Have you ever been captivated by encouraging words so much that your heartbeat doubles because of joy. These words from Isaiah 40 have been soul edifying and spirit uplifting to me so many times.

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 40:1-5, NIV

These words are some of the most quoted of the book of Isaiah. It’s hard to miss the tender and encouraging tone. No wander many of us are easily attracted to this part of Scripture. But this doesn’t give us right to interpret it partially. It’s good to revisit the original context and the main emphases of the book, its original recipients and hear God speaking to us through a message that was not originally ours.

The complex audience of Isaiah

Isaiah prophesied in the 8th century, contemporary of Amos, Hosea and Micah. He began his ministry around 740 and died according to tradition during the reign of the impious king Manasseh who killed  him by cutting him into pieces  because of his prophecies.

In his book Isaiah addresses three different audiences:

The theme of God's holiness in Isaiah

If some have questioned the unity of this book, one of the great proofs of the unity of this book is the use of the expression “Saint of Israel” which crosses the three parts of the book 12 times between chap. 1-39 and 14 times between 40-66. If this expression appears 26 times in the book, only six times does it appear in the rest of the Old Testament.

Although the theme of the glory of God is at the heart of the book of Isaiah, holiness is at the center of this glory so that we can say that Isaiah is above all the prophet of the holiness of God. Thus the holiness of God is not just one of the attributes of God but what is central to every attribute of God.

The Holy ONE of Israel and its implications

This expression is made up of two parts, one of which emphasizes transcendence and the other immanence.

THE HOLY ONE: God is totally distinct from the rest of creation; he belongs to the divine domain, supernatural and detached from that of the rest of his creatures. As such he is to be feared, revered, worshiped and obeyed.

But it is also holy in the sense of perfect moral purity and ethical perfection. As such he should be imitated and his moral sanctity should be reflected. In the vision of Isaiah 6 both aspects of His holiness appear there.

OF ISRAEL: If nothing and no one can domesticate this God, he has chosen to identify himself with the people of Israel. Although exalting and transcending, he pursues a deep and personal relationship with his chosen people. This relationship is lived in the context of his covenant. God is to be feared and worshiped but also experienced in living communion.

JUDGMENT AND RESTORATION

As a totally holy God, he must punish Israel for their sin. He will be delivered into the hands of the heathen nations who will execute the wrath of God

As Saints of Israel, they will be preserved and brought back from exile and their relationship with God will be restored on the basis of a new covenant.

COMFORT MY PEOPLE: back to our text Isaiah 40:1-5

In these few verses we can already find the three great themes that characterize Isaiah 40-66: Isaiah looks beyond captivity and exile. He sees the return from exile, the salvation of the people of God and their liberator and the glory of the future Jerusalem

V.1-2: In his holiness God punished Israel but in his compassion God will bring them back from exile. Their sins will be atoned for. Exile is being cast away from the presence of God. To be brought back, a price must be paid for our sins that caused this exile. Jesus came to pay that price and bring us back into the presence of God. These versed refer to our forgiveness and justification in Jesus Christ. It’s the most comforting news one can ever hear. These verses have been used to justify all kinds of “carnal” good news people can ever dream of. They despise the kind of blessedness David treasured so much: Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven (Ps 32:1)

V.3-4 This Savior Liberator is a King. We know that the coming of a king was heralded by the sending of an emissary. These verses are used in Mt 3.3; Mc 1.3; Jn 1:23 or Israel must clear the way for the Lord. John the Baptist was this emissary. As we await Jesus' second return, these verses tell us about the importance of sanctification as we await the coming of the King. The second coming of Jesus Christ is the sweetest news we are waiting for. If his Work has set us aside to be a holy people devoted to do His will, His promises motivate us to walk in holiness till He comes back.

V.5 When the King comes, his majesty and glory are perceived. In his first coming this glory is manifested in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Before his return this glory is experienced in sanctification as the Spirit continually conforms us to the image of the Son of God. He also grants us here below foretastes of the full glory that comes through the delights of His fellowship and the manifestation of His power. But all this is but a shadow before the overwhelming realism of His glory when He returns.

Comfort my people, tenderly speak to the Bride

That Jesus Christ came to save us from the wrath of God, His Spirit working in us to sanctify us till the day Christ comes back to take us in His glory , that’s the best news Christians need to tell each other. These three themes are all reflected in these verses.

Many have rightly used these words in a revivalistic sense, calling the Church to take hold of these wonderful promises of spiritual restoration. Yes the Church needs the words of comfort.

May the Lord fulfill these promises in our generation.