He
will not shout,
nor raise his voice,
nor cause it to be heard in the street.
He won’t break a bruised reed.
He won’t quench a dimly burning wick.
He will faithfully bring justice.
He will not fail nor be discouraged,
until he has set justice in the earth,
and the islands will wait for his law.”
Isaiah 42:2-4
Isaiah 42 [1.] “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold;
my chosen, in whom my soul delights—
I have put my Spirit on him.
He will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout,
nor raise his voice,
nor cause it to be heard in the street.
He won’t break a bruised reed.
He won’t quench a dimly burning wick.
He will faithfully bring justice.
He will not fail nor be discouraged,
until he has set justice in the earth,
and the islands will wait for his law.”
Isaiah 42 [5.] Thus says God Yahweh,
he who created the heavens and stretched them out,
he who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it,
he who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it.
“I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness,
and will hold your hand,
and will keep you,
and make you a covenant for the people,
as a light for the nations;
to open the blind eyes,
to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon,
and those who sit in darkness out of the prison.
Meaning:
Isaiah 42 begins the first of the “Servant Songs” in Isaiah, poems about a chosen Servant of the Lord who will carry out God’s purposes. God introduces him: “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights” (Isaiah 42:1). These verses describe how the Servant will do his work: quietly, gently and faithfully, until justice reaches the ends of the earth.
- “He will not shout, nor raise his voice”
The great rulers of Isaiah’s day announced their power loudly. Heralds proclaimed their victories in the streets, and armies made their presence felt. The Servant is different. He does not need to shout or push himself forward. His authority does not depend on noise or display.
Matthew saw this fulfilled when Jesus, facing a plot against his life, withdrew, healed the sick and told them not to make him known (Matthew 12:15-21). At his trial Jesus fulfilled another of Isaiah’s pictures: “As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he didn’t open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).
- “He won’t break a bruised reed”
Reeds grew along rivers and were used for measuring rods or simple pens. A bruised reed was cracked and useless, and most people would snap it and throw it away. A “dimly burning wick” was the flax wick of an oil lamp that was nearly out, smoking more than shining. Again, the usual response was to put it out.
The Servant does the opposite. He handles weak and broken people with great care. He does not crush those who are failing or extinguish faith that is almost gone. Jesus lived this out when he said, “I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29).
- “He will faithfully bring justice”
Gentleness does not mean weakness. Justice is mentioned three times in these few lines. The Servant will set things right, but in faithfulness to God and truth, not by force. Peter describes Jesus in the same way: “When he suffered, didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23).
- “He will not fail nor be discouraged”
The words for “fail” and “discouraged” echo the bruised reed and dim wick. The Servant cares for the weak, but he himself will not grow dim or be crushed. He will not stop “until he has set justice in the earth, and the islands will wait for his law.” The islands were the distant coastlands, the far-off nations. The Servant’s mission reaches the whole world, as God says a few verses later: “as a light for the nations” (Isaiah 42:6).
The Significance of Isaiah 42:2-4
- God’s gentle way
God’s chosen Servant wins hearts by gentleness, not force. This challenges every kind of leadership and witness that relies on loudness, pressure or display.
- Hope for the weak
Those who feel bruised or nearly burned out can come to Jesus without fear. He will not break them, but will strengthen and restore them.
Cross-References:
Isaiah 42:1: "Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights—" The Servant introduced.
Matthew 12:20: "He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a smoking flax," Matthew applies the prophecy to Jesus.
Isaiah 53:7: "so he didn’t open his mouth." The silent Servant.
Conclusion: The Servant of the Lord will not shout or raise his voice in the street. He will not break a bruised reed or quench a dimly burning wick, but will faithfully bring justice. He will not fail or be discouraged until justice is set in the earth and the far nations wait for his law. Matthew saw these words fulfilled in the gentle, quiet ministry of Jesus.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible