F O O T H O L D
READING
42 WORDS OF COMFORT
PRAY Show me the path of
life, O Lord.
READ Isaiah 40:111.
THINK What hints can you
find in this chapter which go beyond the Old
Testament fulfillment to the
New Testament and the coming of
Jesus?
FOCUS A new day would break!
The Jews had been in exile in Babylon but
soon it would be over. Soon
they would return home.
FORGIVENESS. Jerusalem was
so central to the life of Israel that
when it was destroyed it was
as if God had left the nation. There
was no greater punishment
for national sin (2). Now Isaiah was
looking ahead to the
restoration of Jerusalem and its people.
There was comfort and hope (1,2).
They were assured of God's
forgiveness.
When people drift away from
God, the same words of comfort and
hope can be applied to them.
They too can be assured of
forgiveness, if they truly
repent.
PROMISE. A long journey (1500
kms) over wilderness and desert lay
between the Jewish exiles
and their home. But verse 3 was a word
of encouragement as the
people faced the daunting prospect. It was
a call for a road gang to
fill in the potholes and remove the
obstructions ready for the
king's coming. God promised to go
before his people and open
up the way. But can they be sure of his
promise? Mortals are frail
and not always reliable (6,7). But God
is totally reliable and his
word stands forever (8).
He is the Sovereign Lord (10).
All power belongs to him. But he is
also infinitely tender and
he cares for his people with the
gentleness of a shepherd (11).
Verse 3 was applied to
someone in New Testament times. Who was it?
(Matthew 3:3)?
PRAY Praise God for his
powerfulness and his gentleness.
