“Announce God's Coming and Comfort”
Isaiah 40:1-11 Dec.4, 2005 Play
video
A Message to Shout
• long-awaited announcement of federal election not
startling news
• discouraging situation of Jews exiled in Babylon
• announcement to speak / call / cry out / shout
(40:2f,6,9)
• Christians also to bring good tidings/news – about
Christ (Mk 16:15)
1) God’s Presence is Near
• highway in the wilderness for captives to return
to Jerusalem (40:3; Neh 2:8)
• “Here is your God!”: arrival / ‘advent’ (40:9)
• 3 comings: from exile; Jesus’ earthly life;
Christ’s second coming (Is 52:7ff; Mt 21:5; Rev 22:12)
2) God’s Punishment is Satisfied
• gap between holy exalted God, unclean humans (Is
6:3,5; 40:12-28)
• Jerusalem’s sin has been paid for, hard service
completed (40:1f)
• God blots out transgressions for His own sake;
sweeps away offenses in kindness, mercy (Is 43:25; 44:22; Titus 3:3ff)
• Lord laid our iniquity on Jesus (Is 40:16; Is 53:6)
• controversy over Homolka’s freedom, whether has
paid her debt
• Jesus frees from slavery to sin, internal prisons
(Jn 8:34,36)
3) God’s Glory is Shared
• all will see God’s glory; human glory falls (40:5f)
• C Black wealthy newspaper tycoon / lord, now
arraigned on fraud charges
• God’s glory fills the earth, is seen in Jesus and
followers (6:3; Jn 12:41, 1:14, 11:41, 17:4; Lk 2:14; Heb 1:3; 2Cor
3:18, 4:6; 1Cor 10:31)
4) God’s Leading is Strong yet Gentle
• Lord comes with power, arm rules, repays wrath to
unjust enemies (40:10; 59:15ff)
• yet carries lambs, gently leads those with young,
binds up the injured (40:11; Jer 31:10-14; Ezek 34:16)
• God’s Servant / Messiah won’t break bruised reed;
gives weary & burdened rest (Mt 11:28, Jn 21:15ff)
• Christian leaders to be shepherds, serving not
‘lording it over’ (1Pet 5:2f)
• Swaziland king setting bad example in poor HIV+
nation
Another Step in Faithful Service
• Canadian doctor moving to Uganda to “Save The
Mothers” (www.savethemothers.org)
• don’t idolize overseas workers: each needs to be
faithful to God’s calling
• show God’s glory, share His power through serving
those we meet
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