Isaiah 42:18-25·~1 min

Israel Is Deaf and Blind

The deaf and blind are called to listen and look, only for the shocking answer to be that no one is as blind as the LORD's servant or as deaf as His messenger. Israel has seen many things yet failed to keep watch, and though the LORD was pleased to magnify His law for the sake of His righteousness, the people did not respond to that revelation as they should have.

L¹⁸isten, you deaf ones; ¹⁹Who is blind but My servant, ²⁰Though seeing many things, you do not keep watch. ²¹The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness,

The people are now plundered, trapped, looted, and given over without anyone rescuing them, but the prophet asks who will finally take this to heart. The answer is theological rather than political: Jacob was handed over because they sinned against the LORD, refused His ways, and rejected His law, so His fierce anger and battle swept over them, yet even then they failed to understand what the fire meant.

²²But this is a people plundered and looted, ²³Who among you will pay attention to this? ²⁴Who gave Jacob up for spoil, ²⁵So He poured out on them His furious anger

Section summaryThe final section confronts Israel for its own spiritual deafness and blindness. Though called servant and messenger, the people have failed to perceive what the righteous law of the LORD was meant to display, and so they have become plundered and trapped. The chapter ends by insisting that their devastation did not happen by accident but because they sinned against the LORD, would not walk in His ways, and would not heed His instruction.

Role in the chapterThis section prevents the chapter's hope from becoming superficial by exposing the moral reason for Israel's judgment.