Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.
Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40 is a powerful chapter filled with comfort, hope, and a profound declaration of God's incomparable greatness. Penned during a tumultuous time, these words were meant to resonate with the Israelites facing exile and beyond, offering assurance of God's unwavering faithfulness. This chapter provides not only solace for the weary but also a compelling invitation to trust in the Lord, the everlasting God, Creator of the whole earth (Isaiah 40:28).
A Message of Comfort and Pardon (Isaiah 40:1-2)
The chapter opens with a direct command from God: "Comfort, comfort my people" (Isaiah 40:1). This isn't just any comfort; it's a tender and intimate message spoken directly to Jerusalem. The announcement is one of liberation and forgiveness: their "forced labor" is over, their "iniquity has been pardoned," and they have received "double for all her sins" (Isaiah 40:2). These words, though written long before the Babylonian exile, were intended to bring hope to the Jews during that future period of hardship, assuring them that their time of suffering would eventually come to an end as they experienced the full measure of discipline for their sins.
Preparing the Way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3-5)
The prophecy continues with the imagery of preparing the way of the Lord in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3). This speaks of God's providential care in creating a smooth path for the Jews to return to Jerusalem from Babylon. But the significance extends beyond this historical event. The Gospel writers recognized a deeper fulfillment in the ministry of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-3; Mark 1:1-4; Luke 3:1-6). John, the voice crying out in the wilderness, prepared the way for Jesus, the Messiah. He pointed people to "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), paving the way for the ultimate salvation.
The Eternal Word vs. Fleeting Humanity (Isaiah 40:6-8)
Isaiah is commanded to "Cry out!" (Isaiah 40:6). What follows is a stark contrast between the fleeting nature of human life and the enduring power of God's word. "All flesh is grass," the prophet declares, "and all its beauty is like the flower of the field" (Isaiah 40:6). The strongest among us is still just human, dependent on God for life itself. "The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it" (Isaiah 40:7). However, "the word of our God will stand forever" (Isaiah 40:8). This is a crucial assurance: God's promises are trustworthy and will be fulfilled.
The Good Shepherd and the Everlasting Word (Isaiah 40:9-11)
The message of hope continues with the image of God as a shepherd. The Lord will come with power, but he will also "tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms and carry them close to his heart; he will gently lead those that have young" (Isaiah 40:11). This tender image underscores God's care and compassion for his people. As Peter reminds us (1 Peter 1:23-25), this enduring word of God is the very foundation of our salvation. Because "the word of our God remains forever," we can have confidence in the salvation Christ won for us.
The Incomparable Greatness of God (Isaiah 40:12-26)
The chapter then shifts to a powerful declaration of God's incomparable greatness. Through a series of rhetorical questions, Isaiah highlights God's unrivaled sovereignty over all creation. "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?" (Isaiah 40:12). The nations are but "a drop in a bucket" compared to Him (Isaiah 40:15). God alone spoke the world into existence and knows each star by name (Isaiah 40:26). Who can direct the Spirit of the Lord, or who gave him counsel? (Isaiah 40:13). The answer is clear: No one. God is omniscient and doesn't need advice. "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" (Isaiah 40:25). There is no comparison. He is the unique and sovereign Lord of all. This section emphasizes that if humans are unworthy to be compared to God, how much less worthy are idols? (Isaiah 40:18-20).
Renewing Strength Through Trust (Isaiah 40:27-31)
The chapter concludes with an invitation to trust in the Lord, especially when we feel weak and weary. The prophet addresses the feeling of abandonment: "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God" (Isaiah 40:27). But Isaiah reminds them that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth (Isaiah 40:28). His power is unlimited, and He never grows faint or weary. He "gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak" (Isaiah 40:29). Those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31). This promise is not for everyone, but for those who trust in the Lord. It's about relying on God's perspective, submitting to His Word, and experiencing His spiritual power in daily life. Even if our circumstances don't change, God can change us, giving us the strength to persevere.
Isaiah 40 offers a timeless message of comfort, hope, and a call to trust in the incomparable greatness of God. Whether facing personal struggles or global uncertainties, we can find strength and encouragement in the enduring promises of the Lord. This chapter is a powerful reminder that God's word remains forever, and those who wait upon Him will find their strength renewed.
