16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
PROMISE AND FULFILLMENT
Fulfillment. Beginning his public ministry in the region of Galilee, it was not long before the impact of Jesus’ presence carried well beyond the immediate region. News about him spread like a wildfire, in the towns and the villages, where he was well received. On one memorable occasion Jesus attended his home-town synagogue in Nazareth where a crowd was present. Following a reading from Isaiah 61:1–2, Jesus astonished everyone, saying: ‘This text of Isaiah is now fulfilled’. He was claiming to be God’s anointed one!
The profound implications of his words cannot be overstated. They summarize the substance of his teaching in a way that is not found elsewhere. They lay the foundation for his later teaching (7:21–22); further, they form a mission statement, detailing how Jesus would fulfill his calling. To whom was Jesus referring when he spoke about the poor, the oppressed, and the captives? Suggestions are numerous and the issues are hotly debated.
The poor? Of the many views that are held concerning the meaning of the poor in Luke 4 two especially stand out – the spiritually poor, and the economically (or even politically) poor – people who are disadvantaged for some reason. It may be lack of education, lack of power, position in the workplace, or social standing in general.
Others suggest that by saying that he had come to preach good news to the poor, Jesus was speaking primarily about spiritual poverty. The spiritually poor of the old covenant, the non-Jewish people, as well as Jewish people, could now be beneficiaries of God’s grace. But there is a deeper purpose – Jesus had come to rescue all people who had no status, honor or glory before God. The reference to the poor is a metaphor for those who lack honor or glory before God: it crosses the barriers of class, education, religious association, race and nation. ‘Now’, Jesus was saying, ‘there is good news for all. God’s grace has been opened to everyone’. The coming of God’s king makes it possible. He would use his position and power in the service of all men and women. People from all places would be able to hear and benefit from the good news.
Release to the captives? It is worth noting that Jesus did not literally release any prisoners, not even those who were incarcerated for religious or political reasons, such as John the Baptist (3:20). God had a bigger plan. The events of Jesus’ cross had yet to occur, and God’s final day of judgment has yet to occur before God’s lasting peace would reign. And yet, this announcement does, very clearly, inaugurate His kingdom. Today, said Jesus, these things are fulfilled in your hearing.
There were times when Jesus did directly intervene in individual lives – there were the times when he gave sight to the blind and released the demonically possessed. His miracles were also parables, revealing God’s compassion and his ultimate purpose – releasing men and women from their bondage of sin and restoring them to their true humanity. With Jesus’ words in your hearing, he was saying that his hearers needed to make a decision, for a day would come when God would ask everyone of us, ‘What did you do with my Son?’
Clearly many of Jesus’ first hearers welcomed him and his news of God’s grace. While they did not even begin to understand the real significance of what he was saying, we should understand their words, Is not this Joseph’s son? (4:22) in a positive, not a negative light. They were encouraged.
You may want to consider:
your own response to Jesus’ astonishing claim here;
the implications of Jesus’ preaching good news to the poor and releasing the captives;
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
ANOTHER PROMISE FULFILLED
Why did the angel announce Jesus birth to shepherds? Given the resources of heaven there could have been a spectacular announcement, a public event. To find an answer we need to go back to the history of ancient Israel. There we discover a prophet in Israel, Samuel, looking for a king and finding him, the boy David, keeping sheep. In Ezekiel 34 we read of the rise another David, a new and perfect king— a shepherd-king. The announcement of Jesus’ birth to shepherds symbolized this. Their poverty and lowly state illustrated the way God so often uses the lowly, instead of the powerful, to fulfill his purposes.
So it was that in the ordinary course of these shepherds’ nighttime duty, an angel, sensitive to their fear (2:9), announced good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. Good news was the ceremonial term usually associated with the announcement of the birth of a son to the Roman emperor. The good news here has its origin in God. Its purpose is to bring great joy (compare 1:14) for all the people.* Furthermore, the cause of the good news and the joy was the birth in the city of David of one who is Savior, Christ and Lord (2:11). The shepherds are not told the baby’s name, but they are introduced to his royal heritage and office.
