Description
This chapter proclaims the miracle of the incarnation, that God will come down to earth to reveal his glory and all mankind will see it at the same time. God comes as a mighty warrior king who then cares for his people as a shepherd tends his flock.
Commentary
From a historical perspective, chapter 40 starts a new section in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah over about a 60 year period from approximately 740 to 680 BC. In 722 BC, the northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians, and the ten northern tribes were exiled. In chapter's 1 to 39, Isaiah's role was to call the people of Judah back to God's law so that they might survive in the land under God's covenant blessings, and not be driven from it for covenant disobedience as per Deuteronomy 28. Chapters 1 to 39 also speak to a future end-time generation that will see the Assyrian Antichrist conquer Judah and Jerusalem. The end of chapter 39 anticipates a future event closer to Isaiah's time - the conquest and exile of Judah by Babylon that would take place in 605, 597 and 586 BC. Chapters 40 to 55 then speak to that near-future generation in exile in Babylon, and further ahead to generations that would see the first and second comings of Jesus. Before the second coming, Judah will once again suffer foreign invasion, this time by the Antichrist.
Verses 1 to 2 start the chapter with a message of God's comfort to the people of Judah (v1-2), both to those in exile in Babylon in the 6th century BC, and to those suffering end-time conquest by the Antichrist. In both cases, the people feel abandoned by God (v27). God's message is that they have been punished enough for their sins. The chapter goes on to proclaim the miracle of the transcendent creator God, in all his vastness, coming down to earth to reveal his glory such that all mankind together will see it; and to care for his people as a shepherd tends his flock. It is the announcement to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah that God is coming to visit them!
Verse 3 says, “A voice cries out, “In the wilderness clear a way for the LORD; construct in the desert a road for our God."" All four gospels record John the Baptist identifying his ministry with this verse (Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4, and John 1:23). And verse 9 goes on to declare to Judah, "Here is your God!" So when John the Baptist went on to say in Matthew 3:11, “I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am – I am not worthy to carry his sandals", he was declaring Jesus to be Israel's God. Understood, therefore through the lens of the gospels, Isaiah 40 proclaims the miracle of the incarnation - how the transcendent God becomes a man!
Verses 3 to 4 proclaim the smoothing of the way to prepare for the coming king, using metaphorical hyperbole to emphasise his greatness and importance. It is also possible that there will be some literal levelling of the ground at Jesus second coming, due to a great earthquake (Isaiah 13:13, 24:18-20 and Revelation 16:17-21).
Verse 5 gives the first real clue that Isaiah 40 is not just talking about Jesus' first coming. "The splendor of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time". Then, to affirm the certainty of this promise, Isaiah declares, "For the LORD has decreed it". Obviously, this promise was not fulfilled in Jesus' first coming, but many verses indicate that it will be at his second coming (e.g. Matthew 24:7, Ezekiel 39:21). To drive home the absolute certainty of the decree, verses 6 to 8 describe and expound upon the frailty of humanity that is like grass, in order to contrast that frailty to the reliability of God's decree. In other words, God's decree is certain and stands, "The splendor of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time". Clearly, Isaiah's extended emphasis of this decree indicates the amazing nature of it.
Then in verse 9, Isaiah declares to Judah, "Here is your God!" The enormity of this statement is impossible to overemphasise. God is coming to visit!
Now if God is coming to visit, it begs the question, 'What will he be like?' Isaiah answers that question in verses 10 to 11. "Look, the sovereign LORD comes as a victorious warrior; his military power establishes his rule. Look, his reward is with him; his prize goes before him. Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart". This shepherd-like warrior is fulfilled in Jesus, the Son of David.
Verses 12 to 26 then ponder the enormity of this coming miracle - the greatness of our creator God, our minuteness in comparison, and yet the astounding idea that this great God should come to personally reveal himself to us.
In light of this promise, verse 27 challenges Israel, "Why do you say, Israel, “The LORD is not aware of what is happening to me, My God is not concerned with my vindication”"? And Isaiah goes on to explain that this God does not grow weary (v28). Rather, he strengthens the weary (v29), and even though youths get tired (v30), "those who wait for the LORD's help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles' wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired" (v31).
At Jesus' first coming, although the miracle of the incarnation was completely fulfilled, in that God visited humanity as a human being and even as a helpless babe, the global extent of this revelation of his glory was not. God revealed himself to Israel as a human being, but not to all mankind, and certainly not to all mankind at the same time (v5). This global, simultaneous revelation will be fulfilled at the second coming. Since the first coming was then only a partial fulfilment of this chapter, it is also reasonable to anticipate that before his second coming, God will again commission John the Baptist type ministers to prepare the way. Mike Bickle, as the leader of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, makes great emphasis on what he calls the 'Forerunner ministry', and puts much effort into training young people to proclaim the message of Jesus' imminent return.
