“Comfort, Comfort” Isaiah 40

Hundreds of miles from home, stranded in a town no one wanted to be in. Exiled in a foreign nation, with a foreign ruler and an alien culture. Their gods are not our God; their ways are not our ways. Yet, here we sit, defeated, humiliated, driven from our homes and taken to a place we never knew existed. Was God unable to defeat their god? Was God incapable of protecting us, of prevailing for us?

The people of Israel, living in exile in Babylon, must have asked these questions and thought these thoughts. For centuries, their assurance that God would prevail, that God would protect, that Israel was God’s chosen people must have rung hollow in the streets and homes in Babylon. If God was not Who they thought He was, then what was there to believe in, what was there to hope for?

It was at this time of crisis and doubt that God sent the message we read in today’s passage. While the messages of the prophets had always been warnings of impending judgment if Israel did not return to God and His ways, now God knew His people needed to comfort and assurance that God had not forgotten them, that God was still in control, and that God would lead them home in His time.

Central Truth: God’s comfort provides us with assurance and peace in times of crises.

God’s comfort comes from:

His Forgiveness (1-2)

It’s not enough to know that we have sinned. We know we sin. If we care about our relationship with God, we are quick to confess our sins to Him.

Just as important as the confession of sin is the assurance of the forgiveness of sin. That’s God’s first words of comfort to His people and to us. Our sins are forgiven. The price has been paid and the debt has been fulfilled. For the exiles in Babylon, the payment was made in the years away from Jerusalem. For us, the price was paid by Jesus willingly and lovingly allowing Himself to be crucified, obediently following the Father’s will, in order that we might know God’s forgiveness and His peace.

God comforts us by reminding us that His forgiveness enables us to fellowship with Him. There is peace. There is comfort.

His Revelation (3-5)

At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Peter’s response, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” was met with the affirmation, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father.” (vs. 16-17). Jesus then tells Peter and the other disciples the church will be built upon the rock of God’s revelation, and our faith in that revelation.

There is no greater demonstration of God’s comfort than to know that He is with us. That was Jesus’ promise when He gave the Great Commission at the end of Matthew’s gospel account. Jesus said, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b). We are told that also in Hebrews 13:5: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” (quoting Deuteronomy 31:6).

God reveals Himself to us in many ways. He shows us His presence in answer to our prayers. He guides us through His Holy Spirit, opening our eyes to the Scripture and our hearts to hear His message through His people. God’s revelation is a comfort in a time of uncertainty. He anchors us and reassures with His revelation.

His Eternal Word (6-8)

Walking in hand with God’s revelation is the eternal certainty of His Word. We usually think of the Word as the Bible, and certainly, the Bible is God’s Inscribed Word. But the Bible also reminds us that Jesus is God’s Word Incarnate—God’s Word in the flesh (cf. John 1:1-2). God’s Word is the creating force—“And God said, . . . and it was good” (cf. Genesis 1, John 1:3). The Spoken Word comes from the Incarnate Word, and the Holy Spirit reminds us of His words (cf. John 14:26). And the Word is eternal (cf. Matthew 5:17-18). And just as Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (cf. Hebrews 13:8).

There was some question about the validity of God’s word from the exiles, and God’s response to them was that the grass withers and the flower fades, but God’s word stands forever. God’s promises are in His words, and God is faithful to Himself and to His words. His promises are a comfort and an assurance.

His Mindful Protection (9-11)

One of the most comforting passages is found in v. 11: “He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.” The prophet prefaces that tender moment with a commandment to boldly proclaim God’s power—“See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and His arm rules for Him” (v. 10). God’s tenderness toward His flock is coupled with the power to protect that flock from all harm.

If there is a question of who is part of God’s flock, we only need to look at Jesus’ proclamation in John 10. He is the Good Shepherd and He is the Gate. Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep, and My sheep know Me” (John 10:14a). He also says, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). We know we are part of God’s flock because His Son is our shepherd. We know Him, and we know His voice. We hear Him, and we follow Him.

Because we are God’s flock, He gathers us in His arms and carries us close to His heart, gently leading those who have young.” God’s comfort is in His mindful protection and care.

