Advent, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at the Second Coming, is marked by a profound sense of anticipation and hope. The second week of Advent traditionally focuses on the themes of preparation and prophecy, drawing significantly from the rich prophetic tradition of the Old Testament. Isaiah 40 stands as a pivotal chapter in this regard, offering a message that is both comforting and challenging, as it calls believers to prepare the way for the Lord.
Isaiah 40 marks the beginning of what scholars often refer to as "Deutero-Isaiah" (Isaiah 40-55), a section of the book that addresses the hope of deliverance and restoration for the Israelites during the Babylonian exile. This chapter introduces a shift from the messages of judgment, which are prevalent in the first 39 chapters of Isaiah, to messages of comfort and hope.
"1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 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. 3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 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. 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." 6 A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" 10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. 12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? 13 Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel? 14 Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? 15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust. 16 Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering. 17 All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness. 18 To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him? 19 An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains. 20 He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move. 21 Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; 23 who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. 24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. 25 To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God"? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:1-31 (ESV)
Literary Structure and Key Themes
Isaiah 40 is poetically structured and can be divided into several sections, each contributing to the overarching theme of preparation for God's coming:
Verses 1-2: Comfort for God's People
These verses begin with a divine command to comfort God's people. The language used here implies a deep empathy and understanding of the suffering endured by the Israelites.
Verses 3-5: The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness
This section introduces a voice that calls for the preparation of the Lord's way. The imagery of valleys being lifted up and mountains made low suggests a radical transformation of the world in anticipation of God's arrival. This passage is later applied to John the Baptist in the New Testament (Matthew 3:3).
Verses 6-8: The Transience of Humanity and the Eternity of God's Word
The frailty of humanity is contrasted with the enduring nature of God's word. This emphasizes the reliability and unchanging nature of God's promises.
Verses 9-11: The Herald of Good News
These verses depict a messenger bringing good news of God's reign. The portrayal of God as a shepherd illustrates His care and gentleness towards His people.
Verses 12-31: The Greatness of God
The chapter concludes by extolling the greatness of God, encouraging the people to trust in His power and providence.
Theological Implications
The message of Isaiah 40 resonates deeply with Advent themes. The call to prepare the way for the Lord aligns with the Advent focus on readying hearts and minds for Christ's coming. The contrast between human frailty and the enduring word of God reinforces the Christian hope in the eternal promises of God, a hope that finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
Reflection and Preparation
In the context of Advent, Isaiah 40 invites believers to a time of reflection and spiritual preparation. This preparation involves repentance, a reorientation of one's life towards God, and an active anticipation of Christ's coming. The imagery of making straight in the desert a highway for our God (Isaiah 40:3) symbolizes this spiritual journey.
Embracing the Prophetic Message
The prophetic message of Isaiah 40 is not just historical but also eschatological. It points to the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in Christ. Advent becomes a time to delve deeper into the prophetic Scriptures, recognizing in them the unfolding plan of God for salvation.
Hope in the Midst of Challenges
The assurance of God's sovereignty and faithfulness, as depicted in Isaiah 40, provides comfort and hope, especially in times of uncertainty and struggle. The Advent season, therefore, becomes a time to renew one's faith in God's promises, remembering that, like the Israelites, believers too are on a journey towards redemption.
Conclusion
This Advent message, rooted in the theological and historical context of Isaiah 40, seeks to inspire a deeper engagement with the season's themes of waiting, prophecy, and preparation. The message of Isaiah, echoing through the centuries, remains as relevant and powerful today as it was to its original audience.
Isaiah 40, with its profound imagery and hopeful message, is the Advent scripture for the second week of Advent. It calls the faithful to a deeper understanding of God's plan and invites them to participate actively in preparing the way for the Lord. In doing so, it encapsulates the essence of Advent: a season of waiting, preparation, and hopeful anticipation for the coming of Christ.
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