INTRODUCTION

1. The book of Isaiah naturally divides between the first thirty-nine chapters, which are mostly a message of judgement, and the final twenty-seven chapters, which are mostly a message of hope.

2. The fortieth chapter of Isaiah is an appropriate beginning to Isaiah's message of hope, for it is a powerful declaration of the sovereignty and might of God.  Let us now consider this passage with a view to how it applies to us with its presentation of our powerful God.

    

CLEAR THE WAY FOR THE LORD -- ISAIAH 40:1-11

1. Preparation is necessary for receiving the comfort and the glory of God (vv. 1-5).

   1. For the Jews, we know that this passage was fulfilled by the preaching of John the baptizer, for he quoted this passage when he explained who he was (John 1:22-23; see also Matt. 3:1-3).

   2. For us, this passage teaches the importance of being ready for the Lord and His word.

      1. John taught the people of his time to repent in preparation for God's kingdom (Matt. 3:1-3), and we must also repent to receive the kingdom (1Cor. 6:9-11).

      2. Likewise, we must prepare our hearts to receive God's word as James 1:21 states:

         Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

2. Comfort and glory come in the form of God's eternal word and its revelation of God (vv. 6-11).

   1. God's word transcends man's worldly existence (vv. 6-8).

      1. As men come and go, God's word stands unchanged, and it will abide forever.

      2. Because this is true, our devotion must be unto God rather than men.

      3. The fact that God's word is eternal gives comfort to us when men persecute us for keeping His word, for we know that our persecutors will fail, but God's word will not.  See 1Peter 1:22-25; 2:11-12; 3:14-17; 12-19.

   2. The particular message from God's word is this announcement: "Here is your God!" (vv. 9-11).

      1. Notice that the "bearer of good news" is to make this announcement with no fear.

      2. Today, we are the bearers of good news, and we must preach the gospel without fear.

      3. Let us point to Jesus and say, "Here is your God!" for "He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power" (Heb. 1:3).

          

TO WHOM THEN WILL YOU LIKEN GOD? -- ISAIAH 40:12-31

1. God's greatness is demonstrated in His power over creation and the nations (vv. 12-17).

   1. Only God can measure the vastness of His creation, and He does so easily (v. 12).

   2. God has no consultants or instructors, for all knowledge and wisdom abide in Him (vv. 13-14).

   3. The nations may be great and powerful among men, but they are as nothing to God (vv. 15-17).

   4. In these three points, God is shown to be immeasurably superior to man.

      1. Since the beginning of time, man has attempted to comprehend natural science.  We have made great strides, but we don't have even the slightest insight into the full knowledge of the universe that God easily possesses.

      2. All men are educated at the feet of other men, but God needs no instructors.  He knows everything already, and nothing can be told to Him that He does not already know.

      3. The struggle for political power is the cause of every war and the thread for all of man's history, but these things are insignificant to God.  He raises up nations and puts them down as easily as a man brushes away a speck of dust.

2. No idol created by man can compare with God (vv. 18-20).

   1. An idol is crafted by a man with a metal casting plated with gold or silver (vv. 18-19).

   2. For those who are poor, an idol is carved from wood, and a man crafts it so it will not fall over (v. 20).

   3. These descriptions of the origins of idols expose the ridiculous foolishness of idolatry.  How can a man hire another man to craft a piece of metal or wood and then bow down and worship the object?  How utterly powerless must an idol be if a man has to design it not to fall over?

   4. It is truly amazing that God has ever had to compete with idols, but this speaks to the foolishness, weakness, and rebellion of man.

   5. See also Isaiah 44:9-19; Jeremiah 10:1-16

3. God rules over the world and the affairs of men (vv. 21-26).

   1. The fact that God sits above the earth and all of creation has been declared and known from the beginning of time (vv. 21-22).

      1. This announcement concerning God is nothing new, for His greatness has been known from the dawn of time.  Consider Romans 1:20, which says that "since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made..."

      2. Notice that Isaiah said that God sits above the "vault" or the "circle" of the earth. This proves the inspiration of Isaiah, for he wrote long before man knew by scientific discovery that the earth is a sphere.

      3. The earth, its inhabitants, and the heavens are small compared to God.  He spreads out the heavens (i.e., space and sky) like a curtain or a tent for our dwelling place.  How great God must be!

   2. The world's rulers may be intimidating to men, but they are nothing to God (vv. 23-24).

      1. We fret and worry about powerful men, but God brings down rulers with the ease of the wind carrying away the chaff.

      2. Some biblical examples are Ahaziah (2Ki. 1:4, 17), Belshazzar (Dan. 5:30-31), and Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:23).  God effortlessly removed these men from the world stage.

   3. God even knows each and every star, and they exist because of Him (vv. 25-26).

      1. We are impressed by the vast quantity of stars.  More and more stars are discovered as men develop more powerful telescopes so that is seems that the stars are numberless.

      2. If we are impressed with the stars, then how much more should we be impressed with the Creator of the stars?  He knows each one by name.  These stars are constantly declaring the glory of God (Ps. 19:1-3).

4. God is everlasting, and those who wait on Him will be rewarded (vv. 27-31).

   1. God answers the question of those who think that their plight has gone unnoticed by Him (v. 27).

      1. The question is reminiscent of Job, who thought that somehow God had overlooked his suffering and that justice had failed.

      2. The truth is that nothing escapes God's notice.  Consider Hebrews 4:13:

         And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

   2. Indeed, God knows our needs, and He helps those who rely on Him through His inexhaustible resources (vv. 28-31).

      1. Like verse 21, verse 28 expresses surprise that God's people would not understand these fundamental truths about God.

      2. For God's people, hardships in this world are not due to God's weariness or inattentiveness. They are simply trials that we must endure while we wait for Him.

      3. In the meantime, God provides strength and endurance to those who wait for Him.  Even the most vigorous young men grow tired and weak, but God never tires.  Likewise, those who show patience, trust, and faith in God will be made by Him to be tireless and enduring.

          

CONCLUSION

1. "Here is your God!" The presentation of Isaiah 40 is a bold declaration of God designed to cultivate confidence, faith, and hope in His people.

2. With such a powerful and glorious God as ours, what shall we fear?  Let us trust in God with all of our hearts and not lean on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5).  Surely, God will give us new strength to endure any trial or hardship.