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Isaiah 42:1-9
With thanks to page sponsor:
Rev. Susan E. Gilbert Zencka,
serving Frame Memorial Presbyterian Church
Stevens Point, WI

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Hebrew Interlinear Bible, WLCv, WLC5, CHES, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Chapter XIV of the Epistle of Barnabas. (ca. 130)
  • Chapter XXVI, Chapter LXV, Chapter CXXII, Chapter CXXIII, Chapter CXXXV, Dialogue With Trypho, Justin Martyr. (c 160)
  • IV.II.1, IV.XX.10, V.XII.2, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter IX, Chapter XII, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
  • III.20, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 209)
  • Chapter XI, On the Soul, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • IV.23, IV.25, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Chapter LIX, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,  Tertullian (c. 211)
  • V.2, V.4, V.6, V.7, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 212)
  • Chapter XI, Against Praxeas,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • I.III.4, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
  • I.LIII, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
  • Book VII, Chapter 23, Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius of Caesarea (c 320).
  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "That is, Christ, who in respect to his manhood is called here servant. The prophets used to make mention of Christ after they declared any great promise, because he is the foundation on which all the promises are made and ratified."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "The Holy Spirit not only came, but rested upon him, and without measure. He patiently bore the contradiction of sinners. His kingdom is spiritual; he was not to appear with earthly honours."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "This place therefore is expressly interpreted of Christ, Matt 12:18, &c. And to him, and to him only, all the particulars following, truly and evidently belong."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "The law of prophetic suggestion leads Isaiah from Cyrus to the far greater Deliverer, behind whom the former is lost sight of."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Isaiah 42:1-9, Tyler Mayfield, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2014.
    • "God's spirit, God's servant, God's delight."
  • The Center for Excellence in Preaching, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, Illustration Ideas, 2017.
  • Commentary, Isaiah 42:1-9 | Christopher Reiter | Church Planter, Jacob's Well church Boise, Idaho | A Plain Account, 2017
    • "As the divide between church and state grows here in America (and even among each other), we too may need to reimagine what it is to be a faithful people while living in an unfamiliar place."
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2017.
  • "Shining Light into Darkness," Alan Brehm, The Waking Dreamer, 2016.
    • "In his baptism Jesus was making a public declaration that he was going to take the side of God's justice. He was going to set about promoting God's work of righting the wrongs and lifting the burdens from the oppressed."
  • Commentary, Isaiah 42:1-9, Amy Oden, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2014.
    • "This passage in Isaiah shows God speaking into the pain of exile to send a servant who will bring justice, and not to Israel only but to all nations."
  • Light is important in Schindler's List, with Oscar Schindler himself being a 'light to the nations.' Visual Parables, Ed McNulty.
  • "The Very Definition of a Servant," John C. Holbert, Opening the Old Testament, 2014.
    • "The work of justice is not only for the famous, the public, or the notorious; it is all of our work, however small the act, however little known the deed."
  • "Bathrobes and Sandals," Rick Morley, 2014.
  • Commentary, Isaiah 42:1-9, Bo Lim, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
    • The ministry of the Servant signifies the dawn of a new era of salvation for the people of God (42:9).
  • "Spiritual Friendships with Prisoners," study guide for adults, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Prison," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2012. (Isaiah 42:6-8) Focus article: "Sermons in a Swiss Prison," John Thompson, "Spiritual Friendship: Portrait of a Prison Ministry," Dick Allison.
  • Isaiah 42:1-9, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Proper 1A, Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • Isaiah 42: 1-9, Studies on Old Testament texts from Series A, Ralph W. Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
  • The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
    • "The passage closes with a surprising verse. New things are declared here; radically new things."
  • Baptism of the Lord, Reflections on Isaiah 42:1-9, John C. Holbert, Patheos, 2011.
  • Commentary, Isaiah 42:1-7, Janette C. Wilson, The African American Lectionary, 2008.
    • "Praise God for a Savior who taught us that everyone can be a hero or heroine if they serve others with compassion."
