Isaiah is laboring to get a point across. In our six verses he uses two metaphors. In the balance of the chapter he uses at least five more. Why the prophetic multi-metephor campaign? What is he trying so hard to get across?  It is that God is supremely great?  And what would he like us to know about ourselves?

All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. (from Isaiah 40:6-8)

Get yourself up on a high mountain, O bearer of good news, lift up your voice mightily. (from Isaiah 40:9)

What would motivate us to announce good news from high places when our transience has just been likened to a withering plant? If Isaiah had not also proclaimed God’s compassion, the goodness of this so-called good news would certainly come into question.

“Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God. “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed.” (from Isaiah 40:1-2)

Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. (Isaiah 40:11)

In God’s compassion, He makes provision of His own strength to those who are weary and stumbling …

The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Isaiah has clearly established that, like the grass, we will wither and, like the flower, we shall fade. Even collectively we are nothing more than a drop in a bucket or a speck of dust on the scales. As this earth’s inhabitants, we are like grasshoppers. It is true that when He blows on us we are carried away like stubble. God has made His point and asks;

To whom then will you liken Me? Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing. (Isaiah 40:25-26)

Just as God can account for every star, how much more will He account for every son and daughter. It is true in one sense, that compared to God we are as nothing, and yet in another, we are the object of His compassion. When Jesus, our Shepherd, reveals the Father, it gets even better – we discover we are also the objects of His affection.

God’s greatness is not meant to crush. Within His glory and majesty, we find ourselves elevated to dizzying heights, as His beloved. This news does not cause us to cower, it cause us to look up into His kind face. That image will anchor our souls and fuel our awe and thanksgiving. Truly the sons and daughters of the kingdom shall be …

those who wait for the Lord and gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

Father, thank you that you have not come to us in anger but as a gentle Shepherd escorting each of us to safety, in Christ. Thank You that, wrapped in Your strong arms, not one of us will be lost. Thank You that we can live our lives out of Your strength. As the One who has become our life, express your life through us. For Your name’s sake. Amen

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