Isaiah 40
IN the historical section chapters 36 to 39, we saw the contrast between the gods of the nations, and the living God with whom we have had to do. We found there too, the outward enemies, whose actions toward or against Israel and Judah, and their judgment at the hands of God and His people when later restored, occupied the first part of this book.
We now begin upon what has been called the second book of Isaiah because the subject brought out in it by the Holy Spirit is the inward or moral history of this people in their God-given place of testimony against idolatry. With this we shall find their relationship with Christ, and the salvation of a remnant of the nation through the mercy of God.
The second part of Isaiah’s prophecy begins with the comfort of God. How gracious of Him! He sees the end from the beginning, and though what follows will expose unsparingly the nation’s moral condition, His purposes in grace are interwoven throughout.
Verses 1 and 2 look then at the result; the details; how this result will be reached, occupies the Holy Spirit to the end of the book. When God can say that Jerusalem has received from His hand double, we know He is thinking of what His Son suffered on their behalf. Upon Him was laid, as the remnant will say (Isaiah 53:5, 65But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5‑6)), “The iniquity of us all.” What they will have endured is but the needed correction, cleansing of heart and conscience in connection with the discovery to themselves of the enormity of their sin. Yet God here says to them, you have received double for all your sins; this is the reckoning of His gracious compassionate love.
In verses 3 to 8, though the beginning be concerned particularly with Israel—presenting John the Baptist’s mission to Israel (see the quotations in Matthew 3:33For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (Matthew 3:3); Mark 1:33The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (Mark 1:3) and Luke 3:4-64As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Luke 3:4‑6)) we see the principles according to which God acts toward man. “All flesh is grass,” and Peter in his First Epistle, chapter 1 reminds us of this humbling fact; “but the Word of our God abideth forever.” Peter adds “And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you,” which could not be said by Isaiah, the gospel being then unknown.
Jerusalem will be the city of richest blessing, of highest favor, in the day toward which the prophets looked. What will be the state of the inhabitants when they may say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” (verse 9)?
We have read in the first part of Isaiah much about the judgments that will be poured out when He comes; here (verses 10 and 11), though His coming is with power and authority, Jehovah is Israel’s tender, gracious Shepherd, carrying the lambs in His bosom, and gently leading their mothers.
In what follows, Isaiah tells of the glory of God in language surpassing any attainment of man with all his boastful learning. Of course all of the Bible has a character which none of the world’s best literature approaches. Here, it is a question of God or idols.
In Job 38-41 is a comparable passage, where God declares His glory to the end that His servant may learn a lesson which none of his friends, not even Elihu, could teach him.
What moves our hearts in His praise is that this High and Lofty One stoops down to our feeble selves.
“He giveth power to the faint, and to him that hath no might He increaseth strength.”
“They that wait upon Him shall renew their strength; they shall mount up; with wings as eagles; they shall run and not tire; they shall walk and not faint” (verses 29, 31). Blessed be His Name forever!
ML 12/03/1933