What Does Isaiah 42:1 Say About the Messiah's Role Concerning the Gentiles?

Direct Answer

Yes — Isaiah 42:1 says the Messiah will bring judgment (which Les Feldick explains means rule) to the Gentiles.

The verse reads, 'Behold my servant... I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.' Les Feldick teaches that the servant is Christ and that 'judgment' here means rule or government, so the Messiah's role includes bringing His rule to the Gentile peoples.

Key Scriptures

Isaiah 42:1 — This is the verse the question asks about; it directly states the Messiah will bring judgment to the Gentiles.

What Does the Bible Say About the Messiah and the Gentiles in Isaiah 42:1?

Isaiah 42:1 in the King James Version says: '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.' The verse presents God's servant as chosen, upheld, and empowered by the Spirit, and then states that this servant will bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. That is the plain scriptural statement concerning the Messiah's role toward the Gentiles.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About Isaiah 42:1 and the Gentiles?

Les Feldick consistently points to Isaiah 42:1 as an Old Testament prophecy of the Messiah and the Gentiles. He teaches that the pronouns in the verse — 'My servant,' 'Mine elect,' 'in whom My soul delighteth,' 'My Spirit' — are all about Christ, the Messiah of Israel. Then when the verse says he will 'bring forth judgment,' Les explains that judgment here does not mean punishment from a judge; it means rule or government. So the Messiah will bring His rule to the Gentiles.

Does 'Judgment' in Isaiah 42:1 Mean Punishment?

Les Feldick says no. He teaches that the word 'judgment' in this verse does not mean what we think of as a judge handing down a sentence or punishment. Instead, it means 'rule' or 'government.' So the verse is telling us that the Messiah will extend His rule or government to the Gentiles.

How Does Isaiah 49:6 Support This Understanding?

Isaiah 49:6 says, 'It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.' Les pairs this with Isaiah 42:1 to show that God's mind was set on Israel taking His light to the Gentiles. The same Messiah who brings rule to the Gentiles is given as a light to the Gentiles and salvation to the end of the earth.

From the Teaching

Does God Harden Hearts? Romans 9:18-24 and the Potter's Clay

they, the Jews, will not receive thy testimony concerning me.� Verse 19, �And I said, Lord, they know that I am present, and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee. And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting unto his death. And I held the raiment, or the clothing, of them that slew him.

Judgment Means Rule

Les teaches that the pronoun 'He' is Christ the Messiah, and that 'judgment' means rule rather than punishment; Christ will bring rule to the Gentiles.

The Servant Is Christ

Les identifies the servant in Isaiah 42:1 as Christ the Messiah and reads the verse as saying He will bring judgment or rule to the Gentiles.

Isaiah 49:6 Confirms the Gentile Purpose

Les explains that the 'He' is Christ, then immediately connects the verse to Isaiah 49:6, where God gives Christ as a light to the Gentiles and salvation to the end of the earth.

Old Testament Prophecy of the Gentiles

Les emphasizes that Isaiah 42:1 was prophecy 'way back' in the Old Testament: the Messiah would bring judgment or rule to the Gentiles.

The Messiah's Interest in the Gentiles

Les says the prophet is speaking of Christ, the coming King, who is intrinsically interested in the non-Jew, and that He shall bring forth rule to the Gentiles.

Plain as Day in Prophecy

Les says Isaiah 42:1 is as plain as day — the Messiah will bring a rule to the Gentiles — and he connects it to Isaiah 49:6.

Future Tense: God Has Not Forgotten the Gentiles

Les notes the future tense 'he shall bring forth' shows that God would reach the Gentiles after preparing His covenant people Israel, so God has not forgotten the Gentiles.

Bible Verses

Isaiah 42:1: 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.

This is the key verse in the question. God's servant will bring judgment to the Gentiles.

Isaiah 49:6: And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Les uses this verse alongside Isaiah 42:1 to show the Messiah as a light to the Gentiles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'judgment' in Isaiah 42:1 mean?

In this verse, 'judgment' does not mean punishment. Les Feldick teaches that it means 'rule' or 'government,' so the Messiah will bring forth rule to the Gentiles.

Who is the servant in Isaiah 42:1?

Les Feldick teaches that the servant is Christ, the Messiah of Israel. He bases this on the pronouns in the verse: God's servant, God's elect, the one on whom God puts His Spirit.

Was God's plan to include the Gentiles a new idea?

No. Isaiah 42:1 already told of the Messiah bringing judgment, or rule, to the Gentiles. Isaiah 49:6 also says God would give His servant as a light to the Gentiles. God had the Gentiles in view from Old Testament times.

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Source Video

Watch the Teaching: Does God Harden Hearts? Romans 9:18-24 and the Potter's Clay