40:9
While parts of Isaiah 40 onwards definitely refer to the Babylonian captivity, others could also have relevance in Isaiah’s day. This verse is an example. The cities of Judah had been devastated by Assyria, Jerusalem had now been rescued. So Jerusalem was to be a herald of good news, she was to tell the cities of Judah to “fear not”. She was to cry “Behold your God!”. And she was to proclaim this message loudly.
40:10
Imagine the situation. The nation has been devastated by a much greater power, if we look at things in the Babylonian context they were still under the grip of a much greater power and in exile. They were in this situation because of their inherent sinfulness. On a personal level we have all sinned and, without Christ, are subject to powers too strong for us to handle. How can a nation or an individual be rescued? It is only by the power of God, so Isaiah tells us that the Sovereign Lord comes with power. Much of the church today seems far more concerned with the “weakness of God”. In terms of Christ living among us and having a deep concern for the poor this is OK, but it is only part of the story and taken in isolation utterly corrupts the story. A much more complete story is that God comes with power to rescue the weak and powerless (which is all of us!). The reason that Jesus’ encounters with lepers, the lame and blind, the woman with an issue of blood etc is that He exerted power to heal them! The reason why it matters that God loves sinners is that through the cross we are forgiven, and we will share in the resurrection.
“His reward is with Him and His recompense accompanies Him”. God does come with power and authority, but does so in order to set people free, to recompense them. God does merely come with sympathy, but also with the ability to set people free. This is a fundamental Biblical doctrine.
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