A Voice in the Desert

(Isa. 40:1-5, 8-11)

The book of Isaiah is divided into two parts. The first 39 chapters deal with impending judgment, and the last
27 with forgiveness and deliverance. The first 39 chapters expose sin, the last 27 chapters reveal a Savior.

The Desert (or Wilderness)

What does the desert represent? The apparent absence of God

WHERE IS OUR GOD?

“Doing Time” (Isa. 40:2) in the Desert Could Be the Result of God’s Testing, Preparation
or Discipline (Heb. 2:6-7)

God’s own can expect to do time in the desert (Heb. 11:38)

Moses spent time in the desert (Ex. 2:15-4:18)

Job cries out to God in prayer. At one point, Job asks “Why did you hide your face from me?”
(Job 13:24). Later, he wants to talk to God face to face and ask God a series of questions and
in frustration he says, “If only I knew where to find him…” (Job 23:3)

David spent time in the desert (2 Sam. 15:14-23)

Jesus was tested in the desert (Matt. 4:1-11)

Hanging on the cross, Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt.
27:46)

In order to properly understand Isaiah it must be understood that that because of the Israelites
countless sins against God and their refusal to turn from their sins, God was in the process of
punishing his people. In 722 B.C, during Isaiah’s life time, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was
overrun by the Assyrians and the people were either killed or taken into captivity. In 586 B.C,
more than 100 years after Isaiah lived, the Southern Kingdom was overrun and its peoples
carted off to Babylon.

After being delivered from Egypt by God, the Nation of Israel spent 40 years in the desert for
unfaithfulness (Num. 14:33)

God loves us and His discipline is used to keep us from suffering everlasting hurt and
irreversible consequences.

Are you in the desert? Why? (Financial problems, Physical limitations, Loneliness, etc.)

A Voice in the Desert/A Word of Comfort/A Call to Repentance (Isa. 40:3-5, Mal. 3:1, Matt. 3:3, Mark 1,
John 1:23, Luke 3:4, Heb. 12:11-13)
 God’s Word, Comforter/Shepherd (Isa. 40:1-2 & 11, 2 Cor. 1:1, 3-7, John 10:1-17, Psalm 23)

That word “comfort” is found 13 times in the book of Isaiah from chapter 40 to the end of the book. It
is found twice here for emphasis. The word in Hebrew means “to ease, to pity, to be sorry, to give
some relief.

The idea of comfort comes from the two Latin words: com fortis – literally translated it means “with
strength.” God’s way of giving comfort is to give us the strength to do what needs to be done.
(Isa. 40:28-31)

What needs to be done?

Repentance = Changing, Turning around, Straightening up (What the Advent Season is all
about!)

The Hebrew word Isaiah uses for comfort is also a word which can be translated “repent.” The
word is nâham, and its root has the idea of breathing deeply. It can therefore mean to breathe
deeply with sorrow for your sin, or to breathe deeply as you comfort and console someone.
The idea is that God’s comfort comes as a result the people’s repentance. Because they have
breathed deeply in repentance, God has breathed deeply as he consoled and comforted them.

God’s Word, Faithful/Eternal (Isa. 40:8-10, 46:8-10, Job 14:2, Ps. 119:89-901 Pe. 1:23-25)

HERE IS YOUR GOD! (Isa 40:9)

Where/when was the glory of the Lord revealed, or when will it be?

Close by reading Isa. 35:1-10