In Isaiah 42:1, 'judgment' means rule or government—not punishment.
Les Feldick teaches that the word 'judgment' in Isaiah 42:1 does not refer to a judicial sentence or punishment. Instead, it refers to the exercise of government or authority. The verse is about the Messiah, on whom God has placed His Spirit, bringing forth that rule to the Gentiles. This was part of God's prophetic program for Israel.
Isaiah 42:1 — The verse defines the context: God's servant, the Messiah, will bring forth judgment to the Gentiles—the very word under question.
Isaiah 42:1 reads: "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 an unnamed servant whom God upholds and in whom His soul delights. God says He has put His Spirit upon this servant. The result is that this servant 'shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.' The passage does not itself define the word 'judgment'; it simply states that the servant will bring it forth to the Gentiles. The plain text focuses on the servant's identity and the scope of his mission—the Gentiles—rather than on a courtroom verdict.
Les Feldick repeatedly explains that the word 'judgment' in Isaiah 42:1 does not mean punishment. He teaches that it means 'rule' or 'government.' The servant spoken of is Christ, the Messiah, whom God upholds and calls His elect, and upon whom God has placed His Spirit. This Messiah will bring forth that rule or government to the Gentiles. Les points out that this is an Old Testament concept—God had the Gentiles on His mind long before Paul's ministry. This was part of the prophetic program in which, after Israel's king and kingdom were established, Israel would bring the knowledge of Jehovah to the Gentiles.
No. Les Feldick states plainly: "Now the word judgment there doesn't mean punishment. It means rule, government." He says the same thing again: "The word judgment here does not mean punishment, as we think of the term, but he would bring forth rule." The biblical context is not a courtroom scene; it is the coming King establishing His authority. Les consistently teaches that this word points to the exercise of government, not to a sentence of condemnation.
Les identifies the servant as Christ, the Messiah. He says, "Now he's speaking of Christ, the Messiah." The verse itself says God upholds this servant, delights in him, and puts His Spirit upon him. Les connects this to the coming King who will rule. This is not an unnamed figure; in Les's teaching, the servant is the Messiah of Israel.
According to Les, the answer is the Gentiles. In Isaiah 42:1, the Messiah 'shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.' Les emphasizes this repeatedly: "He shall bring forth government to whom? The Gentiles." He also says, "Who was He intrinsically interested in? The non-Jew, the Gentiles." This shows that God's intention to reach the Gentiles was present from Old Testament prophecy, not something new with Paul.
Les explains that this judgment/rule to the Gentiles was part of the prophetic program. God was going to use the nation of Israel, after the king and the kingdom were established, to bring salvation and the knowledge of Jehovah to the Gentiles. Les makes the point that this was not just a Pauline concept; it was already in Isaiah. Israel rejected the prophetic program, which is why we see a different program today, but the prophecy remains.
Israel's Call to Bring Knowledge of Jehovah to the Gentiles
Les opens by explaining the prophetic program: after Israel's king and kingdom were established, Israel was to bring salvation—the knowledge of Jehovah—to the Gentiles, though Israel later rejected this program.
Judgment Means Rule or Government
Les defines the word 'judgment' in Isaiah 42:1: it doesn't mean punishment; it means rule or government. He identifies the servant as Christ and notes the Messiah will bring forth that government to the Gentiles.
Messiah Brings Forth a Rule to the Gentiles
Les reads Isaiah 42:1 and clarifies that 'judgment' here is 'rule,' and that this rule is brought forth to the Gentiles. He points to Isaiah 49:6 as another Old Testament example.
Isaiah 42:1 Points to the Gentiles in Prophecy
Les again explains that 'he shall bring forth judgment or rule to what people? The Gentile.' He uses this to show that the Gentiles were in view way back in prophecy.
Judgment Is Not Punishment; It Is Rule
Les repeats that 'judgment' here does not mean punishment as we think of the term, but rule. He emphasizes that the prophet is speaking of Christ, the coming King, who will bring rule to the Gentiles.
Will God Restore the Kingdom to Israel? Acts 1:6 Explained
And then verse 4, And He shall judge, or rule, among the nations. And then the verse that we all know so well, They shall beat their swords into plowshares, their spears into pruning hooks. Nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. And we certainly know that that will be the kingdom age. Now then in Isaiah, let's just come over to chapter 9.
The Messiah Brings Judgment/Rule Through the Gentiles
Les again reads Isaiah 42:1 and says the Messiah will bring forth judgment or rule to the Gentiles. He identifies the pronoun 'He' as Christ, the Messiah of Israel.
Why Jesus Came to Israel First — Luke 1 Explained
I know we looked at them in our last taping, maybe not the last program, but I'm sure it's in the last few programs. And here is the promise of that part of the covenant. Isaiah chapter 9, and drop right down into verse 6. 6 and 7. Very well known verses. Isaiah 9, verses 6 and 7.
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 verse in question—it shows the servant bringing judgment to the Gentiles, the word Les defines as rule or government.
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 cites this verse as another Old Testament example that God's plan included the Gentiles, reinforcing his interpretation of Isaiah 42:1.
No. According to Les Feldick, the word 'judgment' in this verse does not mean punishment. It means 'rule' or 'government.' He explains that the Messiah will bring forth this rule to the Gentiles.
Les identifies the servant as Christ, the Messiah. The verse says God upholds this servant, delights in his soul, and puts His Spirit upon him. He is the one who brings forth judgment, or rule, to the Gentiles.
The verse says the servant will bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. Les emphasizes this point, showing that God had the Gentiles in mind even in Old Testament prophecy.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Failed to Evangelize the World — Isaiah to Acts