Islington Baptist Church October 27, 2001
Isaiah 40:1-11
Scriptures: Jeremiah 25:1-14, II Chronicles 36:15-23
Christ in the book of Isaiah
Today you and I are going to be starting a new series entitled “Christ in the book of Isaiah”. In the book of Isaiah, Jesus/ the Messiah is alluded to or directly spoken of in dozens and dozens of its chapters. Let me encourage you to read the book of Isaiah at least once in the next couple of months, noting for yourselves the various passages Jesus is alluded to or spoken of (it’s only a 3 hour read). Your reading of the book of Isaiah will make reading the New Testament even more of a rich experience—for in the N.T the scriptures in the book of Isaiah are alluded to or directly quoted many many many times.
Just so you know the book of Isaiah is named after the prophet Isaiah who lived approximately 700 years before Jesus came down to us.
Isaiah was a prophet, which meant that he was the mouthpiece of God or in other words, God’s messenger. Isaiah’s job was to tell the people what God said.
In order to properly understand Isaiah it must be understood that that because of the Israelites countless sins against God and their refusal to turn from their sins, God was in the process of punishing his people. In 722 B.C, during Isaiah’s life time, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was overrun by the Assyrians and the people were either killed or taken into captivity. In 586 B.C, more than 100 years after Isaiah lived, the Southern Kingdom was overrun and its peoples carted off to Babylon.
Isaiah prophesied the Babylonian captivity of 586 B.C. He repeatedly warned the people that such was going to happen to them because of their sins and their refusal to get right with God. In addition to warning them of God’s impending judgement, Isaiah- at God’s direction also spoke to his people words of grace and comfort from God- telling them that their punishment and captivity would not last forever.
Today we are going to be looking at Isaiah 40:1-11. Isaiah 40 is about Jesus. It’s a messianic passage. We must also read Isaiah 40 with the upcoming Babylonian captivity in mind. (READ text)
Temptation to guard against: to just look at the passages of Isaiah through the eyes of fulfillment in the person of Christ and not to see how significant and applicable the words of Isaiah were to the original audience.
Isaiah 40 is a passage that is deeply cherished by those who are Jewish—and not just those who are Jewish but by us to.
One thing to note again about this passage is this: The message of Isaiah 40 was delivered by Isaiah to the people before the Babylonians came—they didn’t come and take all the people away until 586 B.C – over 100 years after Isaiah prophesied there coming.
This passage is cherished because of its theme: the theme of hope and the comfort of God.
As you know, God is the God of all comfort. II Corinthians 1:1 says “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our troubles”
a. This passage was a comfort to the Jews of Isaiah’s day because it assured them that God was still their God, even thought they sinned, and that he would be true to his promises, long since made, to them as a people.
We must not forget this either: the Jews still are God’s chosen nation and a special people unto Him. A day is coming to when many Jews will turn to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
b. This passage served as comfort to the Jews who were in exile because they knew that one day, even though many days months and years would pass, God was going take them back to their homeland and bless them again.
b. This passage brought and brings comfort because it teaches ;us that with God their can be the forgiveness of sins and a full pardon
As a nation the people Isaiah was preaching to, and their descendants, were not going to punished for their sins by God forever (this does not negate the fact that those cast into Hell are punished for their sins forever). God delights to show mercy and forgiveness and to set his face towards those who seek and cry out for Him.
In respect to his Micah 7:18-19 says “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgressions of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
The wonderful thing about God is this: with him forgiveness can be had. Our sins can be pardoned. Forgiveness and pardon is alone found in the person of Jesus Christ!
d. This passage served as a comfort to Isaiah’s contemporaries and those who came after him because it speaks of the coming of the Messiah/Jesus.
During their time of Babylonian captivity the Jews clung to this hope, gaining from this passage of promise, strength for each new day.
Even today Jews cling to this passage and ones like in the book of Isaiah that speak of the coming Messiah. “The belief in the Messiah and his coming has allowed Jews to withstand and overcome the terribly tragic moments in their history. For example, in the Second world war during which time 6 million Jews were killed, many went to their death chanting Maimonides twelfth principle “I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah…”
Sadly the majority of Jews are guilty of rejecting the real Messiah: Jesus. They are awaiting for someone different…
Now that we have put the passage in context and considered in part why it was and is such a comforting passage we need to focus in on the picture of Jesus given to us in this passage.
Without a shadow of a doubt Jesus is to be found in this passage, IN FACT THIS PASSAGE REPEATEDLY ANNOUNCES HIS COMING!
I. THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST IS HERE ANTICIPATED
Consider with me verses 3-5. The call of these verses is to “Prepare the way for the coming of God whose glory will be revealed to all mankind” The one in question here is Jesus. Matthew, Mark, John make this clear in their gospels.
When Eastern monarchs traveled through their dominions they were preceded by heralds and couriers who required the towns through which they were going to pass to repair the roads and highways.
The Bible clearly teaches us that Jesus is a king, not any king but the King of Kings. John the Baptist had the special ministry of preparing the way for king Jesus-not by leveling literal roads but rather by spiritual endeavors—preaching repentance and telling people that Jesus’ coming was at hand.
