In our reading this morning, we have the beginning of the second major section in this great Book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 1-39, we have read glimpses of hope for the people of God.

There will be a future day when people from all the nations of the world will worship Israel’s God (Isaiah 2:1-4). This will happen despite the repeated unfaithfulness of God’s people. And despite the habit of the Kings of Judah to trust the military power of the surrounding nations, instead of Yahweh God and the power of His promises. “Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above” (Is. 37:31). Man’s arm will not accomplish this, but the arm of the Lord and His mighty zeal will accomplish this (Is. 37:32).

Our Hope Is In A Child

Throughout Is. 1-39, whenever God’s people and their leaders turn from trust in the LORD, their covenant God exhorts them with both words of judgment and hope. The hope that God offers often appears in the promise a child. A child who will be called Immanuel, ‘God with us‘ (Is. 7:14). A child will be born and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God……..Prince of Peace (Is. 9:5).

He will be like a shoot coming from the line of David’s family, who will be endowed with God’s Spirit to fully accomplish God’s saving purposes for the earth (Is. 11:1-9). This child will grow up to be the Messiah King, the Anointed One of the LORD. In Isaiah 40-55, this messianic figure is described as the Servant of the LORD (Is. 42:1-9).

Because of the tender mercies of God, the LORD speaks words of comfort to His people (Is. 40:1-2), even on the heels of a prophesied judgment of exile at the hands of the Babylonians (Is.39:1-8). This exile will not be the final chapter in the life of Judah. The LORD Himself will come to Israel and shepherd His people (Is. 40:9-11).

“Here Is Your God!”

The first readers of Isaiah’s prophetic vision didn’t realize how literally their God would fulfill Isaiah 40:9-11. He would actually come as a human being to fulfill these words. The forerunner of the coming of God’s Son, Jesus, is prophesied in Isaiah 40:3. In all 4 Gospels this verse is used to describe the ministry of John the Baptist. It was John in the Judean desert who introduced God’s Son to Israel.

God is both willing (Is. 40:1-11) and able to redeem His wayward people (Is. 40:12-28). Great promises of God’s blessing avail to the person who turns to the LORD in repentance and faith. “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” (Is. 40:31). The nations and their idols are less than nothing when you compare their strength to the might and wisdom of Israel’s covenant God, Yahweh (Is. 41:1-29). Only Yahweh knows the beginning from the end, and only He can redeem and call a new world into being.

The way He will accomplish this is through the Servant of the LORD. This Servant-King will not be like other kings. He will not shout and quarrel in the streets, but in his meekness and power, a new world of justice and shalom will take root on the earth (Is. 42:1-9). We will later read that this messianic figure will bring this redemption about through his sacrifice and sufferings (Is. 52:13-53:12).

The exciting and surprising good news is that the fruit of the Suffering Servant’s life and ministry will include the salvation of people from all nations. Gentiles and Jews will sing a new song together to the LORD (Is. 42:10-14). But this word of hope is only for those who turn from their idols and sin (Is. 42:17). Even the Israelites need to repent if they are going to experience the salvation blessings of God (Is. 42:18-25).

QOTD: Have you truly repented from your idols and sin and have you turned to the Suffering Servant-King Jesus for your salvation?