God our Comfort Isaiah 40 Author Isaiah Yahweh

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 1011 -931 B. C. Northern Kingdom of Israel To Assyria 722 B. C. 931 B. C. To Babylon Isaiah 739 -681 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 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 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