John Lloyd - The Glory of God Brings Comfort to The Shattered
/The Greatness of God: A Study of Isaiah 40
The Glory of God brings Comfort to the Shattered
Pastor John Lloyd
March 10, 2019
The name Isaiah literally means ‘the Lord saves.’ Isaiah 40 begins a major new section of the book with the central theme being a proclamation of the glory of God! Isaiah brings his readers into the presence of the living God with seeing a future day and declaring the gospel to His people who are in exile, “God has not abandoned you. Your best days are ahead. God has a purpose of grace for you better than ever. He is coming to save you. Believe it and let hope fill your sails.” Ray Ortlund
Passage: Isaiah 40:1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 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. 3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 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. 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” 6 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. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 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!”10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 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.
Big Idea: View God through my circumstances = small God. View my circumstances through God = big God. See His glory and feel His comfort!
I. Look at the glory of God’s work for ________________.
Isaiah 40:1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 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.
A. Our sins have been __________________ and paid for by Jesus.
Isaiah 59:2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
Isaiah 53:10b When his soul makes an offering for guilt, …
Isaiah 53:11 my righteous servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. John 1:29
Hebrews 10:14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Real comfort comes to hearts who welcome Jesus into their souls!
B. God’s ____________ meets us wherever we are.
Isaiah 40:3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 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.” Psalm 139:7-8
John 14:16 And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Helper/Comforter to be with you forever. Galatians 4:6
John 14:18. He will not leave you comfortless.
Real comfort arrives when we glorify God in our circumstances.
II. Acknowledging the temporary makes clearer the ______________ glory.
Isaiah 40:6 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. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
James 4:14 Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
Psalm 39:4 “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!
Hold our suffering and success loosely and know our finiteness. Hold onto God’s promises tenaciously and know His infiniteness.
III. ___________ and ________________ God’s glory is our mission.
Isaiah 40:5 “And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
Isaiah 40:9 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!”10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Luke 2:9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 13:31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. I Corinthians 2:8
Isaiah 40:11 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
Welcome Jesus into our circumstances! Help others welcome Jesus into their circumstances!
Spiritual Growth Questions for week of March 10, 2019
What in nature has revealed to you the greatness of God?
1. Read Isaiah 40:1-11. Read it slowly several times. Ask God to speak to you through this passage. What verse stood out? Why?
2. How would meditating on God’s amazing attributes on display in this passage, help people go through times of suffering?
3. Read Isaiah 40:1-2. How does Isaiah comfort God’s people in exile? How do these verses point directly to the cross of Jesus as the atonement for our sins? How could God use this to comfort?
4. Read Isaiah 40:3-4. How did John the Baptist fulfill the predictions in this passage? What brings comfort in these verses? What do you hear God saying about your own present circumstances?
5. Read Isaiah 40:5, Luke 2:9, John 1:14, John 13:31, 2 Corinthians 3:18. How did Isaiah say His people will see his glory? How do we see His glory? What happens when we see his glory?
6. Read I Corinthians 2:8. How do the rulers of this world miss his glory? How do we miss it?
7. Read Isaiah 40:6-8, Matthew 24:35. What is temporary in our lives and what is permanent? Why is this so easy to forget?
8. Read Isaiah 40:9-11, Titus 2:13, Revelation 21:23. Discuss how God breathes new life into our souls through each one of these passages. What would be your high mountain to declare His glory?
9. What are some ways that help you view your present circumstances through God? Invite a brother or sister in Christ to pray for you on your journey. Join in praying for someone who needs the comfort of God in their lives.
Memory Verse: Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.