Analysis of Isaiah Chapter 40
Isaiah Chapter 40 marks a significant shift in the tone and message of the Book of Isaiah. Where the previous chapters are often characterized by their pronouncements of judgment and calls to repentance, Chapter 40 introduces a message of comfort and hope. This chapter is regarded as the beginning of the “Book of Comfort” or “Deutero-Isaiah,” which is generally thought to encompass chapters 40-55. It opens with a promise of comfort and a declaration of God’s enduring power, establishing a foundation for the subsequent chapters that detail the deliverance and restoration of Israel.
Verses 1-2: Proclamation of Comfort
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.”
The opening verses immediately set a tone of consolation. God, through the prophet Isaiah, instructs his messengers to comfort His people. This double repetition of “comfort” underscores the deep compassion of God for His suffering people. The directive to “speak tenderly to Jerusalem” suggests an intimate, reassuring dialogue rather than a stern admonition.
The message conveyed is one of reprieve and grace. The “hard service” or “warfare” is interpreted as the period of hardship and exile, which is now drawing to an end. Similarly, “her sin has been paid for” indicates that the punishment for Jerusalem’s sins has been fully borne, implying a future without the burden of past transgressions. The phrase “double for all her sins” is a poetic expression that suggests an abundant measure of God’s grace, rather than a literal doubling of punishment. This sets a foundation for the following verses that will elaborate on the renewed relationship between God and His people.
Verses 3-5: Preparing the Way of the LORD
“A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.'”
These verses are often familiar to readers of the New Testament, where they are echoed in the gospels as referring to John the Baptist and the preparation for Jesus Christ. A “voice” metaphorically calls for preparations to be made for the coming of the LORD. The imagery of this passage highlights the transformative power of God’s presence. Preparing the way, raising valleys, leveling mountains, and smoothing rough terrain illustrates the removal of obstacles and the creation of a path for God’s people to return to Him.
Such imagery resonates with themes of divine intervention and salvific acts, where God’s path is made straight and accessible. The ultimate revelation, “the glory of the LORD,” will be a universal revelation, seen by “all people,” emphasizing the inclusivity and magnitude of God’s revelation. This prophecy reinforces God’s absolute authority and His commitment to the redemption of His people.
Verses 6-8: The Enduring Word of God
“A voice says, ‘Cry out.’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ ‘All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.'”
Here we encounter another declaration, urging proclamation. The contrast between human frailty and divine constancy is emphasized with the metaphor of grass and flowers, which are transient and subject to withering. Humanity’s temporary nature is underscored as the prophet is reminded of their fleeting existence compared to the everlasting Word of God.
“The breath of the LORD” suggests an image of God’s power over creation, where His mere breath causes the grass to wither. However, unlike the ephemeral nature of human life and fidelity, God’s word is unchanging and eternal. This assurance of God’s immutable word provides a foundation of stability and hope for the people, emphasizing that no matter the temporal circumstances, God’s promises remain steadfast and reliable.
Verses 9-11: The Good News of God’s Reign
“You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 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 call to proclaim good news is a rallying cry for the heralds of Jerusalem. The exhortation to “go up on a high mountain” and “lift up your voice with a shout” emphasizes the urgency and importance of the message. The announcement “Here is your God!” serves as a powerful proclamation of God’s near and immediate presence.
These verses juxtapose the imagery of God’s sovereign strength with that of His pastoral care. The “mighty arm” and ruling power signify God’s capability to effect change and protection, while the imagery of a shepherd tenderly caring for his flock conveys deep compassion and intimacy. The shepherd gathers lambs, carries them, and leads them, stressing God’s gentle guidance and unwavering protection for His people.
Verses 12-26: The Incomparability of God
“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding? Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.”
In these verses, the grandeur and supremacy of God are depicted through a series of rhetorical questions that highlight His transcendence over all creation. The language used here magnifies God’s omnipotence and omniscience, illustrating that He alone is the creator and sustainer of the universe.
