Isaiah 40 – Comfort and the Coming King
Isaiah 40 marks the beginning of a powerful transition—from national judgment to promised restoration. The chapter opens with a tender call: “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.” It’s the voice of God speaking hope into exile, and it echoes all the way to John the Baptist preparing the way for Christ. This chapter lifts our eyes from despair to divine majesty, declaring both the reliability of God’s Word and the certainty of His coming reign.
From Exile to Expectation: A New Beginning
✔ A voice of comfort breaks through judgment.
✔ The way is prepared for the coming of the Lord.
✔ God’s glory will be revealed to all flesh.
✔ The frailty of man is contrasted with the permanence of God’s Word.
✔ The Shepherd-King gathers His flock with power and compassion.
📖 Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
🔎 When everything else fades, God’s Word remains the anchor of hope.
Isaiah Chapter 40 - Overview
Isaiah 40:1–5 – A Voice of Comfort and Preparation
📖 Isaiah 40:1–2 – “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem…”
🔎 This is more than just soothing words—it’s a divine decree. After the grief of judgment, God’s voice changes tone. His people, though chastened, are not forsaken. Comfort here means to strengthen with hope. It’s a glimpse of His covenant mercy being extended again.
📖 Isaiah 40:3–5 – “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord…”
🔎 This prophecy unfolds in layers. Its first application is the return from Babylonian exile. But its fullness is seen in John the Baptist, who prepared hearts for the coming of Christ. The wilderness is not just geography—it’s the soul, dry and tangled with sin. The valleys and mountains speak of the internal terrain God must level in us to receive His glory.
📖 “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed…”
🔎 Christ is the glory revealed to all flesh (John 1:14). This isn’t just poetic—it’s the cornerstone of the gospel: God with us. Every obstacle must move. The message is not just about restoration—but preparation.
➡️ God’s comfort begins with cleansing. The path to joy begins with a cleared road to Christ.
🔥 He still sends voices into our wilderness. Will we prepare the way for Him to enter?
Isaiah 40:6–11 – The Frailty of Man, the Strength of God
📖 Isaiah 40:6–8 – “All flesh is grass… the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
🔎 The contrast could not be clearer. Human life is brief—its strength and beauty fade like wildflowers under the scorching wind. But God’s Word is eternal, unfading, and immovable. This truth humbles the proud and steadies the brokenhearted. The promises of men may fall, but the promises of God never fail.
📖 Isaiah 40:9–10 – “O Zion, that bringest good tidings… Behold your God!”
🔎 This is a call to proclaim—to lift up the voice boldly. God is not distant; He comes with strength and reward. The command is evangelistic: tell the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”—He is near, He is mighty, He is faithful.
📖 Isaiah 40:11 – “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd…”
🔎 Majesty meets mercy. The sovereign King is also the tender Shepherd. He does not crush the weak; He gathers, carries, and gently leads. This beautiful paradox defines the heart of God: infinitely powerful, yet intimately personal.
➡️ In a fading world, cling to what endures. Behold your God—and let His strength carry you.
🔥 We do not need to be strong—we need to be held. He gathers those who trust Him.
Isaiah 40:12–26 – Who Can Compare to God?
📖 Isaiah 40:12 – “Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand…?”
🔎 These verses unveil the limitless majesty of God through a series of rhetorical questions. He is Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign. The vast oceans fit in the palm of His hand. The skies are weighed like dust. Every element of the universe is under His precision—nothing escapes His grasp.
📖 Isaiah 40:13–14 – “Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord…?”
🔎 No one counsels God. He is not shaped by external wisdom. He needs no advisor, no teacher, no vote of approval. His understanding is infinite—His decisions perfect. This truth silences every attempt to reduce Him to human reasoning.
📖 Isaiah 40:15–17 – “The nations are as a drop of a bucket…”
🔎 Human power structures appear mighty—but from God’s view, they are insignificant and weightless. Nations rise and fall at His will. The pride of kings and empires means nothing when compared to His eternal rule.
📖 Isaiah 40:18–20 – “To whom then will ye liken God?”
🔎 Idolatry is not just wrong—it is absurd. The prophet mocks the process of crafting an idol and then bowing to it. What foolishness to worship something made by hands, when the One who made hands invites you to know Him!
📖 Isaiah 40:21–22 – “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth…”
🔎 Long before science spoke of the earth’s shape, Scripture declared God’s throne above it. He reigns above rulers and galaxies alike. He stretches out the heavens, not with effort, but with ease.
📖 Isaiah 40:25–26 – “Lift up your eyes… he calleth them all by names…”
🔎 Look at the stars. Every burning light in the sky has a name—and God knows each one. None are missing. His strength and power are not abstract; they are seen in every atom, every galaxy, and every moment sustained.
➡️ To worship anything less than this God is to settle for dust and delusion. Behold your Creator—none can compare.
🔥 He is not just the God of your circumstances—He is the God of the cosmos. And yet He knows your name.
Isaiah 40:27–31 – Strength for the Weary
📖 Isaiah 40:27 – “Why sayest thou, O Jacob… My way is hid from the Lord…?”
🔎 In hardship, it’s easy to feel forgotten. Israel, worn by exile and silence, begins to question God’s awareness. But God responds—not with rebuke, but with reassurance. The everlasting God sees. He knows. He cares.
📖 Isaiah 40:28 – “Hast thou not known… the everlasting God… fainteth not, neither is weary?”
🔎 Unlike man, God never runs dry. His strength does not diminish. His understanding cannot be searched out—yet He offers it freely to those who wait on Him.
📖 Isaiah 40:29–30 – “He giveth power to the faint… even the youths shall faint and be weary…”
🔎 The strongest among us will fail. Even the most vibrant, young, and energetic will fall. But God steps in where human strength ends. His power is perfected in our weakness.
