Welcome to Day #2 of the Isaiah 40 Series!

At first glance there seems to be a contradiction in this verse- speak kindly and she has received double for her sins?  I don’t know about you but that doesn’t sound real kind or comforting.  However, the warfare ending and iniquity (or sin) being removed sounds very comforting.

I believe that scripture does not contradict scripture, so let’s dig a little deeper and see if we can break this down further.  Psalm 23:3-4 says, “He (the Lord, our Shepherd from 23:1) restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

What a minute!  How are a rod and staff comforting?  Sounds like a pretty painful way to comfort.

Hebrews 12:5-6, 10-11  “You have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:  ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.’ Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” 

I recommend you read the book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, by W. Phillip Keller (you can click on the title to purchase it for only $2.99).  It provides practical and spiritual application of this Psalm and explains how the shepherd’s rod was used to protect the sheep.

Sheep wander off.  We wander off.  Sin entices and we are often curious to check it out.  Let’s look closer at Jerusalem’s iniquity before it had been removed.  In Isaiah 1:4 we learn that Israel was a sinful nation, weighed down with iniquity, doing evil, acting corruptly.  They had abandoned the Lord and despised the Holy One, and turned away from him.  Unfortunately this sounds a lot like us in this present day, doesn’t it?  

Isaiah 42:23-25 goes on and asks, “Who among you will give ear to this?  Who will give heed and listen hereafter?  (vs. 23) In the next verses it explains that the people had sinned against the Lord and were not willing to walk in His way or obey His law.  He gave consequences, but they did not pay attention or take it to heart.  I don’t know about you, but I get
into trouble when I compare myself to others, instead of comparing
myself with Christ.  We can think we are doing just fine compared to
others, whose sin seems more blatant, but in light of He, who knew no
sin, we are all the same; sinners.  “Then I (Isaiah) said, ‘Woe is me,
for I am ruined!  Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5).

Take a moment to read Ezekiel 18:29-32.  “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct,’ declares the Lord GOD. ‘Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.  Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!  For why will you die, O house of Israel?  For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, ‘ declares the Lord GOD.  ‘Therefore, repent and live.'”  God is not only Loving, but He is also Just.  If He wasn’t Just than He wouldn’t really be Loving.

Isaiah 59:1-2 graciously reveals, “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear.  But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God.”

Salvation.  He provides it.  Redeemer.  That is who He is.   
Repent and return; that is what He asks.  For He longs to be gracious to you.  Isaiah 59:20, “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob’, declares the LORD.  And in Isaiah 44:22,  “I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud, and your sins like a heavy mist.  Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” 

Oh, how He longs to speak kindly to us, that our iniquity has been removed. Like Hosea’s wife, Gomer, and like the nation of Israel, we too have been unfaithful.  He calls us in our sin and invites us to come; to be redeemed, to be restored.

Hosea 2:13-15  “‘And I will punish her for the days of the Baals, when she used to offer sacrifices to them and adorn herself with her earrings and jewelry, and follow her lovers, so that she forgot me,’ declares the LORD.  ‘Therefore, behold, I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her.  Then I will give her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor as a door of hope.  And she will sing there as in the days of her youth.'”

 

Let’s return to our Redeemer today.

Deep Breaths:

1.  Have you confessed your sin to God?  

     Have you received the gift of salvation?  

It is yours to receive: admit you are a sinner in need of forgiveness (in need of Jesus, the Savior, who died for your sins and rose again), ask Him to forgive you and be Lord of Your life, and follow Him; by the strength, truth, and grace that He provides.
 

2.  Read Psalm 25.  What verse(s) stood out to you and why?
 

3.  Memorize Isaiah 40:2