Blind
Are you blind to Jesus? Maybe even deaf to what God has to say to you? God will lead you out of your darkness. Just put your trust in Him.
This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.
If you do not have a Bible, I invite you to go to BibleGateway.com or another online Bible.
14. “Israel, exiled in Babylon, tended to think God had lost his power or had totally forgotten his people. The prophet rose to say that God was aware that he had not acted for them in a long time.” [Max Anders and Trent C. Butler (2012). HOTC Vol. 15: Isaiah. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
15. “The physical earth will be affected by His judgment.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume III. [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 290)
16. “Violence and destruction will end; and God’s tender guidance will begin to enlighten the eyes of God’s people who are not spiritually blind, living in darkness, and unable to perceive the path they are supposed to follow (6:9-10; 29:9-10, 18; 32:3-4; 35:5; 42:16-19).” (Smith, Gary V., The New American Commentary, Volume 15B, Isaiah 40-66. [Nashville, B & H Publishing Group, 2009], 182)
“This is the way God leads His own. You and I are blind to the future, but He is not, and He will lead all who put their trust in Him.” (McGee, 290)
17. “The idolaters, you see, are warned that judgment is coming.” (McGee, 290)
Deaf
18. “In this message Isaiah explains God’s plans for the blind servant (42:18-19) who does not seem to understand God’s actions (42:25b).” (Smith, 178)
“The ‘servant’ in verses 18-25 is the people of Israel, blind to their own sins and deaf to God’s voice (6:9-10); yet the Lord graciously forgave them and led them out of bondage.” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament Prophets. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2002], 52)
“Israel is pictured as a blind servant that refused to serve God.” (Smith, 175)
“Isaiah explains God’s plans for the blind servant (42:18-19) who do not seem to understand God’s actions (42:25b). (Smith, 178)
19. “How can Israel serve God if she is blind and how can she be God’s messenger to others if she cannot hear what God says?” (Smith, 185)
“He identifies the blind servant here as His own people Israel.” (McGee, 290)
20. “Israel did not understand what God was doing in their history, so they were blind. Israel paid no attention to God’s prophets and the words he gave them, so they were deaf.” [Max Anders and Trent C. Butler (2012). HOTC Vol. 15: Isaiah. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
21. “God was righteous and wanted to restore the right (42:6), so he chose to glorify his Torah, his law or instruction which could lead his people to become righteous.” [Max Anders and Trent C. Butler (2012). HOTC Vol. 15: Isaiah. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
22. “One could assume that their present condition relates to the fact that the people were blind and did not follow the great and glorious instructions from God.” (Smith, 187)
Listen
23. “Instead of asking who is blind (42:19), this question asks if anyone in the audience will now listen to what God is saying?” (Smith, 188)
24. “God caused the present situation in reaction to their sins. Sin is specifically defined as not following his ways, not obeying his law.” [Max Anders and Trent C. Butler (2012). HOTC Vol. 15: Isaiah. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
25. “If the people would simply see that God had caused their problem, then they could believe he was going to act again. At that moment he was calling his people to accept the new role he had for them as his servants, who would respond and witness to his salvation.” [Max Anders and Trent C. Butler (2012). HOTC Vol. 15: Isaiah. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
References
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.
Max Anders and Trent C. Butler (2012). HOTC Vol. 15: Isaiah. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume III. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
Smith, Gary V., The New American Commentary, Volume 15B, Isaiah 40-66. Nashville, B & H Publishing Group, 2009
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament Prophets. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2002
