Isaiah 42:21

“The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness sake, &c.] This may be either understood of what the Lord had done for these people in time past, and which is mentioned as an aggravation of their stupidity, disobedience, and ingratitude; he had delighted in them, and chose them above all people upon the earth, and distinguished them with his favours, which he did for the sake of his own righteousness or faithfulness to his promises made to their fathers: he magnified them with the law, and made them honourablef826; gave them a law which made them great and honourable in the esteem of others; (see <051015> Deuteronomy 10:15 7:6,7 4:6-8) or it may be interpreted of what the Lord would do…”

“his righteousness--not His people's, but His own; Isa 42:24 shows that they had no righteousness (Isa 45:24; Isa 59:16). God is well pleased with His Son ("in whom My soul delighteth," Isa 42:1), "who fulfils all righteousness" (Mat 3:15) for them, and with them for His sake (compare Isa 42:6; Psa 71:16, Psa 71:19; Mat 5:17; Rom 10:3-4; Phi 3:9). Perhaps in God's "righteousness" here is included His faithfulness to His promises given to Israel's forefathers [ROSENMULLER]; because of this He is well pleased with Israel, even though displeased with their sin, which He here reproves; but that promise could only be based on the righteousness of Messiah, the promised seed, which is God's…”

“The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake - There is great variety in the translation and interpretation of this verse. Lowth renders it: Yet Yahweh was gracious unto him for his truth’s sake; He hath exalted his own praise, and made it glorious. Noyes renders it: It pleased Yahweh for his goodness’ sake To give him a law great and glorious; And yet it is a robbed and plundered people. The Septuagint renders it, ‘The Lord God determined that he should be justified, and magnify his praise.’ The Chaldee renders it, ‘Yahweh willed that Israel should be justified; he magnified the doers of his law, and comforted them.’ The Syriac, ‘The Lord willed on account of his righteousness to…”

“Well pleased - Altho' God might justly destroy thee suddenly, yet he will patiently wait for thy repentance, that he may be gracious; and that not for thy sake, but for the glory of his own faithfulness, in fulfilling that covenant, which he made with thy pious progenitors. Magnify - He will maintain the honour of his law, and therefore is not forward to destroy you, who profess the true religion, lest his law should upon that occasion be exposed to contempt. Isaiah 42:22”

“42:21 exalted his glorious law: God’s word is a witness to his righteous rule (see 1:10).”

“well: Isa 1:24-27, Isa 46:12, Isa 46:13; Psa 71:16, Psa 71:19, Psa 85:9-12; Dan 9:24-27; Mat 3:17, Mat 5:17; Mat 17:5; Joh 8:29, Joh 15:10; Rom 3:25, Rom 3:26; Co2 5:19-21; Phi 3:9 he will: Psa 40:8; Mat 3:15, Mat 5:17-20; Rom 3:31, Rom 7:12, Rom 8:3, Rom 8:4, Rom 10:4; Gal 3:13, Gal 3:21; Gal 5:22, Gal 5:23; Heb 8:10; Jo1 3:4, Jo1 3:5 it: Heb. or, him, Joh 13:31, Joh 13:32, Joh 17:4, Joh 17:5 Isaiah 42:22”