Verses 1 to 2 start the chapter with a message of God's comfort to the people of Judah (v1-2), both to those in exile in Babylon in the 6th century BC, and to those suffering end-time conquest by the Antichrist. In both cases, the people feel abandoned by God (v27). God's message is that they have been punished enough for their sins. The chapter goes on to proclaim the miracle of the transcendent creator God, in all his vastness, coming down to earth to reveal his glory such that all mankind together will see it; and to care for his people as a shepherd tends his flock. It is the announcement to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah that God is coming to visit them!
Verse 3 says, “A voice cries out, “In the wilderness clear a way for the LORD; construct in the desert a road for our God."" All four gospels record John the Baptist identifying his ministry with this verse (Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4, and John 1:23). And verse 9 goes on to declare to Judah, "Here is your God!" So when John the Baptist went on to say in Matthew 3:11, “I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am – I am not worthy to carry his sandals", he was declaring Jesus to be Israel's God. Understood, therefore through the lens of the gospels, Isaiah 40 proclaims the miracle of the incarnation - how the transcendent God becomes a man!
Verses 3 to 4 proclaim the smoothing of the way to prepare for the coming king, using metaphorical hyperbole to emphasise his greatness and importance. It is also possible that there will be some literal levelling of the ground at Jesus second coming, due to a great earthquake (Isaiah 13:13, 24:18-20 and Revelation 16:17-21).
Verse 5 gives the first real clue that Isaiah 40 is not just talking about Jesus' first coming. "The splendor of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time". Then, to affirm the certainty of this promise, Isaiah declares, "For the LORD has decreed it". Obviously, this promise was not fulfilled in Jesus' first coming, but many verses indicate that it will be at his second coming (e.g. Matthew 24:7, Ezekiel 39:21). To drive home the absolute certainty of the decree, verses 6 to 8 describe and expound upon the frailty of humanity that is like grass, in order to contrast that frailty to the reliability of God's decree. In other words, God's decree is certain and stands, "The splendor of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time". Clearly, Isaiah's extended emphasis of this decree indicates the amazing nature of it.
Then in verse 9, Isaiah declares to Judah, "Here is your God!" The enormity of this statement is impossible to overemphasise. God is coming to visit!
Now if God is coming to visit, it begs the question, 'What will he be like?' Isaiah answers that question in verses 10 to 11. "Look, the sovereign LORD comes as a victorious warrior; his military power establishes his rule. Look, his reward is with him; his prize goes before him. Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart". This shepherd-like warrior is fulfilled in Jesus, the Son of David.
Verses 12 to 26 then ponder the enormity of this coming miracle - the greatness of our creator God, our minuteness in comparison, and yet the astounding idea that this great God should come to personally reveal himself to us.
In light of this promise, verse 27 challenges Israel, "Why do you say, Israel, “The LORD is not aware of what is happening to me, My God is not concerned with my vindication”"? And Isaiah goes on to explain that this God does not grow weary (v28). Rather, he strengthens the weary (v29), and even though youths get tired (v30), "those who wait for the LORD's help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles' wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired" (v31).
At Jesus' first coming, although the miracle of the incarnation was completely fulfilled, in that God visited humanity as a human being and even as a helpless babe, the global extent of this revelation of his glory was not. God revealed himself to Israel as a human being, but not to all mankind, and certainly not to all mankind at the same time (v5). This global, simultaneous revelation will be fulfilled at the second coming. Since the first coming was then only a partial fulfilment of this chapter, it is also reasonable to anticipate that before his second coming, God will again commission John the Baptist type ministers to prepare the way. Mike Bickle, as the leader of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, makes great emphasis on what he calls the 'Forerunner ministry', and puts much effort into training young people to proclaim the message of Jesus' imminent return.
Tags
Places: Israel, Judah, Jerusalem
Symbols: Levelling of ground
Tags: Jesus as God-incarnate, Jesus as the Good Shepherd, Jesus as a mighty warrior, Jesus as Davidic ruler, God coming to visit, Glory of Jesus seen by all nations, Every eye will see him, Jesus appears in glory, John the Baptist, Forerunner ministry, Preparing the way
Symbols: Levelling of ground
Tags: Jesus as God-incarnate, Jesus as the Good Shepherd, Jesus as a mighty warrior, Jesus as Davidic ruler, God coming to visit, Glory of Jesus seen by all nations, Every eye will see him, Jesus appears in glory, John the Baptist, Forerunner ministry, Preparing the way
The Lord Returns to Jerusalem
1 “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.
2 “Speak kindly to Jerusalem, and tell her that her time of warfare is over, that her punishment is completed. For the Lord has made her pay double for all her sins.”
3 A voice cries out, “In the wilderness clear a way for the Lord; build a level road through the rift valley for our God.
4 Every valley must be elevated, and every mountain and hill leveled. The rough terrain will become a level plain, the rugged landscape a wide valley.
5 The splendor of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time. For the Lord has decreed it.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out!” Another asks, “What should I cry out?” The first voice responds: “All people are like grass, and all their promises are like the flowers in the field.
