Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Pre-exilic Prophets 3 (2)
Pray Psalm 104.24-30.
O LORD, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of Your possessions—
…You open Your hand, they are filled with good.
You hide Your face, they are troubled;
You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;
And You renew the face of the earth.
Sing Psalm 104.24-30.
(Creation: The Spacious Firmament Above)
How many are Your works, O LORD, which You have created by Your Word!
The earth and sea with creatures teem—they look to You to care and feed.
You give to them, they gather all; You hide Your face, they fail and fall.
You take their breath, they gasp and die; You send Your Spirit, they revive.
Read Isaiah 40.1-11; meditate on verses 1-5.
Preparation
1. Why should God’s people be comforted?
2. What happens when the glory of the Lord is finally revealed?
Meditation
The greatest of God’s works is the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here that work is prefigured, as is the work of John the Baptist, who will herald the coming of the Lord.
This part of Isaiah’s prophecy begins with a word of comfort. Though they will shortly be carried away into captivity to Babylon, the people should take comfort, because God is going to bring them forgiveness and peace (v. 2), once His wrath against them is satisfied (v. 3). All this has historical significance for the three generations that would succeed Isaiah. But its deeper significance reaches far beyond that.
Verse 3 launches us beyond the scope of the Old Testament to the time of John the Baptist, who identified himself with this prophecy (cf. Jn. 1.19-23). A day of leveling and straightening is coming, to make access to the Lord easy for all who will come to Him (vv. 3, 4). But men must make preparation for meeting the Lord (v. 3), and John would explain to them how (Lk. 3.1-18).
The “highway for our God” is the route by which He will come to His people and His people will come to Him. Jesus is that Highway (Jn. 14.6), and in His Presence, the glory of the Lord is revealed (v. 5; cf. Jn. 1.14) and the proclamation of that glory will reach to “all flesh” (v. 5). The God Who humbled Sennacherib, healed Hezekiah, and dialed back the sundial has spoken it. Surely it will come to pass.“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!”
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the Word of our God
stands forever” (Is. 40.8; 1 Pet. 1.24, 25).
“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail” (Lk. 16.17).
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will by no means pass away” (Lk. 21.33).
“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look on the earth beneath.
For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, the earth will grow old like a garment,
and those who dwell in it will die in like manner;
but My salvation will be forever,
and My righteousness will not be abolished” (Is. 51.6).
And this Word, that stands forever, will feed His flock like a Shepherd,
He will gather the lambs with His arm and carry them and snuggle them close.
He will gently lead those who are caring for others.
“I AM the Good Shepherd.
The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep…
I know My sheep, and am known by My own” (Jn. 10.11, 14, 15).
“And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice;
and there will be one flock and one Shepherd” (Jn. 10.16).
“…having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (Jn. 13.1).
He leadeth me, O blessed thought! O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be, Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine, Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see, Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, He leadeth me!
By His own hand He leadeth me!
His faithful foll’wer I would be,
for by His hand He leadeth me.
(Joseph H. Gilmore, 1862)
The LORD JESUS is my Shepherd; I shall not want—
for anyone or anything else (Ps. 23.1).
Comfort one another with these Words (1 Thess. 4.18).
His Words stand true and firm forever.
Reflection
1. Jesus aims to glorify Himself through us (1 Cor. 10.31). How does He do that?
2. How would you know if Jesus was glorifying Himself in or through you?
3. How does Jesus serve as the “highway” in your life?
And may the Lord prepare our hearts by the teaching of his word and the convictions of his Spirit, that high and proud thoughts may be brought down, good desires planted, crooked and rugged tempers made straight and softened, and every hindrance removed, that we may be ready for his will on earth, and prepared for his heavenly kingdom. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Isaiah 40.1-11
Pray Psalm 104.31-35.
Pray that the Lord will glorify Himself in you today, that you may show Jesus to the people of your world in all your words and deeds, be they ever so small.
Sing Psalm 104.31-35.
(Creation: The Spacious Firmament Above)
LORD, let Your glory long endure! Rejoice! His works are ever sure!
He looks on earth, it quails and quakes, as we our songs of praises make.
LORD, let our meditation rise and bring great pleasure in Your eyes.
Consumed shall sinners ever be; O, bless and praise the LORD with me!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
