
Isaiah 40
Isaiah 40 is a pivotal chapter in the book of Isaiah, marking the beginning of the second half, often called the “Book of Comfort.” The tone shifts from judgment to hope and restoration as God speaks to a weary people, promising comfort, the coming of the Lord, and the assurance of His enduring power. This chapter highlights God's sovereignty, His care for His people, and His ultimate plan to redeem them.
Isaiah 40:1-2 (NKJV)
1 “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!”
Says your God.
2 “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her,
That her warfare is ended,
That her iniquity is pardoned;
For she has received from the Lord’s hand
Double for all her sins.”
God's message to His people is one of comfort and restoration. The time of suffering and hardship, due to their sins, is coming to an end. Jerusalem is to be comforted because her punishment has been fulfilled, and God's grace is extended to her. The mention of "double" refers to the full measure of judgment having been met, and now forgiveness is at hand.
Isaiah 40:3-5 (NKJV)
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare 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 brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places smooth;
5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
This prophecy speaks of the coming of the Lord and the preparation for His arrival. John the Baptist later fulfills this role, preparing the way for Jesus. The imagery of valleys being raised and mountains being leveled reflects the obstacles being removed so that God's glory can be fully revealed to all people. God's redemption is for all, and His glory will be witnessed by all humanity.
Isaiah 40:6-8 (NKJV)
6 The voice said, “Cry out!”
And he said, “What shall I cry?”
“All flesh is grass,
And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades,
Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.”
Here, Isaiah is instructed to proclaim the frailty of human life compared to the eternal nature of God's word. People are like grass, temporary and subject to decay, but God's promises are unchanging and everlasting. This serves as a reminder of the certainty of God's word in contrast to the fleeting nature of human existence.
Isaiah 40:9-11 (NKJV)
9 O Zion,
You who bring good tidings,
Get up into the high mountain;
O Jerusalem,
You who bring good tidings,
Lift up your voice with strength,
Lift it up, be not afraid;
Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand,
And His arm shall rule for Him;
Behold, His reward is with Him,
And His work before Him.
11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs with His arm,
And carry them in His bosom,
And gently lead those who are with young.
Zion is called to proclaim the good news of God's coming. His return is depicted as powerful yet tender, with Him ruling in strength but also caring for His people like a shepherd. The image of God as a shepherd shows His deep care for each individual, especially the vulnerable, whom He gathers, protects, and nurtures.
Isaiah 40:12-14 (NKJV)
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,
Measured heaven with a span
And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure?
Weighed the mountains in scales
And the hills in a balance?
13 Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord,
Or as His counselor has taught Him?
14 With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him,
And taught Him in the path of justice?
Who taught Him knowledge,
And showed Him the way of understanding?
These verses emphasize God's incomparable wisdom and power. He is the creator and sustainer of all things, measuring the waters, heavens, and earth with precision. No one counsels or instructs God; He possesses all knowledge and understanding. His power and sovereignty are beyond human comprehension, pointing to His unmatched authority over all creation.
Isaiah 40:15-17 (NKJV)
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket,
And are counted as the small dust on the scales;
Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.
16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn,
Nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering.
17 All nations before Him are as nothing,
And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.
God's greatness is magnified by contrasting His majesty with the insignificance of the nations. To God, the nations are like a drop of water or dust—insignificant in comparison to His power. Even the grandest sacrifices, like the forests and animals of Lebanon, are insufficient to truly honor Him. This passage highlights the vast difference between God and the nations.
Isaiah 40:18-20 (NKJV)
18 To whom then will you liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to Him?
19 The workman molds an image,
The goldsmith overspreads it with gold,
And the silversmith casts silver chains.
20 Whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution
Chooses a tree that will not rot;
He seeks for himself a skillful workman
To prepare a carved image that will not totter.
This section points out the futility of idol worship. Human-made images, whether crafted from precious metals or wood, cannot compare to the living God. Idolatry is ridiculed as people go to great lengths to create lifeless objects, yet these objects cannot stand up to the reality and power of the true God. God's transcendence over idols is clear.
Isaiah 40:21-24 (NKJV)
21 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
23 He brings the princes to nothing;
He makes the judges of the earth useless.
24 Scarcely shall they be planted,
Scarcely shall they be sown,
Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth,
When He will also blow on them,
And they will wither,
And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.
God's sovereignty and authority are re-emphasized. He is seated above the earth, with its people seen as small as grasshoppers. God’s majesty is seen in His creation, as He stretches out the heavens like a tent. Earthly rulers, no matter how powerful, are temporary and insignificant compared to God. Their power fades quickly, with God able to destroy them at any moment.
Isaiah 40:25-26 (NKJV)
25 “To whom then will you liken Me,
Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high,
And see who has created these things,
Who brings out their host by number;
He calls them all by name,
By the greatness of His might
And the strength of His power;
Not one is missing.
God once again asks to whom He can be compared. The answer is no one. He is the creator of the stars, bringing them out each night, calling each one by name, and maintaining their order through His great power. This reflects His control over the entire universe, sustaining it by His will, and nothing in creation is overlooked or forgotten.
Isaiah 40:27-31 (NKJV)
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
28 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
God reassures His people, Israel, who may feel forgotten or neglected. He reminds them that He is the eternal, all-knowing Creator who never grows weary. His wisdom is beyond understanding. He strengthens the weak and weary, promising renewal for those who trust in Him. Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength, rising up with the endurance and power to face life's challenges without faltering.