1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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:
5 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.
6 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:
7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
9 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!
10 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.
11 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.
12 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?
13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
14 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?
15 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.
16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
20 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.
21 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?
22 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:
23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
24 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.
25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
26 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.
27 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?
28 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.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 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 one of the most significant chapters in the Bible because it marks a distinct shift in the book of Isaiah. After 39 chapters of judgment and warnings of exile for the people of Israel, chapter 40 begins with words of comfort and hope. It is a chapter filled with beautiful imagery and profound theological implications, offering a glimpse of God's character and His plan for redemption.
Before delving into the themes and meanings of Isaiah 40, it is crucial to understand its historical and literary context. The book of Isaiah is a prophetic book, named after its author, the prophet Isaiah. His prophecies were primarily directed towards the people of Judah and Jerusalem during a time when they were facing political turmoil and spiritual decay. The first 39 chapters predominantly focus on the impending judgment of God due to the people's persistent sin and rebellion.
However, Isaiah 40 marks a dramatic shift in tone and content. This shift is so significant that some scholars believe a different author, referred to as "Second Isaiah" or "Deutero-Isaiah," wrote the second part of the book. Regardless of the authorship, Isaiah 40 is a turning point in the narrative, where God's message changes from one of impending doom to hope and comfort.
Several central themes emerge from Isaiah 40, including comfort, the sovereignty of God, the frailty of humans, the reliability of God's promises, and the anticipation of redemption.
The chapter begins with the words, "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 KJV). These words signify a significant shift from the previous chapters. God is now offering comfort and hope to His people. He assures them that their time of punishment is over, and they have paid for their sins. This theme of comfort and hope continues throughout the chapter, offering a stark contrast to the messages of judgment and warning in the earlier chapters.
Isaiah 40 offers some of the most beautiful and profound descriptions of God's sovereignty in the Bible. It portrays God as the Creator of the universe, who sits above the circle of the earth and stretches out the heavens like a curtain. He brings out the starry host one by one and calls them each by name (Isaiah 40:22, 26). These images underscore God's power and authority over all creation, contrasting the true God with the idols that the people of Israel had been worshipping.
In contrast to the portrayal of God's sovereignty, Isaiah 40 also highlights the frailty and transience of human life. The prophet uses the image of grass and flowers that wither and fade away to illustrate the ephemeral nature of human life (Isaiah 40:6-8). This imagery serves as a sobering reminder of human limitations and the futility of relying on human strength or wisdom.
While human life is transient, God's word stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). This verse emphasizes the enduring nature of God's promises. Despite the people's sin and rebellion, God remains faithful to His covenant promises. He will not abandon His people but will bring about their restoration and redemption.
Isaiah 40 anticipates the coming of a Redeemer who will shepherd His people and lead them to their promised restoration. The prophet speaks of one who will prepare the way for the Lord in the wilderness, a prophecy that is later fulfilled in John the Baptist, who paved the way for Jesus Christ (Isaiah 40:3-5; Matthew 3:1-3). This anticipation of redemption underscores the overarching narrative of the Bible – God's plan to redeem His people from their sin and rebellion.
Isaiah 40 is a profound reminder of God's character and His plan for humanity. It underscores the sovereignty of God, His faithfulness to His promises, and His compassionate nature. Despite the people's sin and rebellion, God does not abandon them. Instead, He offers them comfort and hope, promising to restore them and redeem them from their sins.
This chapter also serves as a powerful reminder of human frailty. It underscores the futility of relying on human strength or wisdom, highlighting the need for dependence on God. The imagery of grass and flowers that wither and fade away serves as a sobering reminder of the transience of human life, reinforcing the need for reliance on God, whose word stands forever.
Furthermore, Isaiah 40 anticipates the coming of a Redeemer who will shepherd His people and lead them to their promised restoration. This anticipation of redemption underscores the overarching narrative of the Bible – God's plan to redeem His people from their sin and rebellion. This promise of redemption offers hope and comfort to God's people, assuring them that despite their present circumstances, God has not abandoned them but is working out His purposes for their good and His glory.
In conclusion, Isaiah 40 is a profound chapter that offers a glimpse of God's character and His plan for humanity. It underscores the sovereignty of God, His faithfulness to His promises, and His compassionate nature. Despite the people's sin and rebellion, God does not abandon them. Instead, He offers them comfort and hope, promising to restore them and redeem them from their sins. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder of human frailty and the need for dependence on God, whose word stands forever. Furthermore, it anticipates the coming of a Redeemer who will shepherd His people and lead them to their promised restoration, underscoring the overarching narrative of the Bible – God's plan to redeem His people from their sin and rebellion.
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