Comfort and the Greatness of God

40:1 “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. 40:2 “Speak kindly to Jerusalem, and tell her that her time of warfare is over, that her punishment is completed. For the Lord has made her pay double for all her sins.” 40:3 A voice cries out, “In the wilderness clear a way for the Lord; construct in the desert a road for our God. 40:4 Every valley must be elevated, and every mountain and hill leveled. The rough terrain will become a level plain, the rugged landscape a wide valley. 40:5 The splendor of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time. For the Lord has decreed it.” 40:6 A voice says, “Cry out!” Another asks, “What should I cry out?” The first voice responds: “All people are like grass, and all their promises are like the flowers in the field. 40:7 The grass dries up, the flowers wither, when the wind sent by the Lord blows on them. Surely humanity is like grass. 40:8 The grass dries up, the flowers wither, but the decree of our God is forever reliable.” 40:9 Go up on a high mountain, O herald Zion! Shout out loudly, O herald Jerusalem! Shout, don’t be afraid! Say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” 40:10 Look, the sovereign Lord comes as a victorious warrior; his military power establishes his rule. Look, his reward is with him; his prize goes before him. 40:11 Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart; he leads the ewes along. 40:12 Who has measured out the waters in the hollow of his hand, or carefully measured the sky, or carefully weighed the soil of the earth, or weighed the mountains in a balance, or the hills on scales? 40:13 Who comprehends the mind of the Lord, or gives him instruction as his counselor? 40:14 From whom does he receive directions? Who teaches him the correct way to do things, or imparts knowledge to him, or instructs him in skillful design? 40:15 Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales. He lifts the coastlands as if they were dust. 40:16 Not even Lebanon could supply enough firewood for a sacrifice; its wild animals would not provide enough burnt offerings. 40:17 All the nations are insignificant before him; they are regarded as absolutely nothing. 40:18 To whom can you compare God? To what image can you liken him? 40:19 A craftsman casts an idol; a metalsmith overlays it with gold and forges silver chains for it. 40:20 To make a contribution one selects wood that will not rot; he then seeks a skilled craftsman to make an idol that will not fall over. 40:21 Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told to you since the very beginning? Have you not understood from the time the earth’s foundations were made? 40:22 He is the one who sits on the earth’s horizon; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers before him. He is the one who stretches out the sky like a thin curtain, and spreads it out like a pitched tent. 40:23 He is the one who reduces rulers to nothing; he makes the earth’s leaders insignificant. 40:24 Indeed, they are barely planted; yes, they are barely sown; yes, they barely take root in the earth, and then he blows on them, causing them to dry up, and the wind carries them away like straw. 40:25 “To whom can you compare me? Whom do I resemble?” says the Holy One. 40:26 Look up at the sky! Who created all these heavenly lights? He is the one who leads out their ranks; he calls them all by name. Because of his absolute power and awesome strength, not one of them is missing. 40:27 Why do you say, Jacob, Why do you say, Israel, “The Lord is not aware of what is happening to me, My God is not concerned with my vindication”? 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom. 40:29 He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy. 40:30 Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble. 40:31 But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

God tells Jerusalem that her punishment is finished and calls his people to hope again. He is far greater than any nation, idol, or human power, and he gives strength to those who wait for him.

The chapter begins with a strong word of comfort. The Lord says that Jerusalem’s hard time is over and that her punishment has been completed. This is not denial of sin. It is mercy after judgment.

A voice then calls for a road to be prepared in the wilderness. This pictures the Lord coming to save his people. His glory will be revealed, and his saving work will be seen by all.

The chapter also teaches that human life is brief. People are like grass that withers. But the word of God stands forever. That is why hope must rest on God’s word, not on human strength.

Zion is told to announce, “Here is your God!” The Lord comes with power, but he also comes as a shepherd. He gathers the weak, carries the lambs, and leads his flock gently. His rule is strong, but his care is tender.

The rest of the chapter shows that no one compares with the Lord. He made the world, the nations are small before him, and idols are empty works of human hands. The Holy One is not like anything people can make or imagine.

Because he is the eternal Creator, he does not grow tired. He gives strength to the weary. Even the strong become weak, but those who wait for the Lord receive renewed strength.

• God’s comfort comes after real judgment for sin.
• The Lord is coming to save his people and reveal his glory.
• Human strength is brief, but God’s word lasts forever.
• The Lord is both mighty King and gentle Shepherd.
• Idols are powerless because they are made by human hands.
• God is the eternal Creator who never grows weary.
• Those who wait for the Lord receive renewed strength.

• Warning: Do not trust human power, nations, or idols.
• Warning: Human life and human achievement are temporary.
• Promise: The Lord’s punishment of Jerusalem is complete.
• Promise: God gives strength to the weary.
• Command: Prepare the way for the Lord.
• Command: Proclaim, “Here is your God!”
• Command: Wait for the Lord’s help.

This passage fits God’s covenant dealings with Israel. He disciplines sin, then brings comfort and restoration. It also points forward to the Lord’s saving coming to his people, a theme later taken up in the New Testament.

When God’s people are weary, they should not look first to themselves. They should trust the Lord’s word, turn from false hopes, and wait for him. He is able to strengthen those who have no strength left.

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