In a world of frustration and disappointment, of hurricanes and pandemics, of wars overseas and gridlock in the halls of Congress, who doesn’t need a word of comfort? Well, as verses 6-8 remind us, the good news is that God’s Word stands in stark contrast to all of this instability and uncertainty: the grass may wither and the flowers may fade, but the Word of our God will stand forever.

And what does God’s Word promise us? Verses 3-5 insist that the Lord is coming to reveal His glory to us. And on that day, the low – those who are humble, who are meek – will be lifted up, and the high and mighty will be brought low. The things that are now rough and ragged, the things that are crooked and twisted will be smoothed out. All those problems that are so knotted up will be solved, and all those relationships that are so warped and strained will be healed.

That’s what Isaiah told us would happen. And to a great extent, his promise has already come true. For Matthew’s gospel tells us that John the Baptist was in fact the one who cried out in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord by preaching a gospel of repentance. And just as Isaiah and John predicted, Jesus did in fact come to give us a glimpse of God’s glory.

And how did He do this? By showing us how to live, how to reach out to those who have hurt us in forgiveness, how to untangle our most difficult relationships by living lives focused on the needs of others. He came thus to reveal to us the God Who is love.

But everything that Isaiah and John predicted about Jesus hasn’t come true, at least not yet. After all, the proud and the puffed up are still making life miserable for the humble and meek. But verses 10-11 remind us that Jesus will come again, not this time as a servant, but as a sovereign. Yes, this time He will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him. This time, He will display His holiness and His justice by giving the wicked exactly what they deserve.

But on the day of His return, He will also tend His flock like a shepherd. All those who trust in Him will be gathered in His arms, as a shepherd gathers His lambs. On that day He will carry us and hold us close to Himself.

For Jesus didn’t just come to show us how to live, for no one has ever been able to keep His commandments. And He didn’t just come to punish the wicked, for if that were the case, everyone on earth would experience His wrath. No, just as verse 2 says, Jesus came to pardon all our iniquities, and He did this through the blood of His cross. By offering Himself up as the perfect sacrifice for all His people, by dying for all those who trust in Him, Jesus perfectly satisfies God’s justice and allows God’s people to be saved.

So, do you need some comfort today? Look back to the cross and the empty tomb. Look forward to the time when Jesus is coming again. Look to Jesus, and behold your God.

Isaiah 40:1-11 (NASB)

“Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God.
2 “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the LORD’s hand Double for all her sins.”
3 A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.
4 “Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley;
5 Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.
9 Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord God will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him, And His recompense before Him.
11 Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs, And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.