A Reflection of Isaiah 40

As I reflected upon this particular chapter from Isaiah, I saw three distinct sections. The first section (vs. 1-11) can further be divided into four groups each with a theme and a promise. The second section (vs. 12-26) speaks of God’s greatness while the last section (vs. 27-31) addresses God’s goodness in relation to His greatness. In all three sections, God’s character and action are vividly described giving the believer hope and assurance.

Theme and Promise
There are four themes outlined in the first section each followed by a promise: comfort and pardon (vs. 1-2), preparation and revelation (vs. 3-6), transience and permanence (vs. 6-8), and hope and return (vs. 9-11). The Israelites were in exile because of their sin. Their captivity and bondage were the result of a just God responding to the iniquity of His people. Yet, the people were encouraged to take comfort for God is not only just, He is also merciful. He had graciously accepted their suffering as atonement for their sin. He is the One who pardons. In their wilderness and desert, the Israelites are called to prepare and get ready. Just when God seems forever silent and departed, He discloses Himself in splendor. In the most desolate of places, the glory of God will be revealed and every one of His chosen will see it. He is the One who reveals. Yet, man is like a blade of grass or a small flower in the field that draws its very life from the Spirit of God. We are but a vapor while God is eternal. Though our loyalty, affection, and faith may fade, the word of God will stand forever. He is the One who endures. From the highest place a strong voice can be heard bringing good news. We can have hope because God is coming in might and with reward. This reward is Himself, the Shepherd who tends His flock, gathers them in the comfort of His arms, carries them in His protection, and leads them with gentleness and care. There is hope for the Shepherd returns. He is the One who comes.

God's Greatness
The second section speaks of the immeasurable greatness of God. God transcends man through His act of creation, His wisdom, His understanding, His justice, and His knowledge. We are but nothing compared to His omniscience. Yet, the godless futilely seek to capture His nature in an idol of wood overlaid with gold and silver. But the infinite cannot be made finite. The Almighty cannot be reduced to any likeness for He is beyond compare. He is unique in His greatness and rightly sits beyond human affinity.

God's Goodness
While God is maximally great, He directs His greatness toward man displaying His goodness. The omnipotent God gives power to the fainthearted. The almighty God gives strength to the weak. God manifests His goodness by sustaining the weary. He promises to renew their strength, to cause them to soar like eagles, to help them walk and run without fainting or growing weary. Though God in His ultimate greatness is far off, God in His ultimate goodness is near. He is both transcendent and immanent. This truth brings us back to the first theme of the first section. We can take comfort and have hope and assurance in our present circumstance because the immeasurable great God meets our desperate need out of His immeasurable goodne