These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- Doubt of Hezekiah…
- In those DAYS [בַּיָּמִים] – Hezekiah became VERY sick and Isaiah told him he would DIE…
- This news potentially came DURING the siege of Jerusalem by Assyria…
- Hezekiah prayed for more TIME – and Isaiah came back to say the Lord gave him FIFTEEN years…
- The King asked for a SIGN he would be healed – God had the sundial go back TEN degrees!
- Reflection of Hezekiah…
- Hezekiah wrote AFTER he recovered from his sickness…
- Describing his SICKNESS – it felt like his bones would break – and he was certain he would DIE…
- But he realized it was from the LORD – to cause him to walk carefully…
- Because through his BITTERNESS – the Lord had given him PEACE [forgiven his sins]
- And God had done it while Hezekiah still had time – before he went to the GRAVE [שְׁאוֹל]
- Fall of Hezekiah…
- At about the same time as Hezekiah was HEALED – ambassadors came from Babylon…
- Hezekiah showed them EVERYTHING in his house and kingdom [pride]
- Because the TRIAL was NOT just in the sickness – it was also in the BLESSING…
- Isaiah came and told him EVERYTHING would be taken away to Babylon…
- Hezekiah said it was a GOOD word – because it would not happen until the days of his children!
- 1st – New Covenant… vs. 1-11
- 1st – Comfort… vs. 1-2
- Two sections… vs. 1
- Comfort – yes comfort My people! Says your God!
- COMFORT [piel] – is repeated TWICE in Hebrew [identical grammar]
- Talking to Isaiah – he MUST [imperative] give COMFORT to the people of God [אֱלֹהִים]
- The book of ISAIAH is divided into TWO sections…
- FIRST – the Judgement of God – Isaiah 1-39
- SECOND – the Salvation of God – Isaiah 40-66
- It is worth noting the division lines up with the division of the Old and New Testaments…
- As there are 39 books in the OT – and there are 27 books in the NT…
- NOTE: chapter markers were NOT added to the Bible until 1227 A.D. [Stephen Langton]
- Forgiveness… vs. 2
- Speak comfort to Jerusalem – and cry out to her.
- That her warfare is ended. That her iniquity is pardoned.
- For she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins!
- Isaiah must [imperative] SHOUT [piel] to the heart [לֵב] of Jerusalem…
- Because [כִּי] her BATTLE was over – because [כִּי] her INIQUITY had been FORGIVEN [niphal]
- Because [כִּי] she got a DOUBLE dose of JUDGEMENT for ALL [כֹּל] of her sins!
- After 39 chapters of JUDGEMENT – first against Judah [Jerusalem] – Isaiah 1-12
- Moving outwards to the TEN Nations around Judah [burdens] – Isaiah 13-23
- Then to the Apocalypse [Judgment of the whole world] – Isaiah 24-27
- Finally coming back to Judah [the SIX woes and the siege of Assyria] – Isaiah 28-39
- That was ENOUGH to get their ATTENTION – so they would LOOK to the LORD!
- There are TWO things that come from the LORD in this life…
- Either JUDGEMENT [Old Testament] – to try and get our ATTENTION…
- Or COMFORT [New Testament] – when we finally see we NEED Him!
- 2nd – Voice Crying out… vs. 3-4
- Prepare… vs. 3
- The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD.
- Make straight in the desert – a highway for our God!
- Isaiah was to be the voice SHOUTING [piel] in the WILDERNESS…
- PREPARE [imperative] the WAY of the LORD [יְהֹוָה]
- Make the WAY [piel imperative] that will lead to our God!
- After FOUR hundred years of SILENCE [since the prophet Malachi]
- John the Baptist began his ministry [this verse was credited to him] – Matthew 3:3
- He was to PREPARE the way for the coming of the LORD [יְהוָה]
- PREPARE the hearts of the people to receive JESUS – by telling them to REPENT…
- So that the LORD could bring COMFORT to His people – by forgiving their SINS!
- The problem is most people do NOT want to admit they are SINNERS…
- But if we do NOT admit the PROBLEM – we will NOT see our need for the SOLUTION…
- Jesus [יְהוָה] came to take our SIN – but FIRST we need to prepare our hearts and REPENT!
