Q. Isa. 42:19. Who is meant by “my servant” here? E.
A. Israel, I believe. The beginning of the chapter refers beyond a doubt, to our Lord—the latter part to the people. The misapplication of verse 19 to Christ arose out of two things—the assumption that “my servant” must have referred to the same in both passages, and the notion that [Greek word] means one who is morally perfect. As to the first, the context need leave no doubt that Israel are referred to, in contrast with the heathen idolaters, Israel called out to be the witness of the true God. To this position of favor and responsibility, as God's friend in the world, (though, alas! unfaithful in it, “deaf” and “blind,") the word meshullam applies, not to the absence of sin. The change from Messiah to Israel in chap. xlii. is not nearly so abrupt as the substitution of Messiah for Israel is in chap. xlix. 3, 4.