Scripture Reading: Isa. 40
Ⅰ
Isaiah 40 is Jehovah's word of comfort spoken to the heart of His people —vv. 1-2:
A
It reveals the announcing of the gospel (corresponding to the four Gospels)—vv. 1-5.
B
It reveals salvation through regeneration (corresponding to the Acts)—vv. 6-8.
C
It reveals transformation (corresponding to the Epistles)—vv. 28-31.
D
This is the revelation of God becoming a man through incarnation so that man might become God (in life and in nature but not in the Godhead) through regeneration and transformation as the content of God's eternal economy.
Ⅱ
Christ as Jehovah the Savior was ushered in by the voice of one (John the Baptist) crying in the wilderness—vv. 3-4; Matt. 3:1-3:
A
To make clear, or to prepare, the way of Jehovah is to prepare our heart—Isa. 40:3; Prov. 4:20-23; Matt. 5:8; 15:7-8.
B
Every part and avenue of our heart need to be straightened by the Lord through repentance that the Lord may enter into us to be our life and take possession of us—Luke 1:17; Eph. 3:16-17.
C
John the Baptist is typified by Elijah, who is a type of the Old Testament age, and the Lord Jesus is typified by Elisha, who is a type of the New Testament age—2 Kings 2:1-8:
１
The age is changed by passing through four places—Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, and the river Jordan; in order for the age to be changed, we must deal with our flesh, give up the world and turn to God, defeat Satan, and pass through death—Josh. 5:2-9; Gen. 12:8; 35:1-3; Josh. 6:26; Matt. 3:5-6, 13.
２
We deal with the flesh by the Spirit of life, we give up the world by our love for the Father, we defeat Satan through the word of the Son, and we die to the self for the Body of Christ—Gal. 5:16-17; 1 John 2:15; Matt. 4:4; 16:24.
Ⅲ
Christ as the glory of Jehovah is the revealing of Jehovah—Isa. 40:5:
A
The glory of Jehovah is the center of the gospel for the new creation—2 Cor. 4:4-6; Heb. 1:3; Luke 1:78:
１
When Christ appeared, the glory of Jehovah was revealed to be seen by the God-seekers and Christ-believers—Matt. 17:1-2, 5; Luke 2:25-32; 9:32; John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16-18.
２
To those on whom Christ has shined, Christ is the glory of God and the hope of glory within them—Col. 1:27; 2 Cor. 3:15-16, 18.
B
Jehovah is revealed through His speaking—John 1:1, 14, 29, 32, 36, 42, 51; 3:34; 7:16-17; 14:24.
C
Jesus is still speaking, and His word will remain forever to enliven men that they may partake of His eternal life for their enjoyment—Isa. 40:6-8; 1 Pet. 1:23-25; Rev. 2:7a.
Ⅳ
Christ is the glad tidings—"Behold your God!"—Isa. 40:9:
A
If you have God, every problem will be solved, every lack will be supplied, and every shortage will be filled—cf. Matt. 1:23; Ezek. 48:35; 1 Cor. 14:24-25.
B
We should pray adequately to be filled with God, to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit—cf. Eph. 5:18b; Zech. 4:6, 12-14; 1 Cor. 10:4; Num. 20:8.
Ⅴ
Christ is the Lord Jehovah coming as a mighty One —Isa. 40:10:
A
He is the Ruler who comes as the mighty One to rule over us and as the Judge to either reward or discipline us—Matt. 2:6; 25:14-30; 2 Cor. 5:10.
B
He is a Shepherd feeding His flock, gathering the lambs in His arms, carrying them in His bosom, and leading those who are nourishing the young—Isa. 40:11; Matt. 2:6; 9:36; John 10:2-4, 11, 14.
Ⅵ
Christ is the Holy One, the eternal God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, sitting above the circle of the earth—Isa. 40:22, 25-26, 28a:
A
As the Holy One, Jesus is unlimited, unsearchable, incomparable, and high; there is no comparison between Him and anyone or anything else—vv. 12-18, 28b, 22a:
１
The entire fallen human race is like withering grass, and its glory like the falling flower of grass—vv. 6-8; 1 Pet. 1:24-25.
２
All peoples are like a drop of water from a bucket, like specks of dust on the scales, and are nothing, even less than nothing, just vanity—emptiness—Isa. 40:15, 17; Eccl. 1:2; cf. S. S. 1:1.
B
The more we realize that we are nothing, empty, and vanity, the more we will appreciate Christ, be filled up with Christ, and treasure Christ—Phil. 3:7-8.
Ⅶ
Christ as Jehovah the Savior empowers those who wait on Him, causing them to mount up with wings like eagles—Isa. 40:28-31:
A
An eagle signifies the powerful, transcendent God, and its wings signify the resurrection power of Christ, God's power in life, becoming our grace—Exo. 19:4; cf. 1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 4:7; 12:9a.
B
The Lord gives power to the faint, and to those who have no vigor He multiplies strength—Isa. 40:29; Eph. 6:10; Phil. 4:12-13; 2 Tim. 4:7.
C
To wait on the eternal God means that we stop ourselves with our living, our doing, and our activity, and receive God in Christ as our life, our person, and our replacement—cf. Heb. 12:2a; Col. 4:2.
D
Such a waiting one will be renewed and strengthened to such an extent that he will mount up with wings like eagles, soaring in the heavens far above every earthly frustration; this is a transformed person—Isa. 40:31.