- Highway of God… vs. 4
- Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low.
- The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth!
- Isaiah used the imagery of road engineering to describe the HIGHWAY to God…
- In order for the road to be STRAIGHT – the land had to be PREPARED…
- The VALLEYS were to be filled in – the MOUNTAINS cut down…
- The CROOKED places made straight – and the ROUGH places smoothed out…
- But the imagery also has a SPIRITUAL picture!
- Those who are POOR [valley] will be lifted up – the PROUD [mountain] will be humbled…
- Those who are SINFUL [crooked] will be straight – and the BROKEN [rough] made whole…
- Because this HIGHWAY to God is for [כָּל] EVERYONE – Romans 10:13
- 3rd – Word of the Lord… vs. 5-8
- Glory of God… vs. 5-7
- The glory of the LORD shall be revealed – and all flesh shall see it together.
- For the mouth of the LORD has spoken!
- Where does this HIGHWAY lead to [niphal] – the GLORY of the LORD [heaven]
- EVERYONE [כֹּל] who goes down it will see the GLORY together…
- But how can we KNOW for sure Heaven [Glory] is where the HIGHWAY ends…
- Because the MOUTH of the LORD has SPOKEN [piel]!
- Temporary… vs. 6-7
- The voice said – Cry out! And [I] said – What shall I cry?
- All flesh is grass and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
- The grass withers – the flower fades – because the breath of the LORD blows upon it.
- Surely the people are grass!
- The VOICE speaking to Isaiah told him to CRY out [imperative]
- But he asked the VOICE [the Lord] – what should he CRY [imperfect]
- The answer – ALL [כָּל] flesh [men] are GRASS…
- And their GOODNESS [חֶסֶד] is like [כְּ] the FLOWER of a field…
- When [כִּי] the Spirit of the LORD [רוּחַ יְהוָה] speaks [blows]
- Men will fall [wither] – because their GOODNESS [flower] is seen as FOOLISH [נָבֵל]!
- The idea that we can somehow be GOOD enough to get to God – is FOOLISH [נָבֵל]
- Our LIVES are momentary [like grass] – our GOOD works do NOT last [like flower]
- That last thing we want to do is TRUST our ETERNITY to our efforts!
- Eternal… vs. 8
- The grass withers – the flower fades – but the word of our God stands forever!
- NO question – men will FALL [grass] – and their GOODNESS [flower] is FOOLISH…
- But [וּ] the WORD of our GOD [אֱלֹהֵינוּ] will stand FOREVER [לְעוֹלָם] – end of the verse [׃ס]!
- We CANNOT get to heaven with our GOODNESS – Romans 3:20
- But we can take the HIGHWAY that the LORD has provided for us…
- And although we cannot SEE where that road ends [after we die]
- We have the PROMISE that the WORD of the LORD will NEVER fail!
- 4th – Behold the Lord… vs. 9-11
- Lift it up… vs. 9
- O Zion – you who bring good tidings – get up into the high mountain.
- O Jerusalem – you who bring good tidings – lift up your voice with strength.
- Lift it up – be not afraid. Say to the cities of Judah – Behold your God!
- Therefore – since God has given us a HIGHWAY and His WORD…
- To those on the HIGH mountain [Zion] – give [piel] the GOOD news [imperative]
- To those in Jerusalem – use your voice to give [piel] the GOOD news [imperative]
- Do NOT [jussive] let yourself be AFRAID – tell Judah to LOOK [הִנֵּה] to their God!
- Arm of the Lord… vs. 10
- Behold – the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand – and His arm shall rule for Him.
- Behold – His reward is with Him and His work before Him!
- LOOK [הִנֵּה] – to the MASTER [אֲדֹנָי] – the LORD [יְהוִה] who will come…
- LOOK [הִנֵּה] – to His strong hand – and ARM that will reign for Him…
- Who is the HAND of God – who is coming to REIGN – Jesus – Psalm 2:6
- What is the REWARD He brings with Him – forgiveness and access to heaven…
- What is the WORK that He has before Him – the CROSS!
- John 6:38 – “I have come down from heaven [to do] the will of Him who sent Me.”
