Isaiah 40

Isaiah 40 marks a significant transition in the book, moving from warnings of judgment to a prophetic proclamation of divine comfort and the absolute sovereignty of God over all creation.

• The prophet issues a divine command to herald comfort to Jerusalem, declaring the end of her warfare and the pardon of her iniquity (vv. 1-2).
• A voice in the wilderness instructs the preparation of a way for the coming Lord, whose glory will be revealed to all flesh, contrasting the transience of man with the permanence of God's word (vv. 3-8).
• The herald is commanded to proclaim the coming of the Lord God as a Shepherd who cares for His flock (vv. 9-11).
• The text shifts to an argument for God's incomparability: He measures the universe, counsels no one, and renders all nations as nothing (vv. 12-17).
• A polemic against idolatry demonstrates the absurdity of equating the Creator with crafted images (vv. 18-26).
• The chapter concludes by rebuking Israel's doubt, reminding them that the Creator is the source of strength for the weary (vv. 27-31).

• The repeated command to 'Comfort' (נָחַם [H5162])
• The 'voice' (קוֹל [H6963]) in the wilderness
• The contrast between 'flesh' (בָּשָׂר [H1320]) as grass and the 'Word of God' which stands forever
• The metaphors of God as Shepherd and Creator
• The rhetorical questions regarding who can counsel God (v. 13-14)

This chapter serves as the prologue to 'Second Isaiah,' resetting the prophetic message from judgment to restoration and providing the essential background for the ministry of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:3).

God’s sovereignty over history and nature is the objective anchor for the believer's hope, guaranteeing that His word of comfort will outlast all human frailty.

The chapter functions as a liturgical proclamation, moving from the promise of consolation to a theological argument for God's unmatched majesty, concluding with an invitation to rely on that power.

• The glory of the Lord shall be revealed (v. 5)
• God will feed His flock like a shepherd (v. 11)
• They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength (v. 31)

• Comfort ye, comfort ye my people (v. 1)
• Prepare ye the way of the Lord (v. 3)
• Lift up your eyes on high (v. 26)

• Against equating the Creator with created things/likenesses (v. 18)
• Against the unbelief that claims the Lord has forgotten one's way or judgment (v. 27)

• The text addresses a people, historically identified as Israel, facing the reality or threat of Babylonian exile, needing assurance of God's continued presence.

• The command to prepare a 'highway' (מְסִלָּה [H4546]) alludes to the ancient Near Eastern practice of clearing roads for visiting monarchs.
• Idolatry is addressed as a trade—involving workmen, goldsmiths, and materials like wood—emphasizing its man-made nature.

• This chapter begins the second major section of Isaiah (chapters 40-66), shifting the focus to restoration and the future servant of the Lord.

• Matthew Henry observes that while this prophecy had historical reference to the return from Babylon, it is a shadow of the 'glad tidings' of Christ, where John the Baptist fulfills the herald's role (v. 3).
• The passage anticipates the New Testament revelation of Christ, who describes Himself as the 'Good Shepherd' (John 10:11).

• Matthew 3:3 (John the Baptist as the voice in the wilderness)
• 1 Peter 1:24-25 (citing Isaiah 40:6-8 regarding the word of the Lord enduring forever)

• Comfort (נָחַם [H5162]): Literally 'to breathe strongly,' implying deep consolation.
• Warfare (צָבָא [H6635]): Literally an army or campaign; here metaphorically refers to the hardship or period of forced service.
• Flesh (בָּשָׂר [H1320]): Refers to the physical body or human nature, emphasizing its transience.
• Glory (כָּבוֹד [H3519]): Literally 'weight,' representing the splendor or manifestation of God's character.
• Double (כֶּפֶל [H3718]): In verse 2, this denotes a 'duplicate' or 'full measure.' Matthew Henry observes that the satisfaction Christ made for sin is of infinite value, covering the debt fully.

• The transition in verse 27: The people accuse God of ignoring them ('My way is hid from the Lord'), but the text immediately pivots to affirm that the Creator never tires nor faints.

• The phrase 'received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins' is debated: some see it as a reference to the completeness of the punishment for the exile, while others (like Matthew Henry) interpret it as the sufficiency and abundance of God's grace and Christ's atonement covering the penalty.