Q1. Comfort for God's Weary People

[Ray B]

Q1. (Isaiah 40) What does Isaiah 40 teach us about the necessity of preparing ourselves for the Lord (verses 3-5)? The Lord is coming and I need to be ready for when he does, lack preparation is the pathway to destruction.

About God's tenderness and compassion (verse 11)? God so loves his children that none would be left behind, that he cares and nurtures each of us.

About God's glory vs. the glory of nations (verses 15-17)? Gods glory is beyond our understanding, the glory of the nations is insignificant by comparison to Gods glory.

Why do we get so enamored by the glitter and glory of the world? It is all around us, trying to show us how good it is, we see it everywhere trying to entice us.

What pieces are we missing (verses 15-17, 21-26)? There is no one like God he rolls out the sky like a canvas, the earth is his footstool

According to verse 31, how can we draw strength from the Lord? By waiting on him, to draw fresh strength from.

[Krissi]

The physical preparations -- building roads and levelling ground -- are said to be metaphors for what is supposed to happen within us, but it could also be read as metaphors for our inability and unworthiness to prepare for Him at all. The glory of the Lord will be revealed to ALL, not just those preparing for Him

V. 11: "He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young."

How the people who were born and died in captivity experience God's tenderness and compassionate love?

--

v15 Before him all the nations are as nothing;
    they are regarded by him as worthless
    and less than nothing.

Though God may regard nations are worthless, which in His economy and timeline is surely true, we can be trapped in a nation at a particular time in history that kills and maims us ... destroys us. Nations are not worthless to us but existentially threatening. Its not that we're attracted to the glitter of power and wealth, but that we fear our nation's elitists misguided ideals and policies which can hurl us toward war or into captivity. 

The God who existed since the earth was created and who now who rules the world also allows unjust suffering. We're left clinging to hope ... a blind hope that God will compassionately reach down and choose us to be saved, that we're the ones he's chosen to be rescued, not those he has chosen to suffer unjustly. 

It's very difficult to draw strength from these promises unless we are certain that we're among the ones that God has redeemed, not in a salvific sense but in this life, in the ways we exist. For God to be strength when we are weary, He must see the unjustness of our weariness, that we are tired because we're enslaved by cruel taskmasters. But does He care? This is the question I cannot answer. From my perspective it appears that some people's lives are sacrificed or made miserable as  His wider picture of salvation history unfolds.

 

[crissy464]

To prepare for the Lord.

He tends his flock (the People) he carries you close to his heart

Natiions are worthless, less than nothing

Wait for the Lord patiently for him to act

[Anna Rogers]

Q1. (Isaiah 40) What does Isaiah 40 teach us about the necessity of preparing ourselves for the Lord (verses 3-5)?

In one word sanctification, becoming who God has made me to be. 

About God’s tenderness and compassion (verse 11)?

He will care for us with complete tenderness and compassion, cradling us in His arms. 

About God’s glory vs. the glory of nations (verses 15-17)?

Next to God's might the nations are insignificant. 

Why do we get so enamored by the glitter and glory of the world?

No idea, it doesn't last. Only God and His heavenly kingdom is eternal and worth sacrificing for. 

What pieces are we missing (verses 15-17, 21-26)?

Reverence for God

 

According to verse 31, how can we draw strength from the Lord?

Wait for Him, remember to serve Him while waiting 

 

[Dove81]

Q1. (Isaiah 40) What does Isaiah 40 teach us about the necessity of preparing ourselves for the Lord (verses 3-5)?
Prepare for the Lord by repenting of our sins. Staying in the word for the Lords return is coming and we need to be ready for it. 

 

About God's tenderness and compassion (verse 11)?
God loves His flock, He  are for anthem and will protect them. Watching over them to make sure no harm comes to them, He provides all their needs.

 

About God's glory vs. the glory of nations (verses 15-17)?
God’s glory is greater than any nation. He created them so he can also destroy them.

 

Why do we get so enamored by the glitter and glory of the world?

We all like shiny things, the things that we think will fulfill us. Or allow us to belong to something that really doesn’t bring us fulfillment. Some of us never realize that what we desire and long for from this world and people has already been given to us by a relationship with God. Nothing in this world compares to the glory of God.

 

What pieces are we missing (verses 15-17, 21-26)?
That God has created everything and is the ruler over all things. Nothing and no one is as mighty as Him. 

 

According to verse 31, how can we draw strength from the Lord?

We draw strength from the Lord by believing in Him and having faith that He will do what He’s promised.

[Irmela]

Q1. (Isaiah 40)

What does Isaiah 40 teach us about the necessity of preparing ourselves for the Lord (verses 3-5)?

When, in antiquity, a king came to visit an area, obstacles were taken out of the path that was to be traveled on.  It was a smooth highway that was made ready for him.  In literal terms, so he could travel from point A - Z easily.

With the above picture in mind and our lives being the highway our Great King is to make use of, we need to get our lives in order.  REPENT.

Cut down the high mountains  -  get rid of pride

Fill up the low valleys  -   let go of depression, self-pity, feeling of hopelessness

Clear the road of boulders, of rough places  -   repent of and change our evil life-style

The glory of the Lord will be seen  -   there will be evidence of the change taken place and God will be given the glory

What does Isaiah 40 teach us about God's tenderness and compassion (verse 11)?

We are shown a beautiful image of a shepherd handling his flock.

He feeds us, like a shepherd.  No hurry.  The shepherd will bring the flock to the pasture and let them graze, while he is on the lookout for danger.

He gathers the lambs in his arms and holds them in his bosom.  Such tenderness.  The lambs can sense his nearness, feel his very heart-beat.  Comfort and reassurance of his nearness, is evident.

He gently leads those who have young  -   he leads at a safe pace for all to be able to follow .  He keeps everyone's needs in mind.  

As this shepherd shows compassion and wisdom in leading his flock, so we find God's tenderness and compassion evident in leading His people.

What does Isaiah 40 teach us about God's glory vs. the glory of nations (verses 15-17)?

God's glory cannot be compared to the nations.  They are likened to dust or a droplet.  It is worthless in comparison.

Why do we get so enamored by the glitter and glory of the world?

We are at present still part of the world or rather in the world system.  That is why we see it as glamorous.  It's right here, we live in it.  but I think more and more we see how man is ruining what God had placed there for our pleasure.

What pieces are we missing (verses 15-17, 21-26)?

We seem to forget that God made the worlds and all that in them is.  God is the One Who gave man the ability to do what he has accomplished.  We just see the end product not how the product has been put together to form that which is producing the end product.  We are forgetting the fact that God is holding it all in place.  Who at one breath can blow it all away.

According to verse 31, how can we draw strength from the Lord?

We need to hope in the Lord;    wait upon the Lord;     look for, with eager expectation, for Him

Then we will be strengthened,  we will renew our strength.