Listen to Me, O islands, And pay attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He named Me. (Isaiah 49:1)

from the womb . . . the body of my mother. The whole world, including Gentiles (“coastlands,” “peoples from afar”) are called to recognize two significant points: 1) the Messiah/Servant will be a human being, born as others are of a woman, yet virgin born, and 2) he will be an individual as distinct from a personified group such as the nation of Israel, which has also been called the Lord’s servant. (John MacArthur)

This is directed to the isles (that is, the Gentiles, for they are called the isles of the Gentiles, (Genesis 10:5) and to the people from far, that were strangers to the commonwealth of Israel, and afar off. Let these listen as to a thing at a distance, which yet they are to hear with desire and attention. Note, 1. The tidings of a Redeemer are sent to the Gentiles, and to those that lie most remote; and they are concerned to listen to them. 2. The Gentiles listened to the gospel when the Jews were deaf to it. (Matthew Henry)

“I have kept silent for a long time, I have kept still and restrained Myself. Now like a woman in labor I will groan, I will both gasp and pant”. (Isaiah 42:14)

held my peace . . . kept still and restrained myself. From the beginning of creation God remained silent, until the time was ripe to intervene in human affairs. He has not been indifferent to wickedness in the world, but will send his Servant in “the fullness of time” (John MacArthur)

He had long held his peace, and been still, and refrained himself, while he winked at the times of the ignorance of the Gentile world (Acts 17:30), and suffered all nations to walk in their own ways (Acts 14:16); but now he shall go forth as a mighty man, as a man of war, to attack the devil’s kingdom and give it a fatal blow. (Matthew Henry)

The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies. (Isaiah 42:13)

mighty man . . . man of war. As a mighty warrior, the Lord will work through his Servant to overcome all enemies (John MacArthur)

He will appear in his power and glory more than ever. So he did in the preaching of his gospel, in the divine power and energy which went along with it, and in the wonderful success it had in the pulling down of Satan’s stronghold. (Matthew Henry)

Sing to the LORD a new song, Sing His praise from the end of the earth! You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it. You islands, and those who dwell on them. (Isaiah 42:10)

Sing . . . a new song, his praise. This “new song” never before sung, called for by new manifestations of God’s grace, will match the newness of conditions created by the Servant’s work of redemption in the kingdom, for which earth’s inhabitants will also sing “his praise.” (John MacArthur)

Now, this being the new thing which God declares, the newness of the song which is to be sung on this occasion is this, that whereas, before, the songs of the Lord were very much confined to the temple at Jerusalem (David’s psalms were in the language of the Jews only, and sung by them in their own country only; for, when they were in a strange land, they hung their harps on the willow-trees and could not sing the Lord’s song, as we find, (Psalm 137:2-4), now the songs of holy joy and praise shall be sung all the world over. The Gentile nations shall share equally with the Jews in New Testament blessings, and therefore shall join in New Testament praises and acts of worship. There shall be churches set up in Gentile nations and they shall sing a new song. (Matthew Henry)

“Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.” (Isaiah 42:9)

“Behold, the former things have come to pass; hitherto the Lord has helped his church, has supported her under former burdens, relieved her in former staits; and this in performance of the promises made to the fathers.

And now new things do I declare. Now I will make new promises, which shall as certainly be fulfilled in their season as old ones were; now I will bestow new favors, such as have not been conferred formerly. Old Testament blessings you have had abundantly; now I declare New Testament blessings, not a fruitful country and dominion over your neighbours, but spiritual blessings in heavenly things.

Before they spring forth in the preaching of the gospel I tell you of them, under the type and figure of the former things.” Note, The receipt of former mercies may encourage us to hope for further mercies; for God is constant in his care for his people, and his compassions are still new.

“Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible”

“I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, (Isaiah 42:6)

I am the Lord. His personal name is the one he explained to Moses as specially symbolic of the unique relationship he bore to Israel. Here that covenant name guarantees his ministry through the Messiah-Servant. 

Covenant for the people. The Servant is a covenant in that he personifies and provides the blessings of salvation to God’s people Israel. He is the Mediator of a better covenant than the one with Moses, i.e., the New Covenant. 

Light for the nations. Simeon saw the beginning of this fulfillment at Christ’s first coming (Luke 2:32). He came as the Messiah of Israel, yet the Savior of the world, who revealed himself to a non-Jewish immoral woman by the well in Samaria and commanded his followers to preach the gospel of salvation to everyone in the world.

Certainly the church, made up mostly of Gentiles grafted into the trunk of blessing fulfills this promise, as does the future kingdom on earth when the Servant will use Israel to shine and enlighten all the nations of the earth.

Commentary by John MacArthur

“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. (Isaiah 42:1)

This is the first of four Servant-songs referring to Messiah.

My servant. Others deserve the title “my servant” but this personal Servant of the Lord is the Messiah, who was chosen because the Lord delights in him and puts his Spirit upon him.

Justice to the nations. At his second coming, Christ will rule over a kingdom in which justice prevails throughout the world. The millennial kingdom is not for Israel alone, though the Messiah will reign on the throne of David in Jerusalem, and Israel will be the glorious people. In fact, all the nations of the world will experience the righteousness and justice of the Messiah King.

Commentary from John MacArthur

Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. (Isaiah 40:11)

A picture of God’s omnipotence. The same arm that powerfully scatters the Jews all over the earth in judgment is to overcome Israel’s oppressors and to tenderly feed and lead his flock

In that part of the world especially, shepherding involved constant hands-on care from shepherd to sheep. Middle Eastern flocks (even today) aren’t generally herded by dogs as in most Western sheep ranching; they are led by the shepherd. In other words, he leads by serving them, not by driving them.

Commentary from John MacArthur

When we allow the Shepherd to lead us we can be certain that we are going in the right direction. In the arms of the Shepherd we can rest in safety and comfort.

Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him. (Isaiah 40:10)

He is said to come “with a strong hand”, or with great power, which his work required; which was to fulfil the law, satisfy divine justice, atone for sin, grapple and conflict with innumerable enemies, undergo the death of the cross, bear the curse of the law, and the wrath of God, and all in order to obtain eternal redemption for his people; for this he came from heaven to earth, not by change of place, but by assumption of nature.

and his arm shall rule for him; or he shall have sufficient power of himself to do the work he comes about; his own arm or power wrought salvation for him and for his people;

behold, his reward is with him; to give to those that trust in him, that believe in him, embrace his Gospel, and act according to it.

and his work before him; the work of redemption and salvation, which he was called unto, sent to do, and which, being given him, he agreed to do, was very toilsome and laborious, yet he took great delight in it, and has finished it.

Commentary from John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

Behold! literally means “Be sure to see . . . !,” i.e. “Don’t miss this! It is an observable, objective fact!”