Titles: Savior in the Old Testament generally refers to God’s work in rescuing his people in times of need (for example, Psalm 25:5; Isaiah 25:9). The title Christ means anointed one: the baby is anointed as kings were anointed. Mary’s son is of royal descent, being of David’s house and born in David’s town. The baby is born to be king, a king who saves or rescues his people and brings peace. This is a special kind of King, though, because the Greek word Christ is the translation of the Hebrew term Messiah. The Messiah was the expected ruler and rescuer of Israel, who would be the definitive, perfectly just and powerful King. We also hear the prophetic words of Isaiah 9:1–7 that announced: Unto us a child is born, a Son is given… Further, the title Lord, is striking. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint (LXX), which was the most commonly used version of the Hebrew scriptures in Jesus’ day the word Lord is most frequently used to translate the name of God, YHWH. The title Lord set the scene for what was to follow. Here was a baby full of exceptional promise. Would he realize his potential and actually fulfill all these expectations?
AUTHENTIC
The angel authenticated his words with a sign. The shepherds would find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger (2:12). New revelation from God is often accompanied by signs. But the sign here is a conundrum. The baby is of royal blood, born to be king and yet he would be found wrapped in simple clothing, lying in a cattle feeding-trough. What a sign it is. Humanity has always expected royalty to have the trappings of royal heritage from birth. This king is so different – he is born into a world of poverty.
Glory to God. With these words the angel, together with a large assembly of angels burst into the night sky, singing praises to God (2:13). It was the testimony of the supernatural world, and of the members of God’s court and army, to the birth of the baby. The contrast of the shepherds carrying out their work in the darkness of night and the angels doing their work in the brilliant light of God’s glory, could not be more vivid. Glory to God in the highest, they sang, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased (2:14). Three themes are set in parallel: Glory and peace, highest and earth, and God and men and women with whom he is pleased.The supernatural realm echoes with joy and honor at the outward manifestation of God’s love (glory). Now everyone to whom God comes can experience the reality of the peace they long for, the comfort of His love as their Father, and the glory of His rule as their King.
You may want to consider:
the context of the announcement to the shepherds;
the content of the announcement;
the significance of the titles, savior, messiah, lord.
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
With these words Luke leads us into one of the most breath-taking moments in history. So much so that though secular historians cannot deny the life of this man, they must deny the circumstances of his birth; if these things happened as they are recorded, then everything is different; history itself hinges on this birth. However, it is generally agreed that stories about Jesus’ birth were in circulation in the first century, and Luke insists that he has carefully verified his references (Luke 1:1–4). Further, assuming that Luke was a physician, details about Jesus’ birth would be of greater interest to him and perhaps more available to him. The question we have to ask is one of philosophical and theological presuppositions: whether the God who created all things can do what is described here – and whether he would if he could.
Once again Gabriel is involved. He is sent from and by God (1:26) to a virgin.Significantly, she is the beneficiary, not the bestower, of God’s favor. She is to be a special recipient of grace that God has initiated. God will be with her (future tense) in the events that are to unfold.
God’s ancient promises concerning his kingdom and his salvation are about to be fulfilled. Notice that the greater emphasis is on the son rather than the mother (compare, 1:28–31 and 1:32–33). He is to be called Jesus. The angel’s announcement in 1:32 and 33 compares with Nathan’s prophecy to King David in 2 Samuel 7:9–16. It is also worth comparing the following: Luke 1:32, he will be great with 2 Samuel 7:9, a great name; Luke 1:32, throne of his father David with 2 Samuel 7:13, the throne of his kingdom; Luke 1:32, Son of the most High with 2 Samuel 7:14, he will be my son; and, Luke 1:33, king over the house of Jacob forever with 2 Samuel 7:16, your house and your kingdom. If you have time you might want to read Psalm 7:17 and Daniel 4:24.
Clearly Jesus is more than a prophet: he not only stands in the tradition of the kings, he is the King God had promised long ago (2 Samuel 7:9–16; Psalm 89:14, 19–29, 35–37). Jesus’ connection with David is very important. While he will be recognized as David’s descendant after his death and resurrection (for example Acts 2:29–36), there would be times when he is recognized as such during his ministry (18:39; 19:38). Moreover this royal figure is also the Son of the Most High (1:32). His rule is over Israel (Jacob) and is eternal (1:33).
