Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

40:1-11 A promise of glorious hope breaks upon the people of God.

40:1 Comfort, comfort. God commissions the voices of vv. 3 and 6 and the heralds of v. 9, repeating himself to emphasize his deep feeling. my people . . . your God. Though their unbelief has brought them low, God still identifies with his people.

40:2 Speak tenderly. God aims to win their hearts back. to Jerusalem. In Babylonian exile, they are far from Jerusalem, but God dignifies them with their true identity and assures them that he understands their sufferings.

40:3 A barren landscape, which God's people had become (64:10), is where he comes to them with refreshment (cf. 32:14-16; 35:1-10; 41:17-20; 43:19-21; 51:3). John the Baptist found here his own calling to his generation, implying the promises of these chapters had not yet fully come to pass (cf. Matt. 3:1-6 par.; John 1:23).

40:4 These are metaphors--based on the rough terrain as one approaches Jerusalem from the east--for personal repentance and social reformation, remaking the world as a place fit for the coming King.

40:5 glory. See 4:5; 6:3; 35:1-2; 60:1-3; 66:18-19; see note on 6:3. The glory is revealed (or seen) as God leads his people (cf. Ex. 16:7). all flesh shall see it. Not a private viewing for the remnant only, but out in front of the whole world (cf. Isa. 52:7-10). From this promise of God's presence flow all of God's gracious promises, and from this divine purpose flows the whole of history. for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. The fulfillment of this comforting promise depends not on favorable historical trends but only on the promise of God (cf. 55:10-11).

40:6-8 all its beauty (or "constancy," ESV footnote). Only God can be absolutely trusted, and his words will never prove false: the word of our God will stand forever. Contrast Hezekiah's weakness of character (39:1-8). Far from fading away, God's word of hope imparts life to weak people. First Peter 1:23-25 uses Isa. 40:6, 8 to illustrate that "the living and abiding word of God" is reliable, "imperishable . . . seed."

40:9 high mountain. The reliability of God's promise calls for wholehearted public announcement (cf. 52:7). fear not. They are to proclaim the message by faith, whatever the conditions at the time (cf. 35:3-4). cities of Judah. The Jewish exiles will return to the Promised Land, for that is where the divine Messiah is to appear (cf. 48:20; Mic. 5:2).

40:10-11 The glorious Lord comes to his people as a conquering king, a generous benefactor, and a gentle shepherd.

40:12-26 God is able to keep his promise because no opposition can compare with the Creator of all things.

40:12-14 God alone established the creation. He is uniquely powerful and wise, so he is worthy of his people's trust (cf. Job 38-41; Rom. 11:34). a span (Hb. zeret). The distance between the ends of the thumb and the little finger when the hand is fully extended.

40:15-17 a drop from a bucket. The nations of mankind may seem insurmountable to Israel, but they are as nothing to God.

40:18-20 God alone is God. Isaiah looks with sarcasm at idol-manufacture. His simple description, without further comment, is mockery enough.

40:21-24 God rules effortlessly over world leaders.

40:22 the circle of the earth. Either the bowl-like sky over the earth (Job 22:14) or the outer horizon encircling the earth (Job 26:10). stretches out the heavens like a curtain. A number of passages (Job 9:8; Ps. 104:2; Isa. 42:5; 44:24; 45:12; 51:13; Jer. 10:12; 51:15; Zech. 12:1) use this image (with a verb that means to "pitch" or "stretch out" a tent, cf. Gen. 12:8; 26:25; 33:19; 35:21; Judg. 4:11) to stress that God alone fashioned the heavens and the earth, and prepared them as a place for habitation (to dwell in).

40:24 Scarcely. Human greatness briefly flourishes in one era of history, soon replaced by another brief display of human greatness. He blows on them with minimal effort. God controls the tempest, the chaotic processes of history.

40:25-26 Much of pagan religion, to which Isaiah's contemporaries had succumbed and with which the exiles were surrounded, worshiped astrological phenomena. In contrast to this, the Holy One of Israel is incomparable in his power (v. 12), wisdom (vv. 13-14), immensity (vv. 15-17), sovereignty (vv. 22-23), and authority (v. 25). Thus only Israel's God is worthy of worship, for he created, controls, and preserves what the pagans foolishly worship. not one is missing. God's creating the stars would have been awe-inspiring even in ancient Israel, where about 5,000 stars were visible at night. Astronomers now estimate, however, that there are more than 400 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy, and that there are 125 billion galaxies in the universe. The total number of stars is estimated at 1x10²² or 10 billion trillions. Moreover, the God who created all of these, the Holy One of Israel, even calls them all by name and ensures that "not one is missing." Such a God will surely never forget even one of his people.

40:27-31 Faith in God's promise empowers his people for endurance.

40:27 Jacob . . . Israel. God is true to his covenant, despite his people's unbelief (cf. Gen. 35:9-15). My way is hidden from the Lord. While the despondent exiles could feel abandoned by God, it is the sovereign Creator (Isa. 40:21-26) who is the source of their strength (vv. 28-31). my right. The justice expected of God.

40:28-29 God never suffers setbacks, and he helps those who do.

40:30 Even youths. Human strength at its best inevitably fails. Only the promise of God can sustain human perseverance.

40:31 wait for the Lord. Savoring God's promise by faith until the time of fulfillment. renew. Find endless supplies of fresh strength.