Who is the servant and elect one in Isaiah 42:1?
Isaiah 42:1 identifies the servant and elect one as the Messiah. The verse says God upholds His servant, delights in Him, and puts His Spirit upon Him; the servant will bring forth judgment or rule to the Gentiles. That is the clear prophetic identification given in the passage.
Les teaches that Isaiah 42:1 speaks of the Messiah, God's servant and elect one, in whom God delights and upon whom He puts His Spirit. Les explains that this Messiah will bring forth judgment or rule to the Gentiles, and he notes this was given way back in prophecy. Les then connects it to Isaiah 49:6, where God says it is a light thing for His servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the preserved of Israel. God says He will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, so that thou mayest be salvation to the ends of the earth. Les suggests he is talking to the nation here, the tribes, and says this was the whole idea of Israel's priesthood, to be the go-between to bring salvation to the pagan Gentiles.
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.