  • Isaiah 42:1-17, Bible Study by Anthony Bartlett at Preaching Peace.
  • "Seeing Beyond Our Limitations," (Baptism A) Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.
    • "How does a relationship with God help you see beyond your world? How does God help you see the possibilities?"
  • "The Servant of the New," Expository Essay, William R. Long. Part 2.
    • "How do reeds become crushed or oppressed? By the forces of nature and of people. Reeds become smashed because of storms and diseases, because of people stomping over them, because of inadequate nourishment."
  • Environmental & earth-centered reflections, Rev Wanda Copeland, from the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota Environmental Stewardship Commission.
    • "If God¹s justice is complete and transformative, is it not transformative for all of the creation?"
  • "Reading the Ransom Logion in 1 Tim 2.6 and Titus 2.14 with Isa 42.6-7; 49.6-8," J.C. Edwards, Biblica, 2009.
    • "In this study I argue that the same author reads the ransom logion in 1 Tim 2,6 and Titus 2,14 in light of Isa 42,6-7; 49,6-8."
  • "I Am About To Do a New Thing," Carol J. Dempsey, O.P., "Prophetic Ethics," Christian Reflection, 2003.
    • "The kaleidoscopic portrait of God?s power in the prophets both comforts and confuses us. Yet within the biblical text there is a compelling vision of power that can transform the whole of creation, if only we have eyes to see and minds to engage it."
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Beaton, Richard, "Messiah and Justice: A Key to Matthew's Use of Isaiah 42.1-4?" The Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 1999.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Bertram Robert W., "A Baptismal Crossing, Isaiah 42:1-9," Currents in Theology and Mission, 1982.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Chisholm, Robert B., Jr., "The Christological Fulfillment of Isaiah's Servant Songs," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Evans, Craig A., "Jesus and Justice," Ex Auditu, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
    • Lee, Max J., "Response to Evans," Ex Auditu, 2006.
        EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
        EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Fretheim, Terence E., "The Prophets and Social Justice: A Conservative Agenda," Word & World, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Keiser, Thomas A., "The Song of Moses as a Basis for Isaiah's Prophecy," Vetus Testamentum, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lindsey, F. Duane, "The Call of the Servant in Isaiah 42:1-9," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1982.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Sánchez, Leopoldo A., "Homiletical Helps on LW Series B - Epistles," Concordia Journal, 2007. (Section on this text begins on p. 424.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Smillie, Gene, "Isaiah 42:1-4 in Its Rhetorical Context," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Watts, Rikk E., "Echoes from the Past: Israel's Ancient Traditions and the Destiny of the Nations in Isaiah 40-55," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Wilcox, Peter, "The Servant Songs in Deutero-Isaiah," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 1988.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington - Sermons from Seattle:
    • "War and Peace: Iraq, A Just War?"
    • "Is Kuwait a Just War?"
    • "Justice"
• Reviews:
  • Review: Francesc Ramis Darder, El triunfo de Yahve sobre los idolos (Is 40,12-44,23): "En vez de zarzas crecera el cipres". Facultat de Teologia de Catalunya, 2002. Review by Leo Laberge in The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2004. (Review is in English.)
  • Review: Jim W. Adams, The Performative Nature and Function of Isaiah 40-55. T&T Clark, 2006. Review by Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer, Review of Biblical Literature, 2008.
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, The Baptism of the Lord, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2014. 2011.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," January 12, 2014, Union Presbyterian Seminary. Connections: Isaiah 42:1-9 and The Little Duck by Judy Dunn. 2011.
• Drama:
  • "Anna," Anne E. Curtis, dramatix.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, Isaiah 42:1, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
  • Isaiah 42:6, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds.
  • Commercial Site, Isaiah 42 Visual Liturgy Movie, The Work of the People, 2011.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Isaiah 42:1, 4, 6. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymn selections (United Methodist) and more from Hymnsite.com.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Isaiah
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Isaiah

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