God can do because He is the
Creator (cf. 40:12-14, 26). He created the immense heavens and the earth (cf. 44:24; 45:12, 18; 48:13;
51:13, 16) and life in it, including man, giving him breath. Speaking to His Servant (42:6-7) God assured
Him that He had been called to perform the will of God. To be called... in righteousness (as Cyrus also
would be, 41:2), meant to be responsible to do Gods righteous will. Of course the Messiah, unlike
Cyrus, lived a righteous life (for He is God). Because the LORD would take hold of the Servants hand the
Messiah would have the power to carry out Gods will.
Also the Servant was assured that He would be a covenant for the people (cf. 49:8). He would fulfill
Gods covenant promises to Israel, and would also be a light (cf. 42:16; Luke 1:79) for the Gentiles (cf.
Isa. 49:6). Spiritually unredeemed Israel and the Gentiles are blind, and they are captives... in darkness.
Though Cyrus would be the servant to release Jewish captives from exile, the Messiah gives spiritual
release (cf. 61:1; John 8:32; Col. 1:13), sight (cf. John 9:39-41), and light (cf. John 8:12) to those who
trust Him. (On eyes being opened; cf. Isa. 32:3; 35:5.) This spiritual salvation to both Jews and Gentiles
will eventuate in the glorious messianic kingdom.
42:8-9. The LORD, Israels covenant-keeping God, had given the prophecy recorded in verses 6-7 and
He will not let idols take credit for it (cf. comments on 41:21-24). In view of all that God had already
done for Israel (the former things) these new things (cf. 48:6) of which He had been speaking would
certainly happen. No other god can foretell such things. If, as some scholars argue, someone other than
Isaiah wrote chapters 40-66 after the Jewish captives were released by Cyrus, then Isaiahs point in 42:9
and elsewhere is destroyed. Isaiah was affirming that God, unlike idols, can tell the future. And this
divine ability adds to His glory (v. 8).

Bible Exposition Old Testament Commentary

NA