God Comforts His People

December 5, 2010

Lesson: Isaiah 40:1–11

Key Verse: Isaiah 40:1

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Introduction

“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.” Isaiah speaks of this comfort to Israel and the Gentiles, like a river and flowing stream: “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem” (Isa. 66:12–13). It is not the comfort which we may give, but the comfort which God gives. It is a comfort which delivers us from fear: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psa. 23:4). The redeemed of the Lord will sing the song of comfort in the presence of God’s people. They will be like a “watered garden,” for God will turn “their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow” (Jer. 31:11–13).

These are the congregations of whom Christ is Lord and Head, who find rest in Christ, who walk in the “fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:31). Paul reassures our faith in reminding us that those things which were written are for “our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). This is the comfort which walks alongside of us, encouraging and exhorting us, comforting us as an advocate, rightly counseling us in all things. It is with this comfort that we are to comfort others. For it is God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is “the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Cor. 1:3–4).

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1. God’s Glory—Isaiah 40:1–5

The command of the Lord to his prophet is that he is to be a preacher of comfort: “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.” The Lord goes on to say that Isaiah is to speak “comfortably to Jerusalem.” The prophet is to speak to “the heart of Jerusalem.” He is to speak to the very soul of Jerusalem that they may know that the God of all comfort and mercy is going to bring an end to their affliction. Isaiah is to cry out, proclaim loudly, to herald as from a mountain top, the good news of deliverance.

And what is the message? First that her terrible condition, which resembles that of a nation ravaged by war, is coming to an end; God’s punishment of his people comes to an end as the mercy of God is poured out from his throne of grace. Second that her “iniquity is pardoned,” that the sin and guilt which have brought about her awful condition before God is forgiven. God is now satisfied because atonement has been made for their sins (the Son who went to the cross of Calvary made atonement, satisfying the justice of God for all whom the Father gave him). The justice of God is satisfied, Isaiah publishing the glad tidings of grace! For God’s people to receive double for her sins from the Lord’s hand is but an announcement that God’s grace is sufficient for her healing. Though the punishment was seemingly great, it was deserved; how much greater the grace that redeems.

Often the people of God, Israel of the Old Testament or the Church of today, find themselves in a wilderness empty of the refreshing streams of grace. A voice cries out saying, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” The Lord’s hand will not be hindered from saving his people. Whether it is the sin of the heart or the evil of Satan and his likenesses without, the salvation of the Lord will have a clear path. No valley or mountain of obstruction will be allowed to hinder the saving work of God. The King of kings will ride with victory along the path made smooth by his strength. Salvation will come, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

This day of salvation will reveal “the glory of the Lord.” Glorious is the work of redemption that no one is able to say that it was not of the Lord. Not without much hypocrisy; for evil man denies the truth that is so many times clearly seen. The Lord redeems his people before the eyes of the nations. When the mouth of the Lord declares his salvation, it thunders and shakes the very foundation of the world.

Question: What two promises does the Lord give to his people for their comfort?

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2. God’s Word—Isaiah 40:6–8

The Psalmist sings: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psa. 19:7–8). The Word of the Lord is a life-giving Word. The Scriptures were written by God, and are taught by God. It is of divine authority as its Author is the Creator and Savior of this world. Therefore, the Word of God is effectual in the heart of believer and unbeliever alike. For, as it goes forth from the heart of God it will not return void of effectiveness to him.

The voice of heaven calls upon his prophets to cry out. And what shall they cry out? The Lord will give his prophets those words which are of a divine nature and authority. The power, wisdom, and authority of the prophet is this: that they are to declare only what they are commanded to say by the Lord God Almighty. The message to those in the wilderness, those who need the redeeming love of God, is this truth: “All flesh is grass, and all the goodness thereof is as the flower of the field; the grass withereth, the flower fadeth; because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it; surely the people is grass.”

These verses sound very discouraging at first. Are we truly like that flower which may please the eye today and tomorrow fades away? Yes. Whatever beauty or goodness we possess as men and women cannot be held on to, for it too will fade and die. Man likes to say that our eternity is what we leave behind us. God declares that our “righteousness are as filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6), and so must be discarded. God, in declaring us as the grass of field, is uniting us to that which is life itself. By denying self as having any intrinsic value, we find life in Christ and his Word. Isaiah declares the word of the Lord: “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Man cannot offer life to man. Life comes only from the Creator.

Our comfort does not come from man but from God. The Lord does not give us words of discouragement but of hope. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a light to those in darkness. Life flows from our Father in heaven through Christ Jesus our Savior. The Holy Comforter leads us into all truth, converting the soul and enlightening our eyes. We may have been like the grass that withers. However, now our testimony, because the saving grace of our King, is that we have been “born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass …But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Peter 1:23–25).

Question: What is the difference between the Word of God and the flower that withers?

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3. God’s Flock—Isaiah 40:9–11

The Lord continually speaks words of comfort to the hearts of his people. Israel has been in the clutches of the enemy. They have been in captivity because of their disobedience. Their darkness has surrounded them. However, God’s saving arm has pierced the darkness with the light of his tender mercies. Deliverance has come, and now the people of God are to herald the praises of their Savior: “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psa. 107:2).

The Word of the Lord has come to Israel. Isaiah calls upon Zion to bring the glad tidings to all of the people. God is in the midst of his people. This is the good news! “O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!” The Church today looks for the comfort of their Lord. There is no greater comfort than to know that our Lord and Savior is with us. If we do not have this comfort, then we are unable to comfort others who need the Christ who has risen, and is with us always.

Verses of the Bible sometimes divide thoughts and ideas which should not be divided. Verse ten is not another thought but must be read with the previous verse. Say to the cities, to the people, to the church, “Behold your God! Behold, the Lord God will come with a strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him.” The Lord God who can be known to be in the midst of his people is the One who is the King of kings, who with his strong hand and arm effectively accomplishes his purpose. He both saves his people and judges his enemy. He rewards his people, as he is the Savior who has saved them.

Who is he that has redeemed his people, and how does he present himself as our Savior? He is the good Shepherd who has laid down his life for his sheep. He is the Shepherd who came to seek and save the lost lambs of his flock. He is the Shepherd who laid down his own life as a lamb slain, a sacrifice for the sins of his people. Therefore, the Lord will “feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” He is the Shepherd who knows his own, and his own know him. He holds us in His arms and will never let us go.

There is great gentleness in the Lord who has reached down to cradle us in his arms. There is great comfort to know the Shepherd who has come, first to the manger of Bethlehem, and then to his cross on Calvary’s hill. From there he chose to embrace us with forgiving love. And in his resurrection he chose to feed us, eternally and abundantly.

Question: What does it mean to belong to the flock of the Good Shepherd?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2010 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.