God our Comfort
Isaiah 40
Author
Isaiah = Yahweh is Salvation
Judah’s Salvation from her enemies
Judah’s Salvation from Babylon
The Jews’ Salvation in the Kingdom
The sinner’s Salvation from sin
Key Names
Yahweh
423
Elohim
103
Adonai
Yahweh Sabaoth
52
52
Holy One of Israel
25
Covenant
Relationship
Supreme over idols
Lord over creation
Sovereign over
heavenly powers
Perfection, Greatness,
Nearness
History
United
Monarchy
David/Solomon
Northern
Kingdom of Israel
To Assyria
722 B.C.
931 B.C.
To Babylon
Isaiah 739-681
1011-931 B.C.
Southern
Kingdom of Judah
586 B.C.
70 years
Isaiah Divisions
1~39
Retribution
Assyria
History 739~701 B.C
1-12 Judah/Jerusalem
13-35 The Nations
36~39 Hezekiah
40~66
Restoration
Babylon
Future
40~48 Cyrus
49~57 Christ
58~66 Israel
Isaiah 40 Divisions
1-11
Compassion
12-26
Comparison
27-31
Comfort
Isaiah 40:1-11 Divisions
1-2
A Voice of Pardon
3-5
A Voice of Preparation
6-8
A Voice of Promise
9-11
A Voice of Presence
Divisions
1-2 Pardon
Isaiah 40
1 Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
Isaiah 40
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
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.
Principle
Without the shedding of blood
There is no forgiveness
Hebrews 9:22
Application Questions
Will you ask for forgiveness?
Will you forgive your enemies?
Application Prayer
I Adore You Precious Lamb & Seeker of the lost
I Confess & I am sorry for rebelling against You
Thank You for saving me from sin, satan, death
I Pray You shape my heart to Your Desires
Divisions
3-5 Preparation
Isaiah 40
3 A voice of one calling:
“In the desert prepare the way for the LORD;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God.
Isaiah 40
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
Isaiah 40
5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken
Principle
For our light and momentary troubles
are achieving for us an eternal glory that
far outweighs them all
2 Corinthians 4:17
Application Questions
Jesus desires to come into your life.
Will you clear the stony soil from
your heart for Him to reign?
Application Prayer
I Adore You my Sovereign Lord and King
I Confess I have loved other gods above You
Thank You for the Joy & Honor of serving You
I Pray for Power to obey Your Will faithfully
Divisions
6-8 Promise
Isaiah 40
6 A voice says, “Cry out.” “All men
are like grass, and all their glory is
like the flowers of the field
Isaiah 40
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on
them. Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever.”
Principle
Without faith
It is impossible to please God
Hebrews 11:6
Faith
Faith knows God is Present
Faith trusts God’s loving purpose in every test
Faith seeks how to glorify God through tests
Faith submits to God without question
Faith lives for God’s Approval, not His deliverance
Application Questions
Does this describe your faith?
Will you exercise faith
in your current circumstances?
Application Prayer
I Adore You as my Promise Keeping God
I Confess I have trusted man instead of You
Thank You for preparing a future full of hope
I Pray for Help to live with an eternal perspective
Divisions
9-11 Presence
Isaiah 40
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion,
go up on a high mountain
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to Judah, “Here is your God!”
Isaiah 40: Power and Authority
10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with
power, and his arm rules for him.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him
Isaiah 40: Humble and Gentle
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
Principle
If God be for us,
No one and nothing
can prevail against us.
Application Questions
What need in your life would you
like your Shepherd to meet today?
If you are:
Hungry – Let Jesus feed you!
Lonely – Let Jesus hold you close!
Tired – Let Jesus carry you!
Lost – Let Jesus lead you!
Isaiah 40:1-11 Summary
1-2 A Voice of Pardon
–Sacrificial Lamb
3-5 A Voice of Preparation –Coming King
6-8 A Voice of Promise –Trustworthy Friend
9-11
A
Voice
of
Presence
Shepherd
–Gentle
Isaiah 40:26
Lift 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.
Isaiah 41:10 God’s New Year Promise
Presence, Possession, Power, Permanence
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will
uphold you with my righteous right hand
Isaiah 40
May God bless you richly in 2012
as you install Jesus as your
Eternal Comfort!
God our Comfort
Isaiah 40