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
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
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
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
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