Isaiah 42:10, 12-25

Isaiah 42:10, 12-25 NIV

Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in the islands. The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.

“For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant. I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools. I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.

“Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see! Who is blind but my servant, and deaf like the messenger I send? Who is blind like the one in covenant with me, blind like the servant of the Lord ? You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen.”

It pleased the Lord for the sake of his righteousness to make his law great and glorious. But this is a people plundered and looted, all of them trapped in pits or hidden away in prisons. They have become plunder, with no one to rescue them; they have been made loot, with no one to say, “Send them back.” Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come? Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned?

For they would not follow his ways; they did not obey his law. So he poured out on them his burning anger, the violence of war. It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.

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Continuing Isaiah 42, beginning at verse 10 the prophet invites praise. He calls the people to sing a new song because God is about to do something new, that being delivering Israel from exile through the Persian king Cyrus. The prophet acknowledges it's been a long time since the Lord has acted to deliver Israel. He had good reason. The exile lasted 70 years, traditionally speaking. But now Yahweh can't wait any longer to be reunited with His beloved nation. He rouses for war against Babylon. There will be a complete reversal of status. Babylon, which is high and mighty, ruler of the ancient middle east, will be decimated and Israel, which is brought low in captivity and oppression, will be exalted high.

The Lord speaks of leading the blind in paths they don't yet know. Imagine being blind and having to find your way in unfamiliar territory! Israel has been unfaithful to Yahweh for so long that they do not know His ways. Like the blind God will have to lead them in how to behave as His holy people. They will be retrained in the paths of righteousness.

God addresses Israel directly, reminding them of their sinful rebellion when they turned to idols. Israel, the Lord's servant and messenger is blind and deaf to the truth. Idol worship has made them so. God made a righteous set of laws that are great and glorious. Those who live by them shall share in this great glory through the blessings of the Lord. But Israel turned to idols instead and are now refugees and captives. They are exiled and forlorn. The Lord did this to them as promised in the law. Now will they see? Now will they hear? Will any understand why they suffer as they do? Even in their bondage some remain ignorant.

The tragedy of Israel will also become their defining moment as the people of God. They lost everything, but through this 70 year exile they learned obedience once more. They turned to their scrolls. They learned again the law of Moses. They listened to teachers. They complied their history and wrote psalms and recorded the words of prophets. They held onto their identity as the chosen people of God. In the midst of their oppressors they maintained a hope that the Lord would one day send deliverance.

When you face times of challenge, when you don't understand why things are going poorly, turn to the Lord. Find out by searching His word if you've been blind and deaf to Him. The Lord is like a refiner's fire. He means to make you holy and burn off from your soul all that is not of Him. Will you be compliant and gain understanding or will you remain in the darkness? Take heart. The Lord is a deliverer. He has purpose in everything. If you suffer indignity or are trapped in some way, use that to turn ever more deeply to the Lord. You will find Him and find release.