Isaiah Chapters 40-41/Commentary

Isaiah Chapters 40-41 Chapter 39 had concluded the first part of the book that emphasized judgment, and this portion of Isaiah will stress comfort, restoration, and deliverance.

“Chapter 39 of Isaiah’s great book had ominously concluded with a prophecy of the coming Babylonian Captivity. In this section, the design of God’s prophet is to prepare Judah for this punishment, and to assure them of ultimate deliverance from that captivity. This would be accomplished due to the fact that Jehovah would keep His covenant promises regarding the Hebrew nation and because, being deity, He is able to accomplish what He purposes” (Jackson p. 77). “When Isaiah wrote these prophecies of restoration Judah still had over 100 years of difficulty ahead of her before she fell to Babylon, and then she faced 70 years of captivity. Anticipating the future Captivity and God’s restoration, Isaiah wrote to encourage the Judahites to live righteously in the present, despite forthcoming difficult circumstances” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 1091).

“The first major section of Part Two (chapters 41-48) is devoted to God’s claim to power, which rests on His sole deity and Godhood. As proof of His power and sole deity, He points to His ability to foretell events and then bring them to pass.

Of all evidence for the inspiration of the Bible there is none more convincing than the declaration of events to come and their fulfillment as foretold. This also affords grounds for faith in every crisis; God is a promise-keeping God” (Hailey p.

327).

40:1 “Comfort, O comfort My people”: “In former times the prophetic voice had been primarily one of doom, but now it is one of comfort” (Hailey p. 331). This verse is not directed towards the unrepentant, but towards the remnant, the faithful that would survive the coming Captivity.

40:2 “Speak kindly to Jerusalem”: Literally, “to the heart”, that is with gentle and encouraging words. “Her warfare has ended”: Or, her hard service and “time of enlistment”. The coming captivity will be like unto the hardships of war.

“That her iniquity as been removed”: “This expression of divine grace presupposes repentance; for there can be no pardon, either then or now, apart from the sinner’s repentance” (Hailey pp. 331-332). Thus Isaiah is not teaching that hardship in and of itself forgives our sins. The conditions of forgiveness that centuries before Moses had set forth (Deuteronomy 30:2-3, 8-10), had been fulfilled. “Double for all her sins”: The idea is not that God had punished them 1

too much, but rather, Jerusalem has been punished in keeping with what she deserved. “The point is that she now received ‘full’ or ‘sufficient’ punishment for all her sins” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 1091). “The scales have been balanced” (Hailey p. 332).

40:3 “A voice is calling, ‘Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness’”: Each Gospel writer will apply this prophecy to the work of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-4; Mark 1:1-4; Luke 1:76-78; John 1:23). “Many commentators suggest that the immediate application refers to the fact that the Lord will lead His people, via a prepared way, back from captivity” (Jackson p. 78). “For the Lord”: The way is prepared for the arrival of Jehovah, yet in the New Testament this is applied to the arrival of Jesus. This is just one more passage that teaches that the titles “Jehovah” and “God” do apply to Jesus as well as the Father.

40:3 “Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God”: In ancient times when a dignitary would travel and visit an area, a tremendous amount of road preparation would precede his visit. “Today an equivalent is, ‘roll out the red carpet’” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 1092). The language here is symbolic and refers to the preaching of John the Baptist in which the arrogant were humbled and the lowly were encouraged to seek God. “They are to remove every barrier and fill every hindering depression, so that they will be prepared for a new relationship with Jehovah” (Hailey p. 332). Notice that all the emphasis in this section is on the coming of God to His people and not necessarily the return of the exiles.

40:4-5 “Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed”: This is not talking about the arrival of Jesus at the Second Coming and the establishment of a millennial kingdom. This is speaking of Jesus’ first coming, when He revealed the glory of the Father to men (John 1:14,18; 14:9). “And all flesh will see it together”: Indicating that the gospel message would be for all nations. “For the mouth of the Lord has spoken”: This is the only guarantee that the faithful need. God’s word is sure and cannot be set aside. This final statement naturally sets up the following verses.