Once again we see that that from his conception in Mary’s womb Jesus is truly man and truly God. It means that God’s kingdom is being established in a new way – God was coming to earth as a man from the family of kings, the “house of David.” Luke also suggests that Jesus is of the ‘family’ of another King, the great King – He is also the Son of the Most High, God himself (1:32).
‘How can this be, since I have no husband?’ (1:34), Mary responded. The angel’s reply is one of the most stunning statements about Jesus in the whole of Luke. He clarifies for Mary just why this baby can be described as human and the Son of God. God’s Holy Spirit will come upon you, he says, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. They are words that reflect the life-giving work of God in creation (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30) and in salvation (Ezekiel 37:14). The references are not sexual but metaphorical. God’s Spirit will come and his presence, even glory (as at Mt Sinai [Exodus 40:35]), will be with Mary. The child… will be called holy – set apart for God, the Son of God.
Mary’s response is the model of humility and obedience: she was still unmarried, and did not know how Joseph would react to the news of her pregnancy. Nevertheless, she understood that, strange and even terrifying though it all may be, it was God (the Lord) who had spoken (1:38). She had heard his word and would say yes to it– and though she says yes so freely, still her yes, her fiat, is another gift of God, who permitted this young Jewish girl to say yes to His word where Eve had said no. Her confidence in God is a model for all of us who would follow the Lord.
You may want to consider:
the breath-taking nature of the announcement to Mary;
the significance of the links between Jesus and David;
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son.
A PROMISE FULFILLED
The announcement to Joseph was really quite extraordinary: It is saying that God was taking on human form. How did Joseph come to believe something that was so much out of the ordinary? He could have continued with his plan to end his engagement to Mary, but he didn’t. The truth of the announcement is verified by the most astounding set of events that followed. They speak of:
An Extraordinary Baby (1:21–23). Matthew wants us to know that while Jesus was conceived in a way that no other human has ever been conceived, he was nevertheless born in the same way we are. Jesus wasn’t the an angelic messenger, less than God, nor a spirit creature, not quite man; rather, he was one hundred percent human and one hundred percent divine — or as the creed puts it: Very God of very God; begotten not made…
Consider the man the baby grew up to be. Everywhere Jesus went he displayed a unique power and authority that pointed to the fact that divinity had come amongst us. This fact speaks of a God who is not just approachable, but who is willing to humble himself, to shrink his immense power and awesome glory to become a weak, crying human baby, taking on human form. These themes are consistent with the God who had made men and women in his image, as we read in Genesis 1.
Extraordinary Names (so verse 21b). The name Jesus literally means, ‘God saves’. When we think about this, it really is the most confronting thing God could say to the world. We can tell ourselves otherwise– that we don’t need a ‘savior;’ we just need to be recognized. But this is to ignore the reality that we are seriously morally compromised; we have betrayed God, we have betrayed truth; we have betrayed each other. Like the original two in the Garden we want to make our choices without reference to God. Putting it bluntly, we divorce him. And there will be a day when God will call each one of us to account. It is from slavery to our own treachery, from the results of that treachery in our own lives; and from the judgement which it justly calls for, that He has come down to rescue us. God saves.
And there is the name: Emmanuel. It means, God with us. Isaiah the prophet had spoken of Emmanuel as a sign of God’s judgment and of God’s salvation. Isaiah had gone on to speak of the child this way: For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. These words point to Jesus’ words after his resurrection from the dead: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…” (Matthew 28:16). This is God coming to be with us as one of us, and to reign over us as our King.
In his very first chapter, Matthew is making some extraordinary statements. We see God’s approachableness and his humility. In the naming of the baby, Jesus and Emmanuel, we see God’s passionate commitment to rescue and restore us. More than anything else God is looking for faith – not faith in faith, but faith in the one who is both God and man—Jesus, Emmanuel.
You may like to consider:
the significance of God’s active and direct involvement on the stage of history;
the circumstances of the birth of the One who was to be king;
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. 3 Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 4 Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. 5 Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come.They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord. 7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall be acceptable on my altar, and I will glorify my glorious house. 8 Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows? 9 For the coastlands shall wait for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from far away, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you. 10 Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in my wrath I struck you down, but in my favor I have had mercy on you. 11 Your gates shall always be open; day and night they shall not be shut, so that nations shall bring you their wealth, with their kings led in procession. 12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste.