📖 Isaiah 40:31 – “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…”
🔎 This beloved promise is the climax of the chapter. To wait is not passive—it is trust-filled expectancy. Those who surrender to God’s timing are lifted beyond natural limits. They mount up with eagle’s wings, rising above their struggles. They run without fatigue. They walk without fainting.
➡️ God’s strength is not just given—it is exchanged. When you lay down your weariness, He fills you with His might.
🔥 The secret to soaring is not striving—it’s surrender. Wait on the Lord, and watch what happens.
Isaiah Chapter 40 - Deeper Study
Overview: From Judgment to Joy
🔹 Timeframe: Post-exile prophetic vision extending to New Testament fulfillment.
🔹 Setting: Israel in a period of longing and restoration.
🔹 Theme: God’s comfort, His unmatchable greatness, and the coming of the Messiah.
🔹 Connection to Christ: Fulfilled in John the Baptist and in Christ’s tender Shepherd role.
God of Power, God of Peace
Isaiah 40 invites us into awe and intimacy. The One who holds the stars in place also holds the brokenhearted in His hands. His voice shakes mountains—but speaks comfort to weary souls. He is not one or the other; He is both—the God of all power and the Prince of perfect peace.
As you reflect on this chapter, let these truths settle deep:
🔹 Don’t measure God by human strength.
Man fails, leaders fall, and even the strongest stumble—but God never grows weary. His power is beyond comprehension.
🔹 Don’t rely on fading things—trust the everlasting Word.
Everything around us withers, but His Word stands forever. Build your life on what endures.
🔹 Don’t assume He’s forgotten—He lifts the weary.
When you feel invisible or abandoned, remember: He sees. He strengthens. He renews.
🔹 Don’t build idols—behold your God.
No earthly thing can compare to His majesty. Refuse substitutes—He alone satisfies.
🔹 Don’t fear the wilderness—prepare the way.
Even in desolate places, God is working. Clear the path in your heart—He is coming to meet you there.
➡️ The same God who flung stars into space now reaches for your hand. Power and peace—He is both.
Key Takeaways
🔑 God’s Word stands forever, even when everything else fades.
🔑 True comfort comes from God’s presence, not from circumstances.
🔑 The coming of Christ brings strength, hope, and restoration.
🔑 God’s greatness inspires both awe and intimacy.
🔑 Those who wait on the Lord will never be disappointed.
Prophetic Patterns & Dual Fulfillment
🔮 Isaiah 40:3–5 fulfilled in John the Baptist (Matthew 3:3)
🔮 The Shepherd-King imagery echoed in Jesus (John 10:11).
🔮 Eternal Word parallels John 1:1–3.
🔮 Strength for the weary seen in Matthew 11:28–30.
Historical & Cultural Context
📜 Wilderness preparation was customary before the arrival of a king.
📜 Shepherd imagery was central to Jewish understanding of leadership.
📜 Idolatry had become a major issue in exile—God exposes its futility.
📜 Exile bred discouragement; this message ignited hope.
Present-Day Reflection: Waiting with Wings
The world races ahead, chasing solutions, building towers, and burning out. But Isaiah 40 doesn’t end with striving—it ends with soaring. Not through might or speed, but through waiting. Not waiting in despair, but in faith. The promise isn’t just survival—it’s strength. It’s not crawling to the finish line—it’s rising above it.
To wait upon the Lord is to trust that His timing is perfect, His promises are sure, and His strength is enough. This kind of waiting transforms the soul. It replaces anxiety with assurance. It exchanges our frailty for His fullness.
🔹 Wait with hope—He sees you.
You are not forgotten. The Everlasting God watches over you even in silence.
🔹 Wait with humility—He lifts you.
He resists the proud but gives grace to the lowly. Your surrender becomes your strength.
🔹 Wait with praise—He renews you.
Worship in the waiting invites heaven’s strength to flood your soul.
🔹 Wait with patience—He never fails.
Delay is not denial. God is never late—He’s preparing both the promise and the person.
🔹 Wait with joy—your strength is coming.
This is not the end of your story. Wings are coming. Your weary feet will soon leave the ground.
➡️ Don’t give up—look up. The waiting place is the growing place. And in God’s time, you will rise.
💡 Final Reflection: Lift Up Your Eyes
When life presses in and the world seems too heavy to bear, Isaiah 40 lifts our gaze. It reminds us that our God is not limited by weakness, weariness, or time. He is the Creator of the heavens, the Sustainer of every breath, and the Comforter of every soul that waits on Him.
The promise is not that life will be easy—but that you will not walk it alone. His strength becomes yours when your strength runs out. His Word becomes your anchor when the winds rise. His presence becomes your peace when the world goes silent.
📌 Are you crushed by weakness—or strengthened by waiting?
📌 Are you trusting idols—or the One who made the stars?
📌 Are you running ahead—or soaring by surrender?
📖 Isaiah 40:31 – “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
🔥 Lift up your eyes. Your help comes from the Maker of heaven and earth. He is your strength, your song, and your sure foundation.
Comfort for God’s People
Isa 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Isa 40:2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.
Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isa 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
Isa 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
The Word of God Stands Forever
Isa 40:6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
Isa 40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
Isa 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
The Greatness of God
Isa 40:9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
Isa 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
Isa 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Isa 40:12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
Isa 40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
Isa 40:14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
Isa 40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
Isa 40:16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
Isa 40:17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
Isa 40:18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
Isa 40:19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
Isa 40:20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.
Isa 40:21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
Isa 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
Isa 40:23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
Isa 40:24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
Isa 40:25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Isa 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
Isa 40:27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Isa 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Isa 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Isa 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Date Written
740–700 BC
Written By
The prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz
Language
Hebrew
Verses
31