In Isaiah 42, 'My servant' refers to Christ, the Messiah of Israel.
Isaiah 42:1 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." Les Feldick teaches that the pronoun "He" in this verse is Christ, the Messiah, the One who would bring forth rule or government to the Gentiles. This is the individual servant, distinct from the nation of Israel, though God also planned to use Israel to take salvation to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 42:1 — This verse directly introduces 'my servant' whom God upholds, calls His elect, puts His Spirit upon, and who brings judgment to the Gentiles.
In Isaiah 42:1, God speaks, saying, "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 passage describes the servant as God's elect, upheld by Him, and empowered by the Spirit. The text does not explicitly name the servant in this verse, but the description points to a unique individual. In Isaiah 49:6, the Scripture again speaks of a servant, saying, "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." Here the servant is given a role toward both Israel and the Gentiles. Isaiah 49:7 continues: "Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee."
Les Feldick teaches that the pronoun "He" in Isaiah 42:1 refers to Christ, the Messiah of Israel. He explains that "he shall bring forth judgment" means "he shall bring forth a rule" — that is, rule or government — and this rule is brought to the Gentiles. The Messiah is the One upon whom God has put His Spirit. Les connects Isaiah 42 with the prophetic program: after Israel's king and kingdom were established, Israel was to bring the knowledge of Jehovah to the Gentiles. He points out that in Isaiah 42 the pronoun is singular — the Messiah — while in Isaiah 49:6 the servant also raises up the tribes of Jacob and is given as a light to the Gentiles. Les clarifies that both the individual Messiah and the nation of Israel are called servants and lights, but the Messiah in Isaiah 42 is the central figure.
Les Feldick explains that "he shall bring forth judgment" in Isaiah 42:1 means "he shall bring forth a rule" — that is, rule or government. The Messiah brings this rule to the Gentiles, which was part of the prophetic program. As Les says, "He shall bring forth judgment or rule through the Gentiles."
In Isaiah 49:6, God 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 teaches that this passage connects to the Messiah of Isaiah 42: the Messiah is the servant who raises up the tribes of Jacob (Israel) and is given as a light to the Gentiles. Les also notes that the nation of Israel itself is to be a light, but the individual Messiah is central.
Les Feldick teaches that in Isaiah 49:6, the servant who raises up the tribes of Jacob is the same Messiah of Isaiah 42. The tribes of Jacob are Israel, and the Messiah is the One who restores the preserved of Israel and becomes a light to the Gentiles. In verse 7, this is the One whom man despiseth and whom the nation abhorreth — a servant of rulers, before whom kings shall see and arise.
Why Israel Failed to Evangelize the World — Isaiah to Acts
Hello, and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
The Messiah in Isaiah 42
Les identifies the pronoun 'He' in Isaiah 42:1 as Christ, the Messiah of Israel, who brings forth judgment or rule through the Gentiles.
Judgment or Rule to the Gentiles
Les states plainly that 'He' in Isaiah 42:1 is the Messiah, and He brings forth judgment or rule to the Gentiles.
Rule to the Gentiles
Les explains that 'judgment' in Isaiah 42 means 'rule,' and this rule is brought forth to the Gentiles — 'plain as day.'
The Meaning of Adonai: Understanding God as Master
Well, come down to verse 8, Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? And then said I, Here am I. What is Isaiah becoming? The servant, see? And this is what you want to watch for as you study Scripture, that whenever there is that master and servant relationship, it won't be capitalized Lord, it'll be the small letter Lord.
The Personal Pronoun of the Messiah
Les teaches that Isaiah 42:1 uses a personal pronoun referring to the Messiah, the Christ, the One who is coming, upon whom God puts His Spirit.
The Singular Servant
Les notes that 'My servant' is singular in Isaiah 42:1, pointing to the individual Messiah, while God planned to deal with the Gentiles through Israel.
Messiah and Israel as Light to the Gentiles
Les connects Isaiah 49:6-7 to the Messiah of Isaiah 42, showing the servant restores the tribes of Jacob and is given as a light to the Gentiles.
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 introduction of 'My servant,' who is the Messiah.
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.
This verse echoes the servant theme from Isaiah 42, extending the servant's role to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 49:7: Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
This verse further describes the servant as one despised and abhorred, yet honored by kings and princes.
Yes. Les Feldick teaches that the pronoun 'He' in Isaiah 42:1 refers to Christ, the Messiah of Israel. The verse 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.'
Les Feldick explains that 'judgment' in this context means 'rule' or 'government.' He paraphrases it as 'he shall bring forth a rule to the Gentiles.' The Messiah brings His rule to the Gentiles as part of God's prophetic program.
Les teaches that Isaiah 42:1 uses a singular personal pronoun — 'My servant' — and refers to the Messiah, the Christ, the One who is coming. In Isaiah 49:6, the nation of Israel is also spoken of as a servant and a light to the Gentiles, but the individual Messiah is the one in view in Isaiah 42.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Failed to Evangelize the World — Isaiah to Acts