Read Isaiah 40:1-11

Read Isaiah 40:1-11

      “Comfort my people,” says our God. “Comfort them!

²     Encourage the people of Jerusalem.

Tell them they have suffered long enough

and their sins are now forgiven.ⁱ

I have punished them in full for all their sins.”

³     A voice cries out,

“Prepare in the wilderness a road for the Lord!

Clear the way in the desert for our God!

⁴     Fill every valley;

level every mountain.

The hills will become a plain,

and the rough country will be made smooth.

⁵     Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,

and the whole human race will see it.

The Lord himself has promised this.”

⁶     A voice cries out, “Proclaim a message!”

“What message shall I proclaim?” I ask.

“Proclaim that all human beings are like grass;

they last no longer than wild flowers.

⁷     Grass withers and flowers fade,

when the Lord sends the wind blowing over them.

People are no more enduring than grass.

⁸     Yes, grass withers and flowers fade,

but the word of our God endures for ever.”

⁹     Jerusalem, go up on a high mountain

and proclaim the good news!

Call out with a loud voice, Zion;

announce the good news!^j

Speak out and do not be afraid.

Tell the towns of Judah

that their God is coming!

¹⁰   The Sovereign Lord is coming to rule with power,

bringing with him the people he has rescued.^k

¹¹   He will take care of his flock like a shepherd;

he will gather the lambs together

and carry them in his arms;

he will gently lead their mothers.

Think

As we anticipate the birth of Christ we read what John quoted about him - from the Isaiah scroll. 

The meaning of Jesus is God reaching out to the lost - God lovingly shepherding his people (vs 10).

Pray

Sometimes the pathway to your throne seems full of hills, valleys and obstacles.  But Isaiah speaks of a highway - valleys lifted, hills excavated, the rough made smooth.

Let me walk that highway - assisted by your grace - as I grow closer to you. My God and King.

---

ⁱ and their sins are now forgiven; or they have paid for what they did.

³ 40.3: Mt 3:3; Mk 1:3; Jn 1:23
40.3–5: Lk 3:4–6

⁴ 40.3: Mt 3:3; Mk 1:3; Jn 1:23
40.3–5: Lk 3:4–6

⁵ 40.3: Mt 3:3; Mk 1:3; Jn 1:23
40.3–5: Lk 3:4–6

⁶ 40.6–8: Jas 1:10, 11; 1 P 1:24, 25

⁷ 40.6–8: Jas 1:10, 11; 1 P 1:24, 25

⁸ 40.6–8: Jas 1:10, 11; 1 P 1:24, 25

^j Jerusalem, go up ... news!; or Go up on a high mountain and proclaim the good news to Jerusalem! Call out with a loud voice and announce the good news to Zion!

¹⁰ 40.10: Is 62:11; Rev 22:12

^k the people he has rescued; or the rewards he has for his people.

¹¹ 40.11: Ez 34:15; Jn 10:11