Prepare the Way

Prepare the Way

Pastor E. Keith Hassell

Isaiah 40:1-31

I.              Background

A.               Judah had been conquered by Babylon

B.                Her people had been taken into captivity

C.               They longed to return to the glory of former days

D.               They wondered if their captivity would ever end

II.           Speak comfort to My people (vs. 1-2)

A.               Her warfare is ended

B.                Her iniquity is pardoned

C.               She has received double for your sins

III.        A voice crying in the wilderness (vs. 3-9)

A.               Prepare the way of the Lord

1.          Make straight in the desert a highway for our God

a               Every valley shall be exalted

b              Every mountain and hill brought low

c               The crooked places shall be made straight

d              The rough places made smooth

2.          The glory of the Lord shall be revealed

a               All flesh shall see it together

3.          The mouth of the Lord has spoken

B.                All flesh is grass and its loveliness is like the flower of the field

1.          The grass withers

2.          The flower fades

3.          The breath of the Lord blows upon it

4.          Surely the people are grass

5.          The grass withers, the flower fades

6.          The Word of our God stands forever

C.               You who bring good tidings, go up to the mountain

1.          Lift your voice with strength

2.          Lift it up, be not afraid

3.          Say, “Behold your God!”

IV.       The Lord shall come (vs. 10-11)

A.               No. 1:  He will come with a strong hand (mighty acts of judgment and deliverance)

B.                No. 2:  His arm shall rule for Him (bring divine order through righteous judgment—i.e. justice)

C.               No. 3:  His reward is with Him (payday for the righteous)

D.               No. 4:  His work before Him (payday for the wicked)

E.                No. 5:  He will feed His flock like a shepherd (Word of God)

F.                No. 6:  He will gather the lambs with His arms (Security)

G.               No. 7:  He will carry them in His bosom (Intimacy)

H.               No. 8:  He will gently lead those who are with young (Understanding)

V.          God is greater than man and his idols (vs. 12-26)

A.               God created all things apart from man or his idols

B.                God is greater than man

C.               God is greater than man’s idols

VI.       God has not forgotten us (vs. 27-29)

A.               He never faints nor grows weary

B.                His understanding is unsearchable

C.               He gives power to the weak

D.               He increases strength to those who have no might

VII.    God rewards those who wait on Him (vs. 30-31)

A.               Shall renew their strength

B.                Shall mount up with wings like eagles

C.               They shall run and not be weary

D.               They shall walk and not faint

VIII. Conclusion

A.               If we will prepare the way of the Lord, He will come!