Isaiah 40

This chapter introduces chapters 40–66. In this section, comfort means the result of God's merciful actions toward people in the future. It includes encouragement, strength, and acceptance.

God wants to rescue his people (Isaiah 40:1–11) and is fully capable of doing so (40:12–26). The exiles needed to trust God's promises and wait for their rescue (Isaiah 40:27–31; see also 30:15–18).

This section shares the good news of God's coming salvation. The Lord will support his people and judge His enemies. Salvation will occur through the arrival, suffering, and exaltation of the Lord's servant, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The rest of Isaiah offers a message of comfort and reveals God's character and his plans for Israel. As Isaiah 39:6–7 predicted, Judah would face judgment and exile after Isaiah's time. Throughout Isaiah 40–66, Isaiah prophesied as if the exile in Babylon had already occurred. Thus, the Babylonian exile is the context for understanding these chapters.

• Speak tenderly: The prophet's message was to encourage Jerusalem with the good news of God's forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration.

• From the prophetic perspective, Israel’s sad days are gone because the exile has ended.

• she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins: Israel faced the full force of God's wrath (Isaiah 51:19–23; compare 61:7).

• A voice of one calling: In Malachi 3:1, this person (possibly the Elijah of Malachi 4:5) was God's messenger who prepared the way for God's coming. In the Gospels, people identified this announcer as John the Baptist (Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23).

• Prepare the way … make a straight highway: The announcer's message would speed up God's coming (see Isaiah 35:8). As God made a way for Israel through the Red Sea (Isaiah 43:16), a way would also be opened for the Lord (see 52:11–12).

There is now a shift from announcing the good news to expecting God's arrival. The good news (Isaiah 40:1–2) is based on God himself.

Isaiah described the Lord as coming on a highway through the desert (see Isaiah 35). However, the imagery is reversed here: In Isaiah 35, the people traveled to Zion, toward the Lord. Here, the Lord is coming toward his people (see also Isaiah 52:8, where both images are combined).

• The future display of God's glory would include Judah's return from exile but extend beyond that. The New Testament confirms that God's glory was revealed in Jesus Christ (John 1:14; Hebrews 1:3).

• the mouth of the LORD has spoken: The promised salvation and judgment will surely happen because the Lord, who keeps his promises, has declared it (see Isaiah 1:20; 58:14).

• Cry out: So that everyone can hear.

• People are not worthy of the revelation of God’s glory because they are mortal.

All humans are mortal and temporary. In contrast, God continues with his plans and succeeds. Time does not stop him from doing what he wants (see Isaiah 14:24).

The breath of the LORD refers to God's spoken words of judgment (see Isaiah 4:4).

the word of our God stands forever: All of God’s words, including his plans and the written word, will succeed. God might change human expectations, but everything will follow his wise plan (see Isaiah 14:24; 55:8–11; see also Matthew 25:34).

God is coming to save and restore human beings (see also Isaiah 35:4; Revelation 22:12).

God is the good news. He comes as a warrior to rescue his people with power, yet he also holds them gently like a shepherd.

• The Lord's rule is different from that of unjust and weak rulers, whom he will judge. His rule is compassionate, just, righteous, and powerful.

• His arm establishes His rule: God showed his power in events such as:

  • the defeat of the Egyptians (Isaiah 63:12),

  • the judgment of his enemies (Isaiah 30:30; 48:14; 51:9), and

  • the rescue of his people (Isaiah 59:16).

Isaiah used the well-known biblical image of a shepherd to describe God's care for his people (see also Isaiah 49:10; Psalm 23:1; Jeremiah 3:15; 23:4; Ezekiel 34:11–17; Matthew 2:6; John 10:1–18).

These rhetorical questions suggest the answer, “No one!” God alone created everything. He will judge creation (Isaiah 24:17), and only he can and will restore it through his salvation.

In response to Israel's questions (spoken by the prophet), the Lord declared that he is the unmatched God, a wise and sovereign creator who governs the nations.

God rules over all nations and their power structures. Compared to God, they are almost nothing. This includes the Babylonian Empire, which was just a tool in God's hand.

People valued Lebanon for its plentiful wood and wildlife (see Isaiah 2:13–16; Psalm 104:16–17).

The nations, including their leaders (Isaiah 40:23), pagan structures (41:24, 29; 44:9–11), and all enemies of God's people (41:11–12), are worth nothing apart from God.

• To whom … what image: Earlier in the book, Isaiah showed that idolatry is foolish and empty (Isaiah 16:12; 37:16–19). Isaiah 40–48, he gives a much longer argument against it.

  An idol is an object that people make to represent a god or a religious idea. But these objects are made by human hands. Those who worship them do not see that they are only things people have made.

  Idols have no power (Isaiah 41:7, 22–24; 48:14). They give people a false feeling of safety (Isaiah 42:17). They mislead people and cause deep disappointment (Isaiah 44:20; 42:17; 45:16, 20). They cannot save or protect anyone.

  In fact, idols are so weak that they can fall over (Isaiah 40:20; 41:7). They compete with God’s glory (Isaiah 42:8). They also lower human dignity, because people bow down to things they have made (44:9; see also 41:21–29).

• The Lord, the true God, is not like idols. No one can compare to him (see Isaiah 40:25; 46:5; Psalms 86:8; 89:6). He is completely unique and without equal.

an idol that will not topple: This is a sarcastic remark. It would be embarrassing if the idol could not even stand (see Isaiah 40:18; 41:7; 1 Samuel 5:4).

Idol worshipers do not recognize God or respond wisely to him. The faithful in Israel understand and see God's role in the story of redemption, which includes both exile and restoration (Isaiah 41:20).

• God rules as king over the entire earth (see Isaiah 6:1; Psalms 2:4; 80:1; 99:1; 102:12; 113:5). God is so vast and powerful that humans seem like grasshoppers in comparison.

• Believing in God as the creator of the heavens and earth opposes the common Babylonian and Egyptian belief that the sun, moon, and stars are gods.

• like a curtain...a tent: See also Psalm 104:2.

princes: God is not impressed by human power or fame. Human strength and reputation do not change who God is.

The Holy One is a shorter form of the Holy One of Israel. This is a common name for God in the book of Isaiah (see also Isaiah 10:17; 43:15; Psalm 22:3).

Lift up your eyes on high: Just as God told Abraham to look into the sky (Genesis 15:5), he also told Israel to look to the stars for encouragement (see also Isaiah 51:2–3). The cosmos shows God's great power and unmatched strength. The Strong One can strengthen the weak (Isaiah 40:27–31; see Psalm 147:5).

My way is hidden … ignored by my God: The coming exile, a time when God's powerful presence and rescue would not be visible, would prompt questions (see also Isaiah 49:14; 54:7; Lamentations 5:20–22).

• know … understood: Compare Isaiah 40:21.

• the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth: Creation shows God's power and wisdom. He is also the Creator of the future world, a place of righteousness, justice, and peace (Isaiah 45:8; 48:6–7; 65:17–18).

• He will not grow tired or weary: God does not have human limitations.

In this context, the weak are those who face persecution or oppression, like during the exile in Babylon. The Lord is their only help (see Isaiah 49:4–5; 50:4; Psalms 68:9; 119:28).

• wait upon the LORD: See Isaiah 33:2; 49:23; 51:5.

• like eagles: This strong image of rescue reminded readers of the exodus event from long ago (Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:10–12; see also Psalm 103:5).