Jesus came to bring the people good tidings v.9Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:9 and in him they saw a manifestation of God, and at his return he will come as the “arm of the LORD” to rule for God in Zion v.10.Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:10 He will bring reward for God’s people (Revelation 22:12),Waiting for response for Revelation 22:12 ready to perform the work of the LORD set before him v.10.Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:10 He is the good shepherd (John 10:11)Waiting for response for John 10:11 and he will gather his sheep to him when he comes v.11.Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:11 The people of Israel were given this good news through God’s prophets but they often spurned the message and put their trust in idols, therefore God challenged them to recognize his greatness as the creator and sustainer of the universe vs.12-27.Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:12-27
God made the heavens and the earth v.12,Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:12 understands all things vs.13-14,Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:13-14 and the nations are as nothing to him and counted less than nothing v.17.Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:17 The nations are like a drop of a bucket to him v.15,Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:15 and human observation has confirmed that the universe is so vast that even our planet is just a minute speck in the cosmos. Some people attempted to make some likeness of God out of gold and silver vs.18-19Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:18-19 but this is impossible, and it is foolish to worship a graven image v.20.Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:20 Israel should have known the truth about the Creator for he spoke to them through his prophets v.21.Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:21 Not only did he create the heavens and the earth v.22,Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:22 including multitudinous stars v.26,Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:26 but he also controls what takes place therein, including events among the nations vs.23-24.Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:23-24 Israel had so much evidence of God’s existence and his actions on their behalf that their claim that he was hid from them was incredible v.27.Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:27
God has not only made himself known to his people by his word but he has also made the exceeding great and precious promise that they will be partakers of his divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).Waiting for response for 2 Peter 1:4 He “fainteth not, neither is weary” v.28Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:28 and he will empower his saints so that they increase in strength v.29.Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:29 During the Millennium young men of the nations will faint and be weary v.29Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:29 “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” v.31.Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:31
Verses 1-8
Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:1-8The scriptures contain great comfort for God’s people v.1Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:1 and in due course Israel will be greatly comforted in Jerusalem when her warfare is accomplished and her iniquity is pardoned v.2.Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:2 They will receive this comfort when the Lord Jesus their Messiah returns, and he proclaimed this as good news when he preached the gospel to them long ago. He was introduced to Israel by John the Baptist who was the one crying in the wilderness, preparing the way of the LORD v.3Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:3 (Matthew 3:3).Waiting for response for Matthew 3:3 Jesus came to manifest the glory of God before all flesh, i.e. both Jews and Gentiles v.5.Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:5 The message was that “all flesh is grass” and fades away to nothing vs.6-8Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:6-8 but “the word of God shall stand for ever” v.8.Waiting for response for Isaiah 40:8 Peter cites this passage as proof that our natural destiny is oblivion but also that we can live for ever if we are “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” 1 Peter 1:23.Waiting for response for 1 Peter 1:23 We do this by believing God’s word and being baptized.