Bible Commentaries

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, [in whom] my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Behold my servant. — Cyrus partly, but Christ principally Matthew 12:18 See Trapp on " Matthew 12:18 " Philippians 2:7 A servant he was, yet not menial, but magisterial; that he was one or other is admirable, and well deserveth an Ecce Behold.

Whom I uphold. — That he faint not under the weight of his Mediatorship, and the importable burden of my wrath, which he must suffer for a season. Some render it "whom I lean upon." See 2 Kings 5:18 ; 2 Kings 7:2 ; 2 Kings 7:13 .

Mine elect, or choice one. — Cyrus was so. Isaiah 43:10 John 6:27 ; John 6:29 ; John 10:36 See the notes on Matthew 12:18 . Cyrus was so singular a man, saith Herodotus, Herod., lib. iii. that no Persian ever held himself worthy to be compared unto him. And of his court Xenophon Xenoph. Cyrop., lib. viii. hath this memorable saying, that though a man should seek or choose blindfold, he could not miss of a good man. How much more truly may this be spoken of the Lord Christ and his people?

In whom my soul delighteth. — ευδοκησε . God affected Cyrus, Isaiah 45:3-4 ; Isaiah 44:28 but nothing so well as Christ. Matthew 3:17 ; Matthew 17:5 Once God repented him that he had made man; but now it is otherwise.

He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. — Who shall all cry, "Grace, grace unto it," to see mercy rejoicing against judgment. See on Matthew 12:18 .

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He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

He shall not cry, nor lift up. — See on Matthew 12:19 . Cyrus was a very mild and gentle prince, so that his Persians called him their father, but his son, Cambyses, their lord, as Herodotus Lib. iii. recordeth. Christ’s government Cyrus umbra, Christus Sol ipse. is much more gentle; he will not by a loud and terrible voice frighten broken spirits, or rule them with rigour, … Christians must likewise put away all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour. And "be ye kind one to another, tender hearted." Ephesians 4:31-32 This is to be like unto Christ - all whose actions, whether moral or mediatory, were either for our imitation or instruction.

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bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

A bruised reed shall he not break, — i.e., A contrite heart, Psalms 51:17 in whom there shall appear to be anything of Christ, though never so little: that are faithful in weakness, though but weak in faith, as he was who cried out, Lord, I believe, help mine unbelief; Mark 9:24 and another, Invoco te fide quamvis languida, fide tamen. Cruciger. See on Matthew 12:20 .

He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. — Unto victory, saith the evangelist, after the Septuagint. Truth will prevail, sincerity proceed to perfection. "The righteous also shall hold on his way: and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." Job 17:9 Where there is truth of grace, there will be victory. Bernard never went from God without God. And holy Bradford would never give over any good duty till he found something coming in - as in confession, till his heart melted; in begging pardon, till it was quieted; in seeking grace, till it was quickened, …

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He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

He shall not fail, nor be discouraged. — Non erit tristis nec turbulentus; so the Vulgate hath it. He shall be master of his passions, and keep an even state of his looks and motions, whatever befall, as they report of Socrates. He shall not knit his brows, or chide - which was Eli’s fault, 1 Samuel 3:13 but is Christ’s commendation - so Lud. de Dieu rendereth it. He shall not make to smoke (so Junius from Isaiah 42:3 ), nor shall he bruise any one.

Until he have set judgment. — See on Isaiah 42:3 .

And the isles shall wait for his law. — Heb., Shall with desire expect his doctrine.

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Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out. — Heb., And they that stretched them out; noting the Trinity in unity. as Deuteronomy 6:4 Some pagans concluded the world must needs have had a beginning, otherwise we could not know whether the egg or the bird, the seed or the plant, the day or the night, the light or the darkness, were first.

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I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

I the Lord have called thee. — To the Mediatorship.

And will hold thine hand. — Working wonders by thee, and with thee.

And will keep thee. — That thou be not crucified till thine hour be come, and that thou despair not when thou sufferest.

And give thee for a covenant of the people, — i.e., For that "angel of the covenant," Malachi 3:1 and that thou mayest reconcile all the elect in one body to me by thy cross, … Ephesians 2:16

For a light to the Gentiles. — See Isaiah 9:2 .

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To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

To open the blind eyes. — By the preaching of the gospel. Acts 26:18 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 Revelation 3:18

To bring out the prisoners from the prison. — To free poor souls from the tyranny of sin and terror of hell. This should make us say to Christ, as one did once to Augustus for a deliverance nothing so great, Effecisti, Ceesar, ut viverem et morerer ingratus, Let me do mine utmost, I must live and die in thy debt.

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I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

I am the Lord. — I, and no heathen petty god, as I have plainly and plentifully proved, nemine contradicente.

That is my name. — God, though he be above all name (when Manoah inquired after his name, the answer was, It is wonderful - i.e., far above thy conception), yet here we have his proper name, Jehovah, which is also called his glory, because incommunicable to any creature.

And my glory will I not give to another. — To his Son Christ he hath given it, John 17:2 who, although he is Alius, another yet he is not Aliud different from the Father, but of the same nature and essence. God hath given being to all things, life to many, sense to others, reason to men and angels, his glory he will not give to any. Excellently hereupon Bernard, Serm. xiii. in Cant. My glory I will not, …; what then wilt thou give us, Lord? what wilt thou give us? My peace, saith he, I give you; my peace I leave unto you. It is enough for me, Lord; I thankfully take what thou leavest, and leave what thou keepest to thyself, …

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