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.
Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40 is a powerful chapter filled with comfort, hope, and a profound declaration of God's incomparable greatness. Penned during a tumultuous time, these words were meant to resonate with the Israelites facing exile and beyond, offering assurance of God's unwavering faithfulness. This chapter provides not only solace for the weary but also a compelling invitation to trust in the Lord, the everlasting God, Creator of the whole earth (Isaiah 40:28).
A Message of Comfort and Pardon (Isaiah 40:1-2)
The chapter opens with a direct command from God: "Comfort, comfort my people" (Isaiah 40:1). This isn't just any comfort; it's a tender and intimate message spoken directly to Jerusalem. The announcement is one of liberation and forgiveness: their "forced labor" is over, their "iniquity has been pardoned," and they have received "double for all her sins" (Isaiah 40:2). These words, though written long before the Babylonian exile, were intended to bring hope to the Jews during that future period of hardship, assuring them that their time of suffering would eventually come to an end as they experienced the full measure of discipline for their sins.
Preparing the Way of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3-5)
The prophecy continues with the imagery of preparing the way of the Lord in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3). This speaks of God's providential care in creating a smooth path for the Jews to return to Jerusalem from Babylon. But the significance extends beyond this historical event. The Gospel writers recognized a deeper fulfillment in the ministry of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-3; Mark 1:1-4; Luke 3:1-6). John, the voice crying out in the wilderness, prepared the way for Jesus, the Messiah. He pointed people to "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), paving the way for the ultimate salvation.
The Eternal Word vs. Fleeting Humanity (Isaiah 40:6-8)
Isaiah is commanded to "Cry out!" (Isaiah 40:6). What follows is a stark contrast between the fleeting nature of human life and the enduring power of God's word. "All flesh is grass," the prophet declares, "and all its beauty is like the flower of the field" (Isaiah 40:6). The strongest among us is still just human, dependent on God for life itself. "The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it" (Isaiah 40:7). However, "the word of our God will stand forever" (Isaiah 40:8). This is a crucial assurance: God's promises are trustworthy and will be fulfilled.
The Good Shepherd and the Everlasting Word (Isaiah 40:9-11)
The message of hope continues with the image of God as a shepherd. The Lord will come with power, but he will also "tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms and carry them close to his heart; he will gently lead those that have young" (Isaiah 40:11). This tender image underscores God's care and compassion for his people. As Peter reminds us (1 Peter 1:23-25), this enduring word of God is the very foundation of our salvation. Because "the word of our God remains forever," we can have confidence in the salvation Christ won for us.
The Incomparable Greatness of God (Isaiah 40:12-26)
The chapter then shifts to a powerful declaration of God's incomparable greatness. Through a series of rhetorical questions, Isaiah highlights God's unrivaled sovereignty over all creation. "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?" (Isaiah 40:12). The nations are but "a drop in a bucket" compared to Him (Isaiah 40:15). God alone spoke the world into existence and knows each star by name (Isaiah 40:26). Who can direct the Spirit of the Lord, or who gave him counsel? (Isaiah 40:13). The answer is clear: No one. God is omniscient and doesn't need advice. "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" (Isaiah 40:25). There is no comparison. He is the unique and sovereign Lord of all. This section emphasizes that if humans are unworthy to be compared to God, how much less worthy are idols? (Isaiah 40:18-20).
Renewing Strength Through Trust (Isaiah 40:27-31)
The chapter concludes with an invitation to trust in the Lord, especially when we feel weak and weary. The prophet addresses the feeling of abandonment: "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God" (Isaiah 40:27). But Isaiah reminds them that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth (Isaiah 40:28). His power is unlimited, and He never grows faint or weary. He "gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak" (Isaiah 40:29). Those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31). This promise is not for everyone, but for those who trust in the Lord. It's about relying on God's perspective, submitting to His Word, and experiencing His spiritual power in daily life. Even if our circumstances don't change, God can change us, giving us the strength to persevere.
Isaiah 40 offers a timeless message of comfort, hope, and a call to trust in the incomparable greatness of God. Whether facing personal struggles or global uncertainties, we can find strength and encouragement in the enduring promises of the Lord. This chapter is a powerful reminder that God's word remains forever, and those who wait upon Him will find their strength renewed.