40:6 “All flesh is grass”: This section is quoted in 1 Peter 1:24-25. “The Exile itself must have made the people aware of their frailty. What unites all human enterprises is their transience. Flowers may look beautiful, but where will they be tomorrow? God is the one-enduring reality in a constantly changing world” (Gaebelein p. 242). Even the great leaders of the earth are as grass. “And all it’s loveliness is like the flower of the field”: Not only is man frail (James 4:14ff), but all of man’s accomplishments, his buildings, and so on, are equally frail. Human glory is equally short-lived. “Whether Judah in her vaunting pride and independence from God, or heathen Babylon, or a present-day nation, every people will wither, die, and fade away when the breath of God blows upon them” (Hailey p. 333).

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40:7-8 “But the word of our God stands forever”: Not only is God enduring, but His word, which naturally includes the Scriptures, are equally enduring. “This fact would greatly comfort and encourage the people in exile who read these words. Because God’s Word stands, His prophecy that the people would be restored to their land was sure to be fulfilled” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 1092).

What a powerful passage. The Bible is ever relevant, and what it teaches is the enduring truth that will judge man at the last day (John 12:48).

40:9-11 This may be a reference to the return from captivity or the voice of evangelism speaking, in which the gospel or good news is first preached from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3; Acts 1:8). God will come as a mighty one, and when He comes, He will reward those who are responsive to His will. Next, God is compared to a loving and tender Shepherd (John 10:7; 9-11, 14-15; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:4).

“The prophet now proceeds to underscore the power and majesty of the Lord. As Barnes notes, perhaps Isaiah’s purpose here was ‘to meet and answer an implied objection: that the work of deliverance was so great that it could not be accomplished’” (Jackson p. 79). “Too often we ascribe to Jehovah our own weaknesses and shortcomings. When we are impotent to help ourselves, we decide that God is impotent to intervene and act on our behalf” (Hailey p. 335).

We do make the mistake of thinking that when we fail or when we are weak that somehow God is weak.

40:12 “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand”: God is so majestic that all the oceans could easily fit into the palm of His hand. “Marked off the heavens by the span”: A “span” refers to the distance between the end of the thumb and the tip of the little finger. God determined the vastness of the entire universe by the span of His own hand! “Calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, and weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills in a pair of scales?” God determined just the right amount of “dust” or dirt for this planet, as we might measure a quantity in a measuring cup. God also easily measured the mountain ranges and the hills on this planet as we might measure something on a scale. Compared to God, even the great mountains of the earth are simply small objects on a pair of scales.

40:13-14 “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord”: “Who taught the Lord with reference to such matters? Who directed His activity? No one! Have others imparted knowledge and a sense of justice to the Almighty? Of course not” (Jackson p. 79). This verse makes it very clear that God did not evolve and neither is God one God in a long line of many Gods. No one taught Him, He did not learn from others, and He never went through a period of immaturity.

40:15 “What about the power of great military nations which would invade the land and carry away the people? Can they hold Judah against God’s will? This is not to say that Jehovah has no concern for the nations, but that they are utterly

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powerless in comparison to Him” (Hailey p. 337). When compared to God, all the nations on the face of the earth are as insignificant and powerless as one single drop coming off the side of a bucket. “Near Eastern marketplace commerce would take no account of the minute water drop in the measuring bucket or a little dust on the scales when meat or fruit was weighed. The passage implies the consummate ease of Yahweh’s control of history as well as of nature” (Gaebelein p. 245).

40:16 If all the forests in Lebanon were piled together and all the animals placed on that wood for a sacrifice, that still would be completely inadequate and unworthy of such a Creator. “For the most impressive forest land known to the Near East was quite inadequate to furnish fuel or sacrificial animals for as a worthy offering to Him” (Gaebelein p. 245).

40:18 Now God will turn to the folly of idolatry. “To whom then will you liken God?” This is still an excellent question for our culture and time as well. Here is a rebuke to all those who sought to replace God with some sort of idol or other object of worship. Today many people try to replace God with the environment or self-fulfillment. Those are just as unworthy as some man-made idol.

40:19 “As for the idol”: Leading up to the captivity, the Israelites were constantly going after the worship of other gods, so God says, “Let’s talk about the idols”. Even the most expensive idol, one constructed of the best materials and the result of the finest craftsmanship is still something so impotent that it must be nailed down so that it will not fall over! 40:20 Even the poor had their idols. “Both of these idol-makers used materials God created, and skills that God gave them!” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 1093). For other verses in which God severely ridicules idolatry see Isaiah 44:9-20; 46:1-7; Jeremiah 10:8-16.

40:20 “To prepare an idol that will not totter”: What a contrast between the God who can hold all the oceans in the palm of His hand! The craftsman must specifically construct the idol, or actually help the idol stand up right!

