Journal Through the Bible: Week 63 Wednesday

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Isaiah chapter 40

Does God issue any commands?

• God commanded that Isaiah write words of comfort to His people.
• God commanded that someone (Isaiah, perhaps? Or an angel?) Cry out to the people. (The answer that was given in response to this command is that all flesh is as grass which quickly withers away.) See verses 6-8.
• God commanded Jerusalem to go into the high mountains and proclaim to Judah, "Behold your God!"
• The people are told to lift up their eyes to behold who has created all things.

Does God make any promises?

• Jerusalem was told that her iniquity is forgiven.
• Idols will be abolished because they are nothing but the works of men's hands made out of elements that God created.
• Earthly judges and rulers will likewise be abolished.
• Those that wait upon the LORD will renew their strength and mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• (Verse 3) The LORD, the One whose way was to be prepared, was Jesus. John the Baptist was the one who was the voice crying in the wilderness telling the Jews to prepare the way of the LORD. (See John 1:23)
• (Verse 4) At the time of the crucifixion there was an earthquake that opened the graves of some of the saints who were then resurrected. It also tore the vail of the temple (the separation between God and man) from top to bottom. In other words, all obstacles between God and man were abolished. The mountains we could not cross and the valley of sin that separated us from God was leveled and bridged. All men have access to God through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus!
• (Verses 9-11) Jesus is the Lord God who will come with a strong hand to rule. He is the Shepherd that feeds His flock, leads them gently, and holds them to His bosom.
• (Verses 12-17) Jesus is God, the Creator who measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and measured out heaven with a span as well as weighed the dust of the earth. He directed the Spirit at the time of creation. He is one that considers the nations to be insignificant compared to Himself.
• (Verses 18-26) Jesus is the God that sits on the circle of the earth. No idol made from materials that He made can be compared to Him, the Holy One.
• (Verses 27-31) Jesus is God. His resurrected body does not faint or grow weary. No one can search out all of His knowledge and understanding. (In other words, we never will be omniscient!) He gives power and strength to His people when they grow faint and weary.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Verse 3 has a double fulfillment. The LORD is coming again and we are to be prepared. 
• Verses 4-5 - The valleys will be exalted and the mountains made low. There will be a time of terrible earthquakes in Jerusalem at the time of the battle of Armageddon. (See Revelation 16:16-20)  ICR has a great article about Jerusalem's earthquakes: http://www.icr.org/article/greatest-earthquakes-bible/ It will be at the time of the great earthquake that Jesus will be revealed to all people (the glory of the Lord which shall be revealed as stated in verse 5).
• Verses 9-11 - God shall rule from Jerusalem! This must be the Millennium kingdom because the Shepherd will lead His flocks that are with young.