Comfort Me Lord, If You Will, You Can Make Me Whole

Comfort Me Lord, 

If You Will, You Can Make Me Whole

 

February 20, 2021

Larry R Evans

 

Introduction

 

There are at least two constants found in both the Old and New Testaments. They are God’s love for us and our need to be loved. Our study today is based on Isaiah 40. To get the full message of this chapter we need to keep in mind that chapters 1-39 are largely about the judgment pronounced upon God’s own people. They had sinned and turned from Him. Our need must be seen if we are to receive the help God wants to provide. In this way, judgment is good news. The story doesn’t stop there, however. Inspiration leads Isaiah to continue with the last half of Isaiah. It is here that we are brought face to face with the certainty that God is willing to make us whole again. The same God Isaiah talks about is the same one portrayed in Matthew 8:1-3.

When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

As we study together this morning, let’s keep this very important truth in our hearts—Our need is brought about by brokenness and our brokenness is why Jesus gave His life for us. He is willing to make us whole.  

 

 

 

Isaiah 40

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.

 

QUESTION: Why did God’s people need comforting? What does it mean that Jerusalem has received “double for her sins?” How had they been punished?

 

Stubborn and self-centered Israel had been punished by Assyria (the rod of God’s anger – Isaiah 10. Babylon had carried away the possessions and people from Jerusalem creating a loss of identity. The words of comfort (VSS. 1-11) are God’s voice telling His people the time of trial is almost over.  . . . Almost. 

 

[Application: The seeds of comfort may take root in the soil of adversity. When your life seems to be falling apart, ask God to comfort you. You may not escape adversity, but you may find God’s comfort as you face it. Sometimes, however, the only comfort we have is in the knowledge that someday we will be with God.]

 

Chapters 40-45 are an answer to the implied questions of Chapter 39 when it seemed that the Babylonian oppression would end the future hope of Israel. Would the Lord remain faithful to His covenant promises? Comfort was indeed a message needed during this crisis hour! 

 

The phrase, “that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.”  The word double means to fold over or fold in half.  Divine wisdom has “two-sided” meaning that there is a reality that is beyond the reach of the human mind. There two ways in which this is true. “Double” in Scripture often means “fullness” or “completeness” (Jer. 16:17,18). She paid a terrible price for her rebellion. However, there is also the connotation of “double” grace (Isa. 61:7). As bad as the sin of Israel was, we will see when we get to Isaiah 53, that God has gone overboard to make a way of escape and to make His people “whole” once again. We saw in the story of the healing of the leper by Jesus that God is more than willing to make His people clean. The coming chapters of Isaiah will unfold more of God’s wisdom and planning. 

 

The Three Comforting Messages (“voices”) from God 

Isaiah 40

 

1.     The first message or voice of God is found in verses 3-5. This voice says God is coming to reveal His glory worldwide. Note verse 5,

And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,

and all people will see it together.

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

And how is this revelation introduced?  

A voice of one calling:

“In the wilderness prepare

the way for the LORD;

make straight in the desert

a highway for our God.

The one calling is in the tense of emphasis and excitement!  “Listen!” The way was to be prepared so that nothing would hinder the revelation of God’s glory! God’s glory is “the fullness of His personal presence!! The king is coming. You can count on it.

 

2.    The second voice or message is the idea of absolute certainty of God’s word – the glory of the Lord will be revealed! While “people are like grass (v.6) “the word of our God endures forever” (v.8)

[Application: Public opinion changes and is unreliable, but God’s Word is constant. Only in God’s eternal Word will we find lasting solutions to our problems and needs.]

 

3.    The third voice or message is called the “good news to Zion”! Note the excitement of this message:

You who bring good news to Zion,

go up on a high mountain.

You who bring good news 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!”

See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,

and he rules with a mighty arm.

See, his reward is with him,

and his recompense accompanies him.

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.

Note both the strength and the tenderness conveyed in the description of God: “He rules with a mighty arm” but also, “He gathers the lambs in his arms.”

 

QUESTION: Why would this description of God be a comfort? Knowing what we know about Jesus’ characteristics, how did the presence, “Here is your God!”, in reference to Jesus bring comfort?

 

[Application: Note that the shepherd is caring for the most defenseless members of his society: children and those caring for them. This reinforces the prophetic theme that God’s people find their strength, not in the weaponry of the world but rather strength is found by relying on God for strength.]

 

The 3 truths of these messages in Isaiah 40 are a summary statement for chapters 40-45.

 

Our Incomparable God!

Isaiah 40:12-31

 

If you were given the assignment of introducing God to a congregation, what would you say? How would you describe Him?  Throughout the Bible, there are many different “introductions.”  One of them is found in Psalms 68:5,6.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,

is God in his holy dwelling.

God sets (or places) the lonely in families,

he leads out the prisoners with singing;

but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

This passage reminds me of one of my favorite passages, a Scripture that had special meaning when I was facing a tough challenge.  It is found in Zephaniah 3:17.  Carrie surprised me when, knowing of the challenge I had been facing, gave me a pen set with this text engraved on it.

The LORD your God is with you,

the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

but will rejoice over you with singing.”

This theme, as I said at the beginning, is one found throughout the Bible: God loves us and all of us need to be loved.

 

Isaiah describes God’s power (1) to create, (2) his provision to sustain, and (3) his presence to help. God is almighty and all-powerful; but even so, he cares for each of us personally. No person or thing can be compared to God (40:25).

 

 

No Time for Counterfeit Gods!

Useless Idols

I look but there is no one —

no one among the gods to give counsel,

no one to give answer when I ask them.

See, they are all false!

Their deeds amount to nothing;

their images are but wind and confusion.

 Tim Keller in his book, Counterfeit Gods, defines idols this way,

What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give. (p. xix)

Idols Are Often Good . . .

We think that idols are bad things, but that is almost never the case. The greater the good, the more likely we are to expect that it can satisfy our deepest needs and hopes. Anything can serve as a counterfeit god, especially the very best things in life. (Ibid)

It’s crazy to think that an incomparable God can be replaced by an idol, but idolatry is deceptive. It is easy to say, 

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matt. 7:23)

Concluding Reflections

 

It is this kind of idolatry that led Isaiah to speak in judgmental tones for most of the chapters 1-39. It was this falling away from God that led to the roller-coaster ride for Israel.  Is it any different today? Our incomparable God desires to “comfort us” during this time of global crisis. His strength and His comfort await us. Are ready to receive Him? Never forget: 

 

There are at least two constants found in both the Old and New Testaments. They are God’s love for us and our need to be loved. Isaiah reminds us:

 

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint. (Isa. 40:29-31)