Isaiah wants to encourage to people of Israel. Though they have known war, one day the land will know abundance and peace. This is fully achieved in Christ.
Isaiah 40: Comfort for God's People
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
The Word of God Stands Forever
6 A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
The Greatness of God
9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"
10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?
13 Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel?
14 Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.
16 Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.
17 All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.
18 To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?
19 An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains.
20 He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move.
21 Do you not know? Do you not hear? 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 like a tent to dwell in;
23 who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.
24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
25 To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for 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.
Isaiah 41: Fear Not, For I Am with You
1 Listen to me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment.
2 Who stirred up one from the east whom victory meets at every step? He gives up nations before him, so that he tramples kings underfoot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow.
3 He pursues them and passes on safely, by paths his feet have not trod.
4 Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
5 The coastlands have seen and are afraid; the ends of the earth tremble; they have drawn near and come.
6 Everyone helps his neighbor and says to his brother, "Be strong!"
7 The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, "It is good"; and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved.
8 But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off";
10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
11 Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish.
12 You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all.
13 For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you."
14 Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
15 Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff;
16 you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in the LORD; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.
17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
18 I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
19 I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together,
20 that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.
The Futility of Idols
21 Set forth your case, says the LORD; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.
22 Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come.
23 Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified.
24 Behold, you are nothing, and your work is less than nothing; an abomination is he who chooses you.
25 I stirred up one from the north, and he has come, from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name; he shall trample on rulers as on mortar, as the potter treads clay.
26 Who declared it from the beginning, that we might know, and beforehand, that we might say, "He is right"? There was none who declared it, none who proclaimed, none who heard your words.
27 I was the first to say to Zion, "Behold, here they are!" and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good news.
28 But when I look, there is no one; among these there is no counselor who, when I ask, gives an answer.
29 Behold, they are all a delusion; their works are nothing; their metal images are empty wind.
Things to think about…
Isaiah has been asked to comfort the Lord’s people by saying Jerusalem will know peace, Isa 40:1. We know Jerusalem has been fought over for Millenia. There is still turmoil in this city today from time to time. There is a solution brought as “A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”, Isa 40:3. This is prophecy of John the Baptist preparing the way before the Lord Jesus. John prepared the hearts of his hearers so that they would be ready to repent and of their sins and receive Jesus as their Messiah. The glory of the Lord was revealed in Christ and many saw Him in the flesh, Isa 40:5. We know that every knee will bow and every tongue confess the Lord Jesus.
Even though this voice is called to cry out, the reality is that all flesh, like the grass withers, Isa 40:7. But the Lord Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, will endure forever, Isa 40:8.
Isaiah 40:9-14 is a description of Jesus, it describes His character and His ministry in Israel. Zion lifts up his name, He proclaims the good news, He is God vs 9. He is called the Lord God, vs 10 and the One who shepherds His people, vs 11. He is described as the Creator of heaven and earth, vs 12 and endowed with wisdom from the Spirit of the Lord, vs 13 and no-one was His counselor.
This God who shepherds his people stands in stark contrast to the idols of Israel, Isa 40:18,19. He brings the rulers to nothing, vs 23 and He uproots them at His will, vs 24. As such it is futile to say we can hide from Him, vs 27. We may at times get tired and search out our own ways and plans. These things come to nothing. As such Isaiah reminds us tha when we are weary the Lord is our strength and will carry us on eagles wings, Isa 40:31. Then we will run and not be weary, walk and not grow faint.
This God who is in control of the nations, Isa 41:1-3. He is “the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.”, Isa 41:4. Jesus calls Himself the first and the last Rev 1:17. In Rev 21:6 the Lord calls Himself the alpha and omega, (the first and last letters of the Greek alpha bet) the beginning and the end.
The world will go its own way with its understanding and idols, Isa 41:5-7, but Israel was called and chosen to serve and be strengthened by the Lord, Isa 41:8-10. The Lord promises to look after Israel. This is why it is never a good idea to fight against the ones whom the Lord has sworn to protect, Isa 41:11-33. He fights for them. We have seen this many times not just recorded in the pages of scripture but throughout history. No-one could ever foret the miraculous delivery of Israel during the 6 day war of 1967. God is the One who fights for them. Why? Because He is their Redeemer vs 14. The enemies shall be scattered, but Israel will rejoice in the Lord, vs 16. The Lord again confirms that the barren places wil be blessed with water and abundance, Isa 41:18-20. This is still future as we know Israel in many parts is still barren.
In a touch of sarcasm the Lord asks the idols of the nations to tell Him what will happen next and what the future holds, Isa 41:21-23. They are challenged to bring out their proofs, vs 21. They are nothing, vs 24. It is the Lord who says He is One who raises up an enemy from the north, vs 25 and He is the One who raises up the herald of the good news, vs 27. The Lord is the One who raised up His Son Jesus, the only name by which Jew and Gentile can be saved. All others are poor counsellors, vs 28. Their idols are a worthless delusion and as empty as the wind, vs 28. Jesus is the Lord of wisdom, truth and grace, John 1:17. Following Him is not only wise, but the only way of peace.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
For Cell Groups.
Reading was from Isaiah 35 Title “The best of returns”
1. Israel is described in this chapter as a land that will blossom abundantly, vss 1, 2 and will be a place where there are streams in the desert and will be well watered, vss 6,7. Israel is a dry land at present. Discuss when and how is this abundance is going to occur?
2. Isaiah speaks of the “Way of Holiness”, Isa 35:8 and the unclean will not pass over it. What does Isiah mean here?
3. Isaiah speaks of a time when the ransomed of the Lord shall return, Isa 35:9, 10. The ancient Jews knew what return was by their return from slavery in Egypt. But this would be a different return. What return is meant here? See also Rom 11:26.
4. Pray for each other, our church and the prayer points.
Prayer Points
1. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
2. New families as they settle into church.
4. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
5. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
6. Positions:- Youth and Young Adults Coordinator. Recharge started back last week.
7. Sunday’s message “There’s a comforting thought” – Isa 40 – Jay.
Praise Points.
1. Praise the Lord for al thids going to Sunday School. Thankyou Maddison.
2. More new folk joining CBC – Praise God.
3. First Café roof drawings have been completed.
3. Great start to Kids@church.
4. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
5. Visitors over the holiday period.
Announcements
1. Members meeting Sunday 28th Feb after the morning service.
2. Seeking Youth and Young Adults Coordinator – 2 days per week.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
