The Word of our God shall stand for ever . Amid all human frailty, shiftingness, changefulness, there is one thing that endures, and stroll endure—God's Word (see the comment on the first part of Isaiah 40:6 ). In the sureness of God's promises is Israel's exceeding comfort. read more
O Zion, that bringest good tidings , etc.; rather, as in the margin, O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (so the LXX ; Gesenius, Rosenmuller, Maurer, Hitzig, Knobel, and Kay). Get thee up into the high mountain ; rather, into a high mountain. Choose an elevated spot from which to make proclamation. O Jerusalem, that bringest , etc.; again, as in the margin, O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem. The repetition, with a slight change, is quite in the manner of Isaiah. ... read more
God: his presence, power, and grace. Such good tidings are to be brought to Zion that the language used is that of exultation; the messenger is to stand upon a high mountain, to lift up his voice with strength, to proclaim so that every one, far and near, shall hear. The message to be delivered is the presence of Jehovah, his everlasting power, his grace in bringing a large reward in his bountiful hand. The primary reference is obvious (see previous homilies); the secondary one is to... read more
The time of Israel's restoration has drawn nigh. The preparation has been made. The voice calling to preparation is silent. The promises are now on the verge of receiving their accomplishment. It is fitting that some one should announce the fact to the nation. Isaiah calls on the company of prophets living at the time to do so (verse 9). They are to take up a commanding position, to speak with a loud voice, and to proclaim the good tidings to Zion, to Jerusalem, and to the cities of Judah... read more
The Lord God ; literally, the Lord Jehovah. With strong hand ; or, with strength. His arm shall rule for him . Kay translates, "His arm shall get him rule;" i.e. the manifestation, which he shall make of his power, shall cause his kingdom to be extended far and wide upon the earth. "The Lord's arm," "the Lord's hand," are favourite expressions of Isaiah's ( Isaiah 5:25 ; Isaiah 9:12 ; Isaiah 10:4 ; Isaiah 11:11 ; Isaiah 31:3 ; Isaiah 51:9 ; Isaiah 53:1 ; Isaiah 62:3 ... read more
Present reward. "His reward is with him." There is a glory to be revealed. There is a day of the manifestation of the sons of God—a day of august solemnity, when the King shall say, "Come, ye blessed." But the Christian dispensation is not fairly represented when its rewards and punishments are declared to be future only. These words speak of a present reward. I. CHRIST JESUS HAD HIS REWARD HERE . SO says the prophet, speaking here of Christ. And the apostle says,... read more
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd . The similitude is a favourite one with the psalmists ( Psalms 77:20 ; Psalms 78:52 ; Psalms 80:1 ), and occurs again later on in Isaiah ( Isaiah 49:9 , Isaiah 49:10 ). Its beauty and sweetness have been widely recognized. He shall gather the lambs ; collect them, i.e; when they have strayed from the flock. Shall gently lead those that are with young ; rather, those that give suck (comp. Genesis 33:3 , where the same word is used).... read more
God the Shepherd of his people. This favourite image is "full of figures and analogies of loving-kindness. It is almost sacramental in its depth and power." To exhaust its meaning is impossible; to draw out all that it implies is hopeless; even to make it the subject of comment may seem almost impertinent. Still, in an exegetical work, some comment must be made upon a passage at once so characteristic and so powerful; some attempt at exposition must be attached to the declaration of a truth... read more
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of no one can these words be used with such exquisite appropriateness as of that "great Shepherd," that "good Shepherd" of the sheep, whom we call Lord and Master. They express— I. HIS PRACTICAL KINDNESS . "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd." He will be to them, in all kindly service, what the shepherd is to his sheep. 1 . He provides with all-nourishing truth. 2 . He leads in the paths of righteousness. 3 . He defends from... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:7-8
The imperishable. "The grass withereth," etc. The soul of man is immortal, and the Word that is to feed it is immortal too. I. THE DECAY OF NATURE . "The grass withereth"—that which feeds the dying race of creatures upon earth. "The flower fadeth"—that which regales the physical senses of man. Each generation learns this great lesson, and it is interwoven into poem and song in every literature. II. THE SYMBOLISM OF NATURE . These pictures of decay are to teach us how... read more