Turn with me to Mark 1:1-8 (READ)
Before we move on to v.6-8 note v.3 which says “And the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all mankind together will see it”
In John 1:14 it John says “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
There is much that can be said about the glory of Christ and all mankind seeing it. One the mountain top his 3 closest disciples saw Jesus in his heavenly glory. I think also of his second coming….. Also, the scriptures also teach us that one day every knee will bow before Jesus….. etc.
As John prepared the way for Jesus’ coming, we need to prepare ourselves for his coming…..
II. Verses 6-8 of our passage are really kind of neat. The coming of Jesus has been announced and preparations are to be made for his glorious arrival, yet note what v.6-8 teaches us: A long time will pass before God/Jesus/Messiah comes in his glory. In spite of this long time, God will be true to his word and promise regarding his coming.
Patience is a key to life isn’t it. The glorious news of God’s/ Jesus’ coming has been announced but right away Isaiah tells his people that God’s coming is long way off.
When Isaiah spoke these words it was the year 700 B.C. 700 years passed before these words of God indeed did come down to earth, revealing his glory to men.
Over the course of those 700 years generation after generation of people lived and died, all the while anticipating the fulfillment of this prophecy in their lifetimes.
The long passage of time in no way takes away from the promises and truthfulness of God. God keeps his promises and word. Just because a generation or 10’s of generations fail to see the fulfillment of a specific word from the Lord does not mean that God is not true to his word.
We need to be patient and more than that we need to be a people who cling to the words and promises of God- never letting go of them. For example: The Bible tells us that Jesus’ second coming is imminent. 2000 years have passed but this ought not to bother us: God will be true to his word in his time—our responsibility is to stay faithful and live prepared for his return.
We need to be thankful that God is true to his word and can be counted on.
We are also reminded in this passage of the shortness of our lives, as ones such reminded it makes good sense to get right with God while one can
III. Good news is not something that should be kept quiet. Good news is something weary, tired, downtrodden people need. Good news needs to be shouted from the proverbial rooftops—that all might hear and be cheered.
Listen to what Isaiah says in v.9-11….
Isaiah 40 is a good news passage. As in previous passages Isaiah’s words are not full of the judgment of God and destruction. Isaiah’s words are wonderful words of hope, comfort, promise, and restoration.
The Jews going into captivity and then the Jews in captivity needed to hear the anticipatory and encouraging words of v.9-11. There were people needed who would declare the truth that : God was coming for them, that he was going to deliver them, that repentance was going to bring restoration and blessing, that God was stronger than the false gods of the nation in which they were in, that God cared for them and would care them as a shepherd with His flock.
I trust also that you can easily see Jesus in v.9-11.
Firstly, note that Isaiah’s teaching here is that God’s coming/ Jesus’ coming will be and is to be joyfully and loudly proclaimed.
Think about this: when Jesus came what was it that the angels did?
In Luke 2:8-14 it says “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests”
Jesus didn’t sneak down to earth. His coming was announced by the angels. His coming was also anticipated- for the wise men saw his star in the East and came searching for him.
As Christians today we have good news to proclaim. Good news about Jesus that we must not be shy about in telling to others. We must be about proclaiming the coming of Jesus Christ
Jesus is coming again. The only way to be prepared for Jesus’ return is to be a follower of Jesus and at peace with God. The good news we have to proclaim is this: Jesus shed his blood on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. He died that we might have life. Turning to him in faith and repentance brings life.
IV. In respect to Jesus being in or alluded to in v.9-11 the second thing I’d like to note is v.11 with its portrayal of God/ Jesus being a shepherd to his people.
In the O.T God is indeed portrayed as a shepherd to his people Israel who in some passages are called lost sheep and a scattered flock.
I see Jesus being spoken of here in this text because in John 10 Jesus identifies himself as the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.
We who are his followers are his sheep. We are the sheep, he is our shepherd and our gentle shepherd at that. As our shepherd Jesus cares and provides for us.
Other thoughts
God in his dealings with people differs depending who in view. With his children he like a shepherd. With his enemies there is no lack of strength
Also: For some reason the words of v.10 remind me of the contrast that exists between Jesus’ first coming and his second: To rule, to reword, to settle accounts.
CONCLUSION (comfort and the picture of Jesus this text gives us)
Isaiah 40:1-11 has comfort as its main theme.
In the face of an upcoming time of exile Isaiah’s hearers were comforted by the news that God was not going to turn his back on them forever and that with Him their was going to be complete and total forgiveness of sins. –we know that such forgiveness is found in Jesus Christ alone.
Isaiah’s hearers were comforted by the declaration that God/Jesus was going to personally come to them and be with them. In respect to this matter the passage of much time was not to discourage them or their faith.
Our text is clear that the good news of God’s/ Jesus’ coming was and is not to be suppressed or kept hidden or quiet. In order for comfort to be enjoyed by all the message of comfort needs to be taken to all.
God’s/ Jesus’ coming was going to be a gentle affair for those whom he loved; for he was going to come as a Shepherd. This news is comforting as opposed to God coming to destroy etc.