40:21 “Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?”

Idolatry is without excuse, because from the very beginning of time the evidence in the universe has been clear, there is a God! (Psalm 19:1-2; Romans 1:20).

“The exclusiveness of the true God has been revealed since the beginning, indeed, from the foundations of the earth. Incidentally, this passage reveals that humanity had been privy to the nature of deity since the dawn of creation. It negates the idea that the earth was in existence billions of years before humankind appeared” (Jackson p. 79). God’s rebuke to the worshipper of false religion, any false religion, is “Where have you been?” “Have you been hiding in some cave or raised by wolves that you do not understand such simple truths?”

Let’s make it perfectly clear, here is God’s response to all false religious systems.

Man is without excuse for not believing in Him (Romans 1:20), because the

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evidence of His power has been clearly seen from day one and this knowledge is universal!

40:22 “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth”: Yes, the earth is a circle and the Biblical writers knew that long before scientists caught up. The reader should note that most modern commentators deny any reference here to the shape of the earth, thus evidencing ‘scientific foreknowledge’ on the part of the inspired writer. Yet Dr. Henry Morris notes, “The word ‘compass’ in Proverbs 8:27 and the word ‘circle’ in Isaiah 40:22 are both translations of the same Hebrew chuwg, an excellent rendering of which is ‘circle’. It could well be used also for ‘sphere’, since there seems to have been no other ancient Hebrew word with this explicit meaning (a sphere is simply the figure formed by a circle turning about its diameter)” (The Biblical Basis for Modern Science, p. 246). God rules over the entire planet, and men are like grasshoppers, weak, small and completely dependent upon Him. God is here described as stretching out the heavens like we would set up a tent.

40:23 “He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, who makes the judges of the earth meaningless”: “Think back upon the so-called great men of our own age who strove for high place and tried to hold on for dear life, only to fall” (Hailey p.

338). “He allows no man, no matter how great, to further his ambitions without limit” (Gaebelein p. 246). The verse certainly reminds us that this is God’s universe and we are only here by His permission. In addition, God is not bound by the decisions handed down by human justices, man does not make the rules for God, rather God’s law is the final authority (Matthew 28:18).

40:24 “Scarcely”: We might think that wicked leaders end up ruling for too long, but from God’s standpoint no sooner than they are planted and take root are they uprooted. Even the great kings and empires of the earth are nothing more than shallow-rooted plants.

40:25 The question is again repeated, “To whom then will you liken Me?” Please note, that one will either serve the true God or one will attempt to make a substitute. 40:26 “Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars”: This is still excellent advice. More people need to lift up their eyes, get their focus off the here and now of earthly things and contemplate the heavens.

This verse also serves as quite a rebuke to modern astronomers who spend their entire lives studying the stars and yet miss the Great God behind them. “The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name”: By His strength and wisdom God controls and sustains the millions and billions of stars in the universe, and He knows each one of them specifically, knowing exactly all their qualities. “If God, who loves His children as a devoted Father, looks after each inanimate heavenly body, will He not care for His sons and daughters? At times we may feel that God has forgotten and that He does not care. When this feeling comes, let the discouraged one lift up his eyes and

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beyond the stars see a God of infinite power and a Father equally infinite in love” (Hailey p. 339).

40:27 “Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God?’” The thought here is that in Babylon the captives will charge God with being indifferent to their condition. They need to be reminded that their punishment in Babylon is not due to God’s lack of justice. Yet, even God’s people today can fall into the trap of thinking that God is not paying enough attention to them and that life is not fair, or the justice they deserve escapes them.

40:28 “Do you not know? Have you not heard?” Such a complaint demonstrates a serious ignorance of God’s nature! “The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired”: What a powerful truth! Yes, we grow weary, but God never does. God is allpowerful and He never gets tired. In addition, God never gives up on delivering the righteous or punishing the wicked. Nothing can stop His purposes. “His understanding is inscrutable”: His wisdom cannot be fully appreciated or comprehended (Romans 11:33). He cannot be out-argued or out-planned.

Beware of looking for loopholes!

40:29 As a result God is able to provide strength and encouragement for the weary. Helping others never tires God. 40:30 Even vigorous young men tire and stumble. This is a verse that we need to consider because so many people today place such an emphasis on the outward physical body and almost worship fitness and youth. You can be in the best physical condition possible, but we are still going to wear out! “Though it is the nature of human beings (even the young) to grow tired, Jehovah does not” (Jackson p. 80).

