THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD ISAIAH 40:1-31

Transcription

1 1 THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD ISAIAH 40:1-31

2 2 Text: THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD ISAIAH 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; construct in the desert a road 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.

3 3 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.

4 4 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) Introduction: The value of studying the Bible in context is clearly seen as we move from Isaiah 39 to Isaiah 40. As we study Isaiah 40 we again observe the twofold nature of prophecy. God had just promised that the Jews would be taken into Babylonian captivity. Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou

5 5 shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. (Isaiah 39:6-7) Isaiah delivered a message for the people of his day; he also provided us with much needed information concerning the bringing about of the gospel plan of salvation. God commanded that His prophets do their best to comfort His people during the time of their captivity. 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. (Isaiah 40:1-2) God pictured a messenger or a forerunner who would help prepare the people to return to their homeland at the end of captivity. Later the same words are used in the New Testament to announce the beginning of the Gospel Age. The emphasis of Isaiah 40 is a spiritual emphasis upon the character and the work of our Redeemer. Isaiah lifted God up as one who is to be reverenced and respected. He wrote, 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. (Isaiah 40:28) Isaiah showed us that God is willing to use His power to strengthen and help His people. 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 40:31) Isaiah pictured the Jews returning from captivity, the kingdom being restored and later the Messiah s being born through the family of Judah as had been prophesied in past years. Commentary: Isaiah 40:1-8, Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 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. A voice cries out, In the wilderness clear a way for the LORD; construct in

6 6 the desert a road for our God. 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. The splendor of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time. For the LORD has decreed it. 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. The grass dries up, the flowers wither, when the wind sent by the LORD blows on them. Surely humanity is like grass. The grass dries up, the flowers wither, but the decree of our God is forever reliable. (NET) God strengthened and encouraged His people - Isaiah 40:1-8: Isaiah and other prophets had a direct command from God to comfort His people. In Isaiah 40:1 we read, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. There is great encouragement in the expression My people and Your God. When the people were rejecting God He called them, not my people. Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. (Hosea 1:9) Now, after captivity, and the people are humbled and obedient God refers to them as, My people. It was God s desire that His people have encouragement and comfort. Isaiah had a message for Jerusalem concerning the end of the captivity. God wanted Jerusalem to know that the punishment was over and that her sins had been paid for. These events had not yet happened, but Isaiah spoke with prophetic certainty. It was just as if these events had already been accomplished. The idea of paying double for wrongs that were done went back to Exodus 22:9. For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour. This was simply to say that when God

7 7 had exacted the judgment, there was no fear of future vengeance. Proper payment had been made for the sins of the nation. The prophet heard a voice clearly saying, Make a straight path or a straight road for the Lord. The valleys were to be filled and the hills were to be leveled. The rough ground was to be made smooth. Later, the words of Isaiah would be applied to John the Baptist. (Matthew 3:2-12) The restoration of the Israelites to Palestine is the primary fulfillment of Isaiah s message when he said, 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. (Isaiah 40:5) The message concerning the restoration of the nation does not exhaust the meaning of this prophecy. This is certainly a prophecy of forgiveness of sins and restoration to fellowship with God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. A situation that looked hopeless was not too difficult for God. The prophet was reminded that the word of God endures forever. Things around us may change, but the word of God is certain. 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. (Isaiah 40:6-8) Isaiah 49:9-20, 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! 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; he leads the ewes along. 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? Who comprehends the mind of the LORD, or gives him instruction as

8 8 his counselor? 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? 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. Not even Lebanon could supply enough firewood for a sacrifice; its wild animals would not provide enough burnt offerings. All the nations are insignificant before him; they are regarded as absolutely nothing. To whom can you compare God? To what image can you liken him? A craftsman casts an idol; a metalsmith overlays it with gold and forges silver chains for it. 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. (NET) There is no God like Jehovah Isaiah 40:9-20: Isaiah reminded Judah that Jehovah is Your God. (Isaiah 40:9) He told them that God had a strong arm and that His reward was with Him. (Isaiah 40:10) God cares for and feeds his people like a shepherd does his sheep. He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11) Isaiah 40:11 pictures God and His relationship with His people. God is like a shepherd to His people. This is God s flock and He cares about them. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd. He will take care of them and lead them to where they need to be for safety. God is so powerful that he can hold the waters of the earth in his hand and he can measure the heavens in the same way. He knows how many specks of dust are on the earth and he knows the weight of the mountains. The Spirit of the Lord needs no one to teach or counsel him. Nations and people are as dust before Him. There is no God, nor anything else that could compare with the Almighty God. To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? (Isaiah 40:18) The God we serve is the living God, not some graven image made of metal