The questions posed by Isaiah underscore the insignificance of human understanding and power compared to God’s infinite wisdom and might. The depiction of God measuring waters, marking the heavens, and weighing mountains conveys His sovereign control over creation. The mention of nations being like “a drop in a bucket” or “dust on the scales” further emphasizes the insignificance of worldly powers before God’s majesty.
The inadequacy of Lebanon’s vast forests and multitude of animals for burnt offerings signifies the futility of human attempts to appease or equate to God’s greatness. This section culminates with the assertion that “all the nations are as nothing,” stressing God’s unmatched sovereignty and the futility of human pride and self-reliance.
Verses 18-20: The Folly of Idolatry
“With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him? As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.”
These verses present a critique of idolatry, highlighting its futility and the ridiculousness of comparing God to man-made idols. The rhetorical questions asked by Isaiah expose the absurdity of attempting to create physical representations of God, who is beyond all comparison and material limitations.
The description of the craftsmanship involved in idol-making—casting metal, overlaying with gold, and fashioning with silver chains—emphasizes the effort and artistry expended on something ultimately lifeless and powerless. The contrast between the poverty-stricken individual selecting durable wood and a skilled worker crafting an idol that “will not topple” further underscores the vanity of idol worship.
This passage serves as a reminder of God’s uniqueness and supremacy, urging the people to forsake their reliance on idols and recognize the incomparable nature of the LORD.
Verses 21-26: Divine Sovereignty over Creation
“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? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. ‘To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One. 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 forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”
The rhetorical questions in these verses serve as a wake-up call to the people, urging them to recognize God’s eternal sovereignty and creative power. The depiction of God enthroned above the earth and its inhabitants being “like grasshoppers” reinforces His absolute dominion and the insignificance of human power.
God’s creation of the heavens and His ability to reduce princes and rulers to nothing further illustrate His omnipotence. The image of human endeavors—planting, sowing, and taking root—being swiftly undone by God’s breath underscores the transient nature of human authority compared to divine sovereignty.
The repetition of the challenge, “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” sets the stage for the final reaffirmation of God’s unmatched power. By directing attention to the heavens and the meticulous order of the starry host, Isaiah stresses God’s role as the Creator who knows each star by name and ensures none are missing. This powerful imagery of divine control over the cosmos serves to inspire awe and reinforce faith in God’s omnipotence.
Verses 27-31: The Source of Strength and Hope
“Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God’? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”
The chapter concludes with a direct address to Jacob and Israel, acknowledging the people’s feelings of abandonment and weariness. God’s response through Isaiah is a reassurance of His everlasting nature and unwavering support. The rhetorical questions emphasize the people’s need to remember and acknowledge God’s eternal attributes—He is the Creator, and unlike humans, He does not grow tired or weary.
Verse 29 provides a vivid contrast between divine and human strength. While the strongest of humans, including “youths” and “young men,” may falter, God’s strength is inexhaustible. This passage highlights the transformative power of placing hope in the LORD. Those who do so “will renew their strength,” depicted through inspiring imagery of soaring like eagles, running without weariness, and walking without fainting. The promise of renewed strength and vitality underscores the sustaining power of faith in God, offering comfort and encouragement to the weary and disheartened.
Conclusion
Isaiah Chapter 40 is a profound message of comfort, hope, and reassurance. It marks the transition from judgment to consolation, affirming God’s enduring love and the promise of restoration for His people. The chapter emphasizes the grandeur and supremacy of God, contrasting human frailty with divine omnipotence. Through vivid imagery and rhetorical questions, it calls the people to recognize God’s unmatched power and their own transient nature.
By highlighting the folly of idolatry and the sovereignty of God over creation, the chapter challenges readers to place their trust solely in the LORD. The final verses offer a powerful promise of renewed strength and hope for those who rely on God, encouraging perseverance and faith amidst trials. Isaiah 40 thus serves as a timeless reminder of God’s unchanging nature and His unwavering commitment to His people, providing a foundation of hope and comfort for all believers.