Isaiah 42:9

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. BEHOLD, THE FORMER THINGS ARE COME TO PASS - the former predictions of God, which were now fulfilled, are here adduced in proof that they ought to trust in Him alone as God; namely, the predictions as to Israel's restoration from Babylon. AND NEW THINGS DO I DECLARE - namely, predictions as to Messiah, who is to bring all nations to the worship of Yahweh (; ; ). BEFORE THEY SPRING FORTH I TELL YOU OF THEM - the same image from plants springing forth, i:e., just beginning to germinate, occurs,...

9._The former things. _He now recalls to remembrance the former predictions, by the fulfillment of which he shews that confidence ought to be placed in him for the future; for what we have known by actual experience ought to tend greatly to confirm our belief. It is as if he had said, “I have spoken so frequently to your fathers, and you have found me to be true in all things; and yet you cannot place confidence in me about future events: the experience of past transactions produces no effect upon you, and does not excite you to do better.” God’s favors, therefore, ought to be mentioned by us in such a manner that, whenever our salvation lies concealed in hope, we may rest on the word of God, and be confirmed by it during the whole course of our life. _Behold! they came. _(155) By the adverb _behold, _he points out, as with the finger, that they had learned by experience, that God is not...

5-12 The work of redemption brings back man to the obedience he owes to God as his Maker. Christ is the light of the world. And by his grace he opens the understandings Satan has blinded, and sets at liberty from the bondage of sin. The Lord has supported his church. And now he makes new promises, which shall as certainly be fulfilled as the old ones were. When the Gentiles are brought into the church, he is glorified in them and by them. Let us give to God those things which are his, taking heed that we do not serve the creature more than the Creator....

BEHOLD, THE FORMER THINGS ARE COME TO PASS - That is, the former things which he had foretold. This is the evidence to which he appeals in proof that he alone was God, and this is the basis on which he calls upon them to believe that what he had predicted in regard to future things would also come to pass. He had by his prophets foretold events which had now been fulfilled, and this should lead them to confide in him alone as the true God. AND NEW THINGS DO I DECLARE - Things pertaining to future events, relating to the coming of the Messiah, and to the universal prevalence of his religion in the world. BEFORE THEY SPRING FORTH - There is here a beautiful image. The metaphor is taken from plants and flowers, the word צמח _tsâmach_ properly referring to the springing up of plants, or to their sending out shoots, buds, or flowe

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 42:1 ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SERVANT OF THE LORD, AND THE WORK WHICH HE WILL PERFORM. There are comparatively few who deny that, in this place at any rate, the "Servant of the Lord" is the Messiah. (So the Targum on the passage; so Abar-barnel; so, among moderns, Oehler, Delitzsch, and Mr. Cheyne.) The portraiture has "so strong an individuality and such marked personal features, that it cannot possibly be a mere personified collective;" and it goes so "infinitely _beyond _anything of which a man was ever capable that it can only be the future Christ" (Delitzsch). It may be added that St. Matthew ...

BEHOLD, THE FORMER THINGS ARE COME TO PASS,.... Which the Lord had foretold in former times, as to Abraham, concerning the affliction of his posterity in Egypt, the bringing them out from thence, and settling them in the land of Canaan; and other things by Moses and Joshua, and other prophets; and by Isaiah; and particularly the captivity of the ten tribes, which was now come to pass in the times of Hezekiah: AND NEW THINGS DO I DECLARE; as the captivity of Judah and Benjamin, and their restoration by Cyrus; and more especially the mission and incarnation of Christ, his sufferings and death, and redemption and salvation by him; which were not only things to come, but new things, famous and excellent ones: BEFORE THEY SPRING UP I TELL YOU OF THEM or "before they bud forth" r; while the seeds of them were under ground, sown in the purposes and decrees of God, he spoke of them in prophecy...

This book might well be called «the gospel according to Isaiah,» for it is full of evangelical truth. 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._ Of whom speaketh the prophet this, but of the Messiah Jesus of Nazareth? He was upheld by the mighty power of God. He was the Lord's chosen. The Spirit of God rested upon him, and this day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears, for he hath brought forth righteousness to the Gentiles. Isaiah 42:2. _He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street._ He shall be no clamorous seeker after applause. He shall not shout as those that seek for the mastery. Now the Saviour

FORMER THINGS That is, Isaiah's prediction of Sennacherib's invasion and its results, Isaiah 10 and 37. See also, (Isaiah 41:21); (Isaiah 43:8); (Isaiah 44:7); (Isaiah 48:3); (Isaiah 48:5); (Isaiah 48:16). This appeal of the prophet to the fulfilment of his former predictions strongly confirms the unity of the book....

CHAPTER 42 The True Servant of Jehovah 1. _The Servant of Jehovah and His mission (Isaiah 42:1)_ 2. _His future work among the nations (Isaiah 42:5)_ 3. _The future song of redemption glory (Isaiah 42:10)_ 4. _Jehovah's manifestation in power (Isaiah 42:14)_ 5. _The address of exhortation to the deaf and blind nation (Isaiah 42:18) _ Matthew's Gospel (Matthew 12:20) tells us that this servant is the Lord Jesus Christ. Mark t

THE FORMER THINGS, &C. Referring to his prophecies, among others, concerning Sennacherib, Isaiah 10 and Isaiah 37. NEW THINGS, &C. Thus uniting the predictions of the earlier Chapter s with the so-called "second" part. See App-79....