lift up thy voice

Isaiah 40:9–11 KJV 1900

9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; Lift it up, be not afraid; Say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! 10 Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, And his arm shall rule for him: Behold, his reward is with him, And his work before him. 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with his arm, And carry them in his bosom, And shall gently lead those that are with young.

King James Version Study Bible Chapter 40

Looking beyond Judah’s imminent captivity, the prophet sees a day of salvation yet coming in the future. This section of Isaiah’s prophecy (40:1–48:22) is often called the Book of Consolation. Comfort ye (nachamū) means both “repent” and “console,” and implies that true repentance must precede divine consolation. My people (˓amı̄) refers to the people of God who are in a covenant relationship with Him

Isaiah 40:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, That her warfare is accomplished, That her iniquity is pardoned: For she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

Declare the greatness of the Lord

King James Version Chapter 40

The voice said, Cry.

And he said, What shall I cry?

All flesh is pgrass,

And all the goodliness thereof is as pthe flower of the field:

7  qThe grass withereth, the flower fadeth:

Because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it:

Surely the people is grass.

8  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:

But the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Declare the greatness of the Lord

When seeking God

Isaiah 58:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Cry aloud, spare not, Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, And shew my people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet they seek me daily, And delight to know my ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And forsook not the ordinance of their God: They ask of me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching to God.

King James Version Study Bible Chapter 58

Cry aloud … shew my people their transgression indicates that Isaiah was to shout against the sins of Israel and Judah. God further warns them that though they delight to seek me daily, they will be judged for making a mere show of their religion. The true fast is contrasted with the false external show of piety. Thus God’s fast will loose the bands of wickedness and undo the heavy burdens for those who truly repent.

Remember

Psalm 124:1–8 KJV 1900

1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, Now may Israel say; 2 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, When men rose up against us: 3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, When their wrath was kindled against us: 4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, The stream had gone over our soul: 5 Then the proud waters Had gone over our soul. 6 Blessed be the Lord, Who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: The snare is broken, and we are escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.