Series: Unveiling the Bible StorySeeing Glory & Walking in Grace

Today:  “Behold your God” – God the Incomparable   (Isaiah 40)

(for next week read Mt 16:16-17, 14:61-62; Lk 1:1-4 & 24:44-49) 

 

Intro (Is 40:9-11, 18, 25, &  27-31):  

 

***  Isaiah 40 reveals that God is so ____________ great & ___________ that gazing on Him leads us to trust in Him no matter what.  

 

I.  Gazing on God’s strong ______________ leads us to trust in Him no matter what (Is 40:1-5, 27-31).  

 

 

II.  Gazing on God’s eternal ______ leads us to trust in Him no matter what (Is 40:6-8, 27-31).  

 

 

III.  Gazing on God’s infinite ________ leads us to trust in Him no matter what (Is 40:12-14, 27-31).  

 

 

IV.  Gazing on God’s ____________ power leads us to trust in Him no matter what (Is 40:15-26, 27-31).    

 

 

 

Concl:

  

Digging Deeper into the book of Isaiah & Is 40

 

1.  Is 40:3ff is found is cited in all 4 gospels (Mt 3:3ff, Mk 1:3ff, Lk 3:4ff & Jn 1:23ff).  The idea of “preparing the way” is also found in Is 57:14, 62:10 and Mal 3:1.

 

2.  The folly of idolatry is common in Is 40-48.  Take a look at Is 40:18-20, 41:5-7, 21-24, 29, 42:8 & 17, 44:6-20 & 46:1-7. 

 

3.  God’s greatness & transcendence is all over Isaiah.  Note in particular Is 40:12-26, 42:5, 43:10-12, 46:9 & 45:14-15.

4.  Is 40 is steeped in the language of the Psalms.  Notice the following comparisons:  Is 40:16  with Ps 50:8-13; Is 40:19-20 with Ps 115:4-8; Is 40:22 with Ps 104:2 & 19:4; Is 40:23 with Ps 33:10, 15-16;  Is 40:25 with Ps 89:6-8; Is 40:26 with Ps 147:4 & 8:4;  Is 40:29 & 31 with Ps 33:16-17 & 103:5. 

 

5.  There are many, many cross references to “waiting on the Lord” (Is 40:31).  Here are a few of them:  2 Kings 6:33; Ps 27:14, 31:24, 33:20-33; 37:7, 9, 34; 38:15, 39:7, 40:1-3; 62:5130:4-7, Pr 20:22, Is 8:17, Is 26:8, 30:18, 33:2, 49:23; Lam 3:21-26; Micah 7:7-9; Dt 31:6-8 & Josh 1:6-9; & Hab 2:2-4.

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