9 9 or wood. The powerful LORD God rules in the affairs of men. Isaiah provided a towering and an awesome description of God and an amazing look at His power and might. The purpose of this description of God and of his power is to cause the people to put their trust in Him. He also wanted to warn them, and fortified them against idolatry. God s wisdom is so great and His power so strong He does not have to ask for counsel or help from anyone. God is all-powerful. An image made of wood has no power; it has to be nailed down, so it will not fall over. (Isaiah 40:20) Isaiah 40:21-26, 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? 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. He is the one who reduces rulers to nothing; he makes the earth s leaders insignificant. 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. To whom can you compare me? Whom do I resemble? says the Holy One. 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. (NET) God created the world and rules over it Isaiah 40:21-26: Isaiah reminded the people of God s power by looking at past history. It is a very clear truth that God created the heavens and the earth. Isaiah said of God, 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.

10 10 (Isaiah 40:22) During thousands of years, man thought that the world was flat; during that time the Bible spoke of the circle of the earth. The heavens and the earth testify to the greatness of God. These things continue, not because they are eternal, but because they are sustained by God. (Colossians 1:17) God asked, To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:25) God, by His power, controls both nature and the nations of the world. What a mighty God we serve! Isaiah 40:27-31, 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? 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. He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy. Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble. 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) Those who trust the Lord will find strength Isaiah 40:27-31: The people of Israel were saying that God does not see what is happening and does not care that they were treated unjustly. Isaiah asked, 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. (Isaiah 40:28) Our great God gives strength to those who are weary. In typical Isaiah style, we see a great illustration as this chapter closes. 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 40:30-31) The psalmist also used

11 11 illustration of the faithful being like eagles. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:5) God restored the strength of the Jewish nation in order that the Messianic promises might be fulfilled. Conclusion: It just makes sense to love and obey our powerful God. Let us turn to the Lord, All-Powerful and worship and serve Him. By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama USA

12 12 Questions on Isaiah 40: What does it mean to study the Bible in context? 2. What are advantages of studying the Bible in context? 3. What is meant by the twofold nature of prophecy? 4. Isaiah referenced a messenger a forerunner. Who was this forerunner? Consider both the Old and New Testaments in your answer.

13 13 5. Take heart for God has promised, But they that upon the shall their ; they shall up with as ; they shall, and not be ; and they shall, and not. 6. Isaiah pictured the returning from, the being, and later the s being through the of has had been in. 7. Isaiah and other prophets were commanded to comfort God s people. This is also the duty of Christians. What comforting things have you done in the last six months? 8. What does Loammi mean? Explain its use in Hosea 1:9. 9. What is prophetic certainty. Give an example of its use in Isaiah 40.

14 Provide Old and New Testament applications of Isaiah 40: What did it take for the people of Judah and Jerusalem to be pardoned? What does it take for us to be forgiven? 12. How does Isaiah describe the brevity and frailty of human life in Isaiah 40:6-8? In contrast the of our shall! 13. Relate how, according to Isaiah 40:9-20, God cared for his people. Include descriptions of his relationships with them.

15 How did Isaiah describe, illustrate God s greatness? 15. The all powerful Lord God rules in the affairs of men. Give examples of God s intervention in the affairs of men. 16. What was the purpose of Isaiah s awesome description of God? 17. Give evidence that the heavens and the earth testify to the greatness of God.

16 Have you ever felt that god does not see what is happening to you and does not care about your troubles? If so, describe those times. 19. the of the in order that the might be. 20. It just makes sense to and over. Let us turn to the, - and and Him.