7 The grass dries up, the flowers wither, when the wind sent by the Lord blows on them. Surely humanity is like grass.
8 The grass dries up, the flowers wither, but the decree of our God is forever reliable.”
9 Go up on a high mountain, O herald Zion! Shout out loudly, O herald Jerusalem! Shout, don’t be afraid! Say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”
10 Look, the Sovereign Lord comes as a victorious warrior; his military power establishes his rule. Look, his reward is with him; his prize goes before him.
11 Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart; he leads the ewes along.
The Lord is Incomparable
12 Who has measured out the waters in the hollow of his hand, or carefully measured the sky, or carefully weighed the soil of the earth, or weighed the mountains in a balance, or the hills on scales?
13 Who comprehends the mind of the Lord, or gives him instruction as his counselor?
14 From whom does he receive directions? Who teaches him the correct way to do things, or imparts knowledge to him, or instructs him in skillful design?
15 Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales. He lifts the coastlands as if they were dust.
16 Not even Lebanon could supply enough firewood for a sacrifice; its wild animals would not provide enough burnt offerings.
17 All the nations are insignificant before him; they are regarded as absolutely nothing.
18 To whom can you compare God? To what image can you liken him?
19 A craftsman casts an idol; a metalsmith overlays it with gold and forges silver chains for it.
20 To make a contribution one selects wood that will not rot; he then seeks a skilled craftsman to make an idol that will not fall over.
21 Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told to you since the very beginning? Have you not understood from the time the earth’s foundations were made?
22 He is the one who sits on the earth’s horizon; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers before him. He is the one who stretches out the sky like a thin curtain, and spreads it out like a pitched tent.
23 He is the one who reduces rulers to nothing; he makes the earth’s leaders insignificant.
24 Indeed, they are barely planted; yes, they are barely sown; yes, they barely take root in the earth, and then he blows on them, causing them to dry up, and the wind carries them away like straw.
25 “To whom can you compare me? Whom do I resemble?” says the Holy One.
26 Look up at the sky! Who created all these heavenly lights? He is the one who leads out their ranks; he calls them all by name. Because of his absolute power and awesome strength, not one of them is missing.
27 Why do you say, Jacob, Why do you say, Israel, “The Lord is not aware of what is happening to me, My God is not concerned with my vindication”?
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the Creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom.
29 He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy.
30 Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble.
31 But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.
1 “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.
2 “Speak kindly to Jerusalem, and tell her that her time of warfare is over, that her punishment is completed. For the Lord has made her pay double for all her sins.”
3 A voice cries out, “In the wilderness clear a way for the Lord; build a level road through the rift valley for our God.
4 Every valley must be elevated, and every mountain and hill leveled. The rough terrain will become a level plain, the rugged landscape a wide valley.
5 The splendor of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time. For the Lord has decreed it.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out!” Another asks, “What should I cry out?” The first voice responds: “All people are like grass, and all their promises are like the flowers in the field.
7 The grass dries up, the flowers wither, when the wind sent by the Lord blows on them. Surely humanity is like grass.
8 The grass dries up, the flowers wither, but the decree of our God is forever reliable.”
9 Go up on a high mountain, O herald Zion! Shout out loudly, O herald Jerusalem! Shout, don’t be afraid! Say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”
10 Look, the Sovereign Lord comes as a victorious warrior; his military power establishes his rule. Look, his reward is with him; his prize goes before him.
11 Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart; he leads the ewes along.
The Lord is Incomparable
12 Who has measured out the waters in the hollow of his hand, or carefully measured the sky, or carefully weighed the soil of the earth, or weighed the mountains in a balance, or the hills on scales?
13 Who comprehends the mind of the Lord, or gives him instruction as his counselor?
14 From whom does he receive directions? Who teaches him the correct way to do things, or imparts knowledge to him, or instructs him in skillful design?
15 Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales. He lifts the coastlands as if they were dust.
16 Not even Lebanon could supply enough firewood for a sacrifice; its wild animals would not provide enough burnt offerings.
17 All the nations are insignificant before him; they are regarded as absolutely nothing.
18 To whom can you compare God? To what image can you liken him?
19 A craftsman casts an idol; a metalsmith overlays it with gold and forges silver chains for it.
20 To make a contribution one selects wood that will not rot; he then seeks a skilled craftsman to make an idol that will not fall over.
21 Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told to you since the very beginning? Have you not understood from the time the earth’s foundations were made?
22 He is the one who sits on the earth’s horizon; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers before him. He is the one who stretches out the sky like a thin curtain, and spreads it out like a pitched tent.
23 He is the one who reduces rulers to nothing; he makes the earth’s leaders insignificant.
24 Indeed, they are barely planted; yes, they are barely sown; yes, they barely take root in the earth, and then he blows on them, causing them to dry up, and the wind carries them away like straw.
25 “To whom can you compare me? Whom do I resemble?” says the Holy One.
26 Look up at the sky! Who created all these heavenly lights? He is the one who leads out their ranks; he calls them all by name. Because of his absolute power and awesome strength, not one of them is missing.
27 Why do you say, Jacob, Why do you say, Israel, “The Lord is not aware of what is happening to me, My God is not concerned with my vindication”?
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the Creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom.
29 He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy.
30 Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble.
31 But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.
(NET)