THE GLORY TO COME
Cities have become so synonymous with evil and corruption, poverty and injustice that we tend to overlook the significance of the city in the Bible. The Scriptures often speak of the City of Zion or Jerusalem as a picture of God’s rule and his presence with his people. Here the prophet is encouraging God’s people whose city had been destroyed, assuring them that darkness and despair would give way to light and hope and that God would establish his City – the City of Zion. He pictures the sun rising over Jerusalem – a sight that tourists today still marvel at as it lights up her walls and towers, the domes and roofs.
Historically Isaiah’s words came true, for against all odds, the Jews returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt it. Cyrus the Mede, as Isaiah had indicated (Isaiah 45), did conquer Babylon and in 520 BC he decreed that the Jews could return to their homeland.
But Isaiah was not just pointing to the city of Jerusalem that was rebuilt after the exile. He was pointing to the time when God’s rule would come down to earth. God would bring in a whole new order, a new creation. The city of which Isaiah spoke was a picture of God’s rule and the glory of a new and lasting city where God himself would fill the city with the light of this presence.
The imagery of light and darkness is often used to portray God’s creating work. In Genesis 1 we read that thick darkness covered the earth, but God’s light overcame it. Here in Isaiah 60 darkness is a metaphor for moral evil and spiritual blindness. Light is a picture of God’s coming to rescue his people. In God’s new city there will be no need of a sun or a moon, for God’s glory will shine forever.
Notice too that God’s light will shine world-wide: Nations shall come to your light (60:3), and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Those who refuse to turn to God will perish (60:12). It is one of the ironies of history that the power of Rome that crucified Jesus in the first century, capitulated to him in the fourth, when the emperor Constantine was baptized. It is striking proof that Isaiah’s words were no dream. The power of human kingdoms will fail and the kingdoms of the world will amass their wealth, only to lay it down again at the feet of the King of kings.
It was an inspiring and encouraging picture. How much more should it encourage us, for we live on the other side of the coming of God’s King, Jesus the Messiah. With his coming we can see much more clearly the success of God’s rule. God’s rule and God’s royal City will be established in glory and greatness forever.
More than six hundred years after Isaiah wrote, one of Jesus’ biographers, Matthew, tells us that wise men came from the region of Babylon to Jerusalem bearing gifts and seeking the one who had been born ‘King of the Jews’. They had come to worship him. It was inside the walls of Jerusalem that Jesus taught, it was outside her walls that Jesus died. Thousands in that city were drawn to him and came to worship him. Since that time billions from around the world have come to him. People from all nations have poured their wealth into his service. It is an amazing picture; it is a picture that we long for. The great thing is that it is a picture that, because it is grounded in history, rings true.
Furthermore, Isaiah tells us there will be a permanence about God’s City: Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, with no one passing through, I will make you majestic for ever, a joy from age to age (60:15).
Forever and everlasting are key words. At one level we see that Jerusalem is a city of bricks and mortar — a city in history. At another level we see Zion as a glorious everlasting City with its inhabitants gathered by God to be with him forever: You shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob (60:16). Furthermore, God himself will give light to his people: Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended (60:20).
WHAT’S THE POINT?
There are times in life when we are tempted to ask, ‘What’s the point of going on? What’s the point of raising a family? What’s the point of praying and going to church? Whatever I do is pointless.’
By way of answer, Isaiah uses the language of the first city of Jerusalem to point us to our ultimate destiny. Believing people from all ages, from all nations, will one day be beneficiaries of God’s ancient promises to Abraham, Moses and David. People will be drawn from every generation, from every corner of the world to be with him in the City he has created. Revelation 21:1–5 picks up the imagery:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.”
This is our ultimate destiny — a City, a new Jerusalem, with countless throngs of people; a City where there will be meaningful relationships and social structure, and even work to do; a city where there will be no more grief; and above all, a city where God himself will be seen to be with his people. It is an awesome and exciting picture.
However, we need to be realistic: God’s new Jerusalem will only be brought in through his intervention. The new city lies on the other side of a cosmic discontinuity which God must bring about. Only then will God’s people be delivered from