- The Shepherd… vs. 11
- He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs with His arm.
- And carry them in His bosom – and gently lead those who are with young!
- Like [כְּ] a SHEPHERD [רָעָה] – God will gather [piel] the LAMBS with His ARM [Jesus]
- He will CARRY them and LEAD those who are YOUNG [nursing]
- NOT the imagery of a JUDGMENTAL God – but of a CARING father!
- When we see the TWO options – JUDGEMENT or COMFORT…
- Either trying to do GOOD to get to heaven – or taking the HIGHWAY God provided…
- The right choice becomes very easy to SEE – we LOOK to the ARM of the Lord [Jesus]
- And we BOLDY tell everyone else – come to the SHEPHERD who will lead us to HEAVEN!
- John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep!”
- 1st – Comfort… vs. 1-2
- 2nd – Who is like God… vs. 12-25
- 1st – His Power… vs. 12
- Who is the Lord…
- If Israel was to TRUST the WORD of the LORD …
- Be assured that the HIGHWAY of the LORD did lead to HEAVEN…
- Then they needed to KNOW who the LORD is [five points]!
- Water…
- Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand!
- FIRST – Isaiah is going to show how POWERFUL God is by asking FOUR questions…
- Who can MEASURE [מָדַד] all of the water on EARTH [1.4 sextillion liters]
- So much water that if it was all put on dry land – it would be over two kilometers deep…
- Yet the LORD can put ALL of that water into the CUP of His hand!
- Heaven…
- Measured heaven with a span!
- Who can CALCULATE [תָּכַן] how size of the HEAVENS [שָׁמַיִם]
- This is question we STILL do NOT have an answer to today
- The OBSERVABLE universe is around 93 billion light years [880 sextillion kilometers]
- Yet the LORD knows every part of it – He knows its EXACT size!
- Dust…
- And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure?
- Who can put all of the DUST of the earth into a SINGLE container [שָׁלִישׁ]
- It is ESTIMATED that there is around 25 quintillion kilos of dirt on the earth…
- Yet the LORD is able to put it all into a SINGLE container!
- Mountains…
- Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?
- Who can WEIGH [שָׁקַל] all of the MOUNTAINS and HILLS of the earth…
- It is ESTIMATED that their WEIGHT would be over 1 sextillion kilos…
- We do NOT know because there is NO scale big enough to weigh them…
- Yet the LORD knows exactly how much ALL of the weigh!
- And the God who can MEASURE all of the waters – CALCULATE all of the heavens…
- The one who can CONTAIN all of the dust – and WEIGH all of the mountains…
- Is certainly more than POWERFUL enough to save us!
- 2nd – His Wisdom… vs. 13-14
- No teacher… vs. 13
- Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD – or as His counselor has taught Him?
- SECOND – Isaiah is going to show us how WISE our God is…
- Who can MEASURE [תָּכַן] the SPIRIT of the Lord…
- What man has even TAUGHT [יָדַע] Him anything with his counsel…
- Paul would quote this verse when he wrote to the church of Corinth…
- As he explained why we CANNOT know what is in the MIND of God…
- Because just as we do NOT know what someone else is thinking – unless they tell us…
- The ONLY way to MEASURE the mind of the SPIRIT – is to listen to the WORD!
- I Corinthians 2:11 – “What man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”
- All knowledge… vs. 14
- With whom did He take counsel and who instructed Him – taught Him in the path of justice?
- Who taught Him knowledge and showed Him the way of understanding?
- Whom did God ever go to and ask for ADVICE [niphal]
- Has anyone every TAUGHT [piel] the LORD the right path to take…
- TAUGHT [piel] Him something that He did NOT understand [יָדַע]
- To even say this sound FOOLISH – there is NOTHING God does not know [omniscient]
- He is the God who sees the END from the BEGINNING – Isaiah 46:10
- And the God who KNOWS everything – who has NO need to be taught…
- Is certainly more than WISE enough to save us!
- 3rd – The Nations… vs. 15-18
- Not politics… vs. 15
- Behold the nations are as a drop in a bucket – and are counted as the small dust on the scales.
- Look – He lifts up the isles as a very little thing!