His Majesty (12-20)

When Job was being questioned by his friends, he kept stating that he wished he could speak with God and learn why all his travails were happening. Finally, toward the end of the book of Job, God asks Job a series of questions, centering around God’s majesty, power and creative force. God never does answer Job’s question about why it all happened, but Job gains new insight nonetheless. “My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You” (Job 42:5a). The point is that when we are confronted with God’s majesty, we are often left in awe.

So it is here, in Isaiah 40. God reminds His people of His majesty by asking a series of questions, all designed to draw their attention of how magnificent God truly is. Each of the questions ends with the answer, “Only You, God.” Shifting from the questions of vs. 12-14, He then reminds them of how much higher He is than even the greatest things on earth.

Finally returning to a question, God asks, “To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare Him to?” (v.18). The answer is that no idol can hope to stand up to the majesty and grandeur of God. He alone is worthy of worship and obedience. He alone is capable of giving comfort and deliverance to His people.

His Supremacy (21-26)

God reminds us next that He is above all, and that He is in control of all things. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?” (v.21).

The God who decides the fates of kingdoms and who sits enthroned above the earth, He is the God who can work in the lives of His people to intercede for them, to restore them, to bring them to a place of peace.

God concludes this passage with the question, “’To whom will you compare Me? Or who is My equal,’ asks the Holy One. The words that follow remind us of God’s supreme being. “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing (vs. 26-27).

There is no God like the Lord God. There is only Him. He alone can sustain us and protect us and provide us. In His time, He will make all things new (cf. Revelation 21:5a). This supremacy is a source of comfort for those who face difficult times.

His Power (27-31)

Finally, after telling His people why they will be comforted, God addresses the greatest concern of the people’s hearts. “Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, ‘My ways are hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God’?” (v. 27).

God knows our hearts and He knows our thoughts. We cannot hide them from Him, nor should we. This frees us to speak openly and honestly with God, more so than with any person we may know. Because God knows the hearts and thoughts of His people, He tells us the things we need to hear. It may not always be the things we want to hear, but it is what we need to hear. So it is in this passage.

If the people think God does not hear nor does He care, He reminds them that not only does He care and hear, but He is able to do something about it. He reminds them that He is everlasting, that He is Creator. He never tires, has the greatest understanding. Not only is God strong, but He also gives His strength to those who are weary, beaten down, ready to give up.

God lifts us up. He reminds us that everyone, even the young, grow tired and weary. But our God, the everlasting Creator, will give us power to endure. If we will wait upon Him, trusting in His timing and His will, then we will mount up and “sour with the wings of eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint” (v. 31, paraphrased).

We can look at this and say, “God’s power is temporary at best. We start out as soaring eagles, then we’re running, finally walking. How does that help?” Think back on your journey with God. There are always times we feel closest to Him, that we have had a “mountain top experience.” Those times, while flush with excitement and possibilities, don’t last a long time. We have to go down from the mountain, where there are large crowds, arguing and pleading, seeking and frustrated (cf. Mark 9:14-24). Though we remember that wonderful experience, we soon find ourselves back in the day-to-day events. Our faith is still firm, but it is being taxed. We stop soaring, but we’re still running. As the days continue and Satan seeks to make us feel defeated, we begin to walk.

Does this mean that God lets us down? Absolutely not! It is that faith that keeps us going, even when we’re down to the walk, that is most effective. We can’t live on mountain tops. We have to come down and live in a real world.

When we return to that real world, filled with clamor and conflict and opposition, God is there with us, comforting His sheep, wrapping us in His powerful arm, creating and transforming us by His Spirit into someone more like Him every day. We may be walking, but we are always walking with Him. He never lets us go.

Even when things are bleakest. God never lets go.

Conclusion

This day, Easter Sunday, was also a day that began with saddened hearts so long ago in Jerusalem. Each of the disciples knew that Jesus had died at Calvary. They knew they were all in danger. They must have heard by now about Judas and his death. Their world was also turned upside down. Yet, God brought comfort to them, too, through the appearance of a risen Savior.

We live in uncertain times. Our worlds have come to a screeching halt. We have to protect ourselves from things we cannot see, feel, hear or taste. Yet we do not need to give in to despair.

God is with us. He keeps us in His hands. Let us walk in the promise of His word. Faith is greater than feelings. God’s word, that never fails, is the word of truth. Feelings lie; God never does.

“Comfort, comfort My people, says your God.”