Isaiah 42:13-14 KJV — The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
Different translations have the LORD referring to Himself as a soldier, champion, warrior, or man of war. Then, in the next verse, He holds his peace before crying out like a woman in labor.
The entire chapter contains repetitions and apparent contradictions.
Some sources refer to this poem as the first of Isaiah’s Song of the Servant, calling God’s people to quietly bring justice to the world.
Maybe this chapter is guiding us to recognize that our role here is small. God determines the rhythms of the universe and we’re blind to the true machinations.