- THIRD – Isaiah is going to CONTRAST the Lord to MEN…
- LOOK [הֵן] – all of the NATIONS [גּוֹיִם] are just like [כְּ] a DROP in a bucket…
- They are NO more than the DUST on the scales of a God who can measure MOUNTAINS…
- LOOK [הֵן] – even the MIGHTY Islands [foreign powers] are NOTHING for Him to lift up…
- God is NOT impressed by POLITICS: the Governments and Armies of men!
- Not religion… vs. 16
- Lebanon is not sufficient to burn – nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering!
- If someone was to BURN all of the trees in Lebanon [cedars]
- Offering up ALL of the animals that lives there – it can NEVER [אִין] be enough…
- God is NOT impressed by RELIGION: the Sacrifices and Offerings of men!
- All Nothing… vs. 17-18
- All nations before Him are as nothing. They are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.
- To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?
- ALL of the nations before God are like [כְּ] NOTHING [אִין]
- He CONSIDERS them less than NOTHING and VANITY [תֹּהוּ]
- So if POLITICS and RELIGION are less than NOTHING compared to God…
- Then WHO [מִי] else or WHAT [מָה] else is left to compare Him to!
- 4th – The Idols… vs. 19-20
- Wealthy… vs. 19
- The workman molds an image.
- The goldsmith overspreads it with gold and the silversmith casts silver chains!
- FOURTH – Isaiah is going to CONTRAST the Lord to IDOLS…
- I craftsman can form a gold IDOL – covered in silver chains…
- It might look IMPRESSIVE – but does it COMPARE to God!
- Poor… vs. 20
- Whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution chooses a tree that will not rot.
- He seeks for himself a skillful workman to prepare a carved image that will not totter!
- The person who is too POOR [pual] to make a golden IDOL…
- Finds a piece of HARD wood [no rot] that a gifted craftsman can carve…
- He shapes it in such a way he hopes it will NOT fall over [niphal]
- The irony is intentional – the best we can hope from an IDOL is it will NOT fall over…
- How does that compare to a God who can MEASURE the UNIVERSE!
- Psalms 115:8 – “Those who make them are like them. So is everyone who trusts in them!”
- We might think we do NOT have idols anymore – but people do NOT change…
- People still carve IDOLS out of metal – we call the FORD or TOYOTA…
- People still put their FAITH in GOLD and SILER – invest for the FUTURE…
- Those who are POOR still look to WOOD [paper money] to SAVE them!
- If we are trusting in something FALSE – then we are not looking to the TRUTH…
- Where God has the POWER to save us – this WORLD can do nothing…
- So if we are trusting in IDOLS rather than Jesus – we do NOT have LIFE!
- 5th – No Equal… vs. 21-25
- Do you not know… vs. 21-22
- Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning?
- Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
- 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 out like a tent to dwell in!
- FIFTH – Isaiah is going to state the obvious CONCLUSION – God has NO equal…
- He begins by asking FOUR rhetorical questions
- Did you NOT [לֹא] see [יָדַע] – NOT hear [שָׁמַע] – were you NOT told [נָגַד]
- Is that why you do NOT [לֹא] understand what has been since the beginning of CREATION…
- It is God who SITS on the circle of the earth [not flat]
- And looks down on MEN [inhabitants] who look like [כַּ] GRASSHOPPERS [from a high height]
- It is God who stretched out the HEAVENS [all 93 billion light years]
- Like [כַּ] a CURTAIN – or like [כַּ] a TENT for us to dwell in!
- The Leaders… vs. 23-24
- He brings the princes to nothing. He makes the judges of the earth useless.
- Scarcely shall they be planted. Scarcely shall they be sown.
- Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth when He will also blow on them.
- And they will wither – and the whirlwind will take them away like stubble!
- He is the same God who takes RULERS [princes] and makes them NOTHING [אִין]
- He makes the JUDGES of the earth look [כַּ] USELESS [תֹּהוּ]
- No sooner than they are BORN [planted] – they are just getting STARTED [sown]
- While they are still getting ESTABLISHED [rooted]
- God BLOWS on them – and they WITHER [die] – and are carried away [כַּ] like CHAFF!
