God's Word Will Stand Forever based on Isaiah 40:1-11

I. Comfort this time of year.

II. God’s people in Isaiah’s day and comfort.

III. Read Isaiah 40:1-2 and comment. Isaiah 40:1-2 tells God’s people then and now: “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”

IV. Is there a certain sin or wrong thing you do over and over again?

V. Isaiah points us to a voice in Isaiah 40:3-5. Isaiah points us to words that are sure and trustworthy. Isaiah points people to a special messenger. Isaiah 40:3-5 tells us, “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’”

VI. That voice and Mark 1:6-8. That voice is the voice of another prophet. That voice is the voice of a man that our Gospel lesson for today in Mark tells us about. Mark 1:6-8 gives us the identity and the message of that voice, “And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, ‘After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’”

VII. We hear a lot of different voices today.

VIII. Read Isaiah 40:6-8 and depressing news. The words of Isaiah show us that people in those days also became weary of listening to voices. Isaiah 40:6-8 gives us some depressing news, “A voice says, ‘Cry!’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades …”

IX. Read Isaiah 40:8-10 and comment on God’s Word will stand forever. That is not the full picture for those who believe in God though. Isaiah 40:8-10 give all of us words of hope and comfort, “The word of our God will stand forever. Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!’ Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.”

X. Comfort from God in Isaiah 40:11 and John 10:11. Isaiah 40:11 gives a great picture of God’s comfort for us: “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” The same Jesus who was greeted by shepherds shortly after His birth in Bethlehem is the One who brings us comfort and peace still today. That same Jesus around 30 years later spoke amazing words of comfort in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

XI. Conclusion. We all need comfort from time to time. Jesus takes better care of us than a shepherd takes care of his sheep. When we wonder if we can keep on going in life, Jesus gathers us in His arms and carries us close to His heart. When we are confused about the voices we hear around us, Jesus gently leads us when we are young to when we are old. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 reminds us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” We all need comfort from time to time and God comforts us even as we share in the sufferings of our Good Shepherd, Jesus, who laid down His life for the sheep. God’s Word will stand forever. Amen.