40:31 “Yet those who wait for the Lord”: Unfortunately in some denominational circles, “waiting for the Lord” is interpreted as waiting for either some communication from God or some kind of feeling. In contrast, this waiting for the Lord means to surrender to His will, trust His plan and submit to His word as the guide for our lives. Instead of trusting in human plans and human wisdom, these Israelites needed to trust that God would deliver them as He has promised.

Sadly, many people, instead of trusting in God’s guidelines for our lives, insist upon implementing their own. Yet those who rely upon God shall find sustaining power. “Will gain new strength”: Note the cooperation needed to gain this promise. New strength does not come from sitting around and complaining or doing nothing, this new strength is only promised to those who truly trust God and His timing. This new strength comes through our faith in God, seeing the fulfillment of God’s promises and being encouraged by His word and His people.

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40:31 “They will mount up with wings like eagles”: In the historical context, when news would reach the faithful that they were allowed to return to the land (Ezra 1:1-4), they would soar to heights of joy. Yet, the same is true of the faithful today. The person who trusts God has the ability to soar over the problems of this world. Not only does this passage contain a spiritual truth, but it contains a scientific fact as well. The eagle does has the ability to soar without becoming tired. Because of the wing design, the eagle can soar great distances without the need of beating his wings.

40:31 “They will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary”: “A rush of preparation for the journey will follow” (Hailey p. 340). This is not the promise of superhuman strength, rather it speaks of the spiritual and emotional strength that comes from a healthy relationship with God. Compare with 2 Corinthians 6:4-10. It does not mean that believers are exempt from the trials of this life, but rather that only the believer has a source of strength that will enable him to over come (1 John 5:4).

Chapter 41 “In this section, God challenges the heathen nations and their gods; the utter worthlessness of the latter will be clearly seen. The ‘islands’ (i.e., distant regionsGentiles) are told to be silent, i.e., they should listen attentively to what Jehovah has to say. Let them renew their strength if they can—the Lord is about to meet them in judgment (1). God will raise up one from the east to do His righteous bidding. The reference is to Cyrus of Persia, whom Jehovah will use as an instrument to punish Babylon, thus effecting Judah’s release from captivity. The Persian monarch will vanquish those before him (2). Cyrus will conquer territory where his feet have not gone before (3). Who is able to accomplish such a feat as this? Only God, the first and the last, i.e., the Eternal One (4). The impact of the Lord’s providential activity will cause the nations to tremble and want to draw near to one another for protection (5). The various heathen craftsmen cooperate with one another in building stronger gods, hoping for some sort of security against the encroachment of Cyrus, but it would be all in vain (6,7).

The prophet now addresses the nation of Israel, the seed of Abraham (who is called God’s friend—Cf. James 2:23), who had been chosen to fulfill a special role in the redemptive plan (8). The Lord would take hold of that people and bring them from the ‘ends of the earth’ (i.e., restore them from the Captivity); they had been selected for the Messianic mission, hence, would not be cast off—at least at the present (9). The nation of Israel in Babylonian exile are like those who are thirsting for cool water but none is found; never fear, however, God will sustain (17). The idols of heathenism are now graphically challenged. Let these phony gods defend their cause (21). If these idols are truly divine, they should be able to predict the events of the future (as Jehovah had done with reference to the coming of the Persians) (22,23a). The idols moral activity is challenged as well (23b). This great passage surely demonstrates the value of prophecy as an

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evidence for the authenticity of a religious system. Alas, the idols of paganism can do nothing and those who serve them commit abomination (24).

God will show true predictive power. He will raise up one who will come from the north/east (i.e., Cyrus, the Persian). The fact that Cyrus is said to be one who ‘calls upon the name’ of God does not indicate that he is a true believer in Jehovah; rather, it prophetically suggests his role in the restoration of Judah’s religious life in Palestine (Ezra 1:1-2). Cyrus will thread down Judah’s enemies (25). Had any of the idols of paganism predicted such activity as that of the Persians, so that men might in awe say, ‘He was right!’? Of course not. No one had heard such an utterance (26). Only Jehovah had prophesied the ‘good tidings’ regarding the restoration of Jerusalem (27). The Lord’s challenge to those who serve idols is answered with not a word (28). The whole system is one of vanity and confusion (29)” (Jackson pp. 80-82).

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