- Holy One… vs. 25
- To whom then will you liken Me – Or to whom shall I be equal? says the Holy One!
- So one last time God asks the question – WHO is like the HOLY one [קָדוֹשׁ]
- Better said – seeing how much great the LORD is…
- The God will all POWER – all WISDOM – who is better than MEN – better than IDOLS…
- WHY would we put our TRUST in ANYONE or ANYTHING else!
- If the RICHEST man in the world came and offered to help pay our bills…
- Would we refuse and instead go ask for help from a homeless man!
- We have ACCESS to the creator of all HEAVEN and EARTH…
- The God who has ALL wisdom and power – and He is offering to HELP us…
- We would be CRAZY – FOOLISH to go anywhere else!
- 1st – His Power… vs. 12
- 3rd – Wait on the Lord… vs. 26-31
- 1st – Look up… vs. 26-28
- The Stars… vs. 26
- Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these things.
- Who brings out their host by number. He calls them all by name.
- By the greatness of His might and the strength of His power – not one is missing!
- If anyone still has any doubt – they must [imperative] LOOK up…
- They must SEE [imperative] what the LORD has CREATED [בָּרָא]
- CREATED [בָּרָא] – a special word used of God in creation – Genesis 1:1
- God is the one who CREATED the STARS [צְבָאָם] in the heavens…
- And he calls them ALL [כֹּל] out by NAME [all septillion of them]
- By His great STRENGTH – and mighty POWER – not even ONE is missing!
- Not hidden… vs. 27
- Why do you say O Jacob – and speak O Israel:
- My way is hidden from the LORD – and my just claim is passed over by my God?
- If God can keep track of one SEPTILLION stars…
- WHY are His people [Jacob] saying [imperfect] they do NOT know where to go…
- WHY is Israel shouting [piel] that God has failed to address [pass over] their problem!
- Never tired… vs. 28
- Have you not known? Have you not heard?
- The everlasting God – the LORD – the Creator of the ends of the earth.
- Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable!
- The Lord asks a SECOND time – have you NOT [לֹא] seen [יָדַע] – NOT heard [שָׁמַע]
- Just to make sure NO one makes any mistakes on who we are talking about…
- The ETERNAL God [עוֹלָם] – the LORD [יְהוָה] – the CREATOR [בָּרָא]
- He NEVER stops – He NEVER gets tired – He NEVER fails – Hebrews 13:5
- And NOTHING [אִין] is beyond His ability to UNDERSTAND and FIND an answer to!
- God will NEVER tell us that He cannot help – He is NEVER too busy to listen…
- We are NEVER going to find a PROBLEM too great for our God…
- The ONLY reason why our problem is not being resolved…
- Is because we have NOT yet realized the LORD is the answer!
- 2nd – Power… vs. 29-31
- Two choices… vs. 29-30
- He gives power to the weak and to those who have no might He increases strength.
- Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall.
- God is the one who CONTINUALLY [participle] gives POWER to those who are WEAK…
- And to those who have NO [אִין] ability – He gives STRENGTH…
- In contrast – even the YOUTH [have strength] – still FAINT…
- And the YOUNG men – stumbling [infinitive] will STUMBLE [niphal]!
- Every man has a limit – there is NO one who can do it on their own…
- The youngest and strongest are still destined to FAIL…
- But the WEAKEST man who come to the LORD has NO limits!
- Contrast… vs. 30-31
- But those who wait on 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!
- Those who CONTINUALLY [participle] WAIT upon the LORD…
- Will be CAUSED [hiphil] to be RECHARGED in their STRENGTH…
- They will rise up [hiphil] like [כַּ] the wings of an EAGLE…
- There is NO effort – the WIND [Spirit] will be what picks them up…
- So they can RUN and not be tired – in their WALK they will NOT fall!
- They key difference between the Old Testament [law] – and the New [Grace]
- Is that rather than trying to RUN in our own power – and FAILING [fainting]
- We WAIT on the LORD – we come to Him to give us the STRENGTH…
- Only then – by His SPIRIT [wind] – does He lift us up…
- So that we can RUN and not get tired – we will NOT stumble in our WALK!
- 1st – Look up… vs. 26-28