Here Is Your God, Part 1

Here Is Your God, Part 1 Do you face uncertainty? Are you searching for direction or for answers? Do you need hope? The nation of Judah certainly did. God gave Isaiah a message of comfort. It was good news: God is present to help them. And He is present to help us. What a great God He is. For the next three weeks we will study Isaiah 40. Let us begin with verses 1 & 2. Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. And then verse 9: You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” Our God gives comfort to hurting people. Jerusalem was bearing a heavy burden. All Israel had sinned greatly. Assyria had taken the whole northern kingdom, called Israel, into captivity. In the southern kingdom of Judah, every fortified city except for Jerusalem had been destroyed. About 200,000 people from Judah were in captivity. And in the previous chapter, Isaiah had prophesied that worse was yet to come. Isaiah was addressing the needs of Judah in his day. They needed hope of salvation. They needed faith in God, to look beyond their circumstances to Him. But Isaiah also addressed the needs of later generations. Those who would endure the Babylonian captivity yet to come would also need hope and faith. And all God’s people, including us today, need that same hope and faith. So, Isaiah begins with a double announcement of comfort for God’s people in verse 1. Then in the second verse, he has a triple proclamation. First, their hard service has been completed. Second, her sin has been paid for. But how? By whom? Isaiah was looking to the future as he gave his third announcement, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. But what does he mean by double for their sins? Does Israel face a double penalty? Can we be punished more than we deserve? Wouldn’t that be an injustice by God. Another possible meaning is that they receive an equivalent for their sins. That is just. But how can they have received full punishment already? And if it is future, how is this any comfort? Let me suggest a third possibility. Double can mean a duplicate coming from the meaning of the verb which is “to double over” as when a handkerchief is folded in two. Each half is a mirror image of the other, its double. We use the word double for an actor substituting for the star in doing dangerous scenes, a stunt double. The promise here is of a substitute to take our place. (Isaiah 53:5, 6) “He was wounded for our transgressions… the LORD has laid on Him the iniquities of us all.” A Savior received from the hand of God gives us hope. The following verses, v. 3-5, give us insight into the identity of our double, our substitute, our Savior. A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” All four gospels apply these words to John the Baptist. In Isaiah, he is said to prepare the way for the LORD, the Hebrew personal name of God, Yahweh. In the gospels, he prepares the way for the Lord, the Greek title used of the Lordship of Jesus. Jesus is clearly identified as the God of the Old Testament. Jesus is God become man to be the Double to bear our sins. Verse 5 adds that “the glory of the LORD will be revealed”. Glory, the full weight of God’s presence and power, is revealed to mankind in Jesus. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. Jesus has made God known to us. In Jesus, all mankind sees God’s glory, and we have hope of salvation through faith in Him. So, we can have certainty in this uncertain world. Listen to verses 6 to 8: A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” All men wither before God like grass in a drought. The glory of our works falls like dead flowers. It is easy for us to despair. But we can know certainty. The word of our God stands forever. His word contains promises which reveal His glory. And these promises are sure. Listen to a few of them: Romans 10:13 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. James 5:15 Prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. Acts 1:8 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. John 14:3 I will come back and take you to me. Matthew 16:18 I will build My church. So, as verse 9 says, we have a message to shout to the world. “Here is your God!” We have good news, the full gospel. It is news worth sharing. What ever the circumstances, God is greater, and He is here! He is here to provide the salvation we need. He is here to fulfill His word, giving us certainty. This good news is for us. Let me look briefly at two more verses. First, verse 10: See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. Jesus is coming again soon. Jesus is coming, not in humility but in power and glory. Jesus is coming, not to suffer but to judge and to reign. Jesus is coming to reward faith in Him and faithfulness to Him. Because He is coming, we can be certain about our future and live in hope! Finally, verse 11 of Isaiah 40: He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Jesus shepherds His flock, leading us, feeding us, and protecting us. Jesus gathers us in His arms, comforting and giving security. Jesus carries us close to His heart, giving us His love. Jesus gently leads those who bring forth new sheep. That is what we are to be doing. Jesus gives us certainty and security right now! In Isaiah 40, we find comfort for Judah then and for us now. As ancient Judah needed hope of salvation, so does modern man. So, Jesus came as our Double to be our substitute. Jesus died in our place, paying for our sins. Jesus brings our hard service as slaves of sin to an end. As ancient Judah needed faith in God, so does modern man. The all-knowing Father loves us with an everlasting love. The risen Son dwells in those who believe, “Christ in you the hope of glory”. The Holy Spirit indwells all believers and fills all who receive Him. Here is your God!” He is here to answer your questions, solve your problems, meet your needs, and give you certainty and hope. Turn your eyes to Him and see His grace and power. Put your faith in God. Trust Jesus as your Double. Yield your life to Him. In Jesus you will find hope for a blessed and certain future. There is more in Isaiah 40. Join me over the next two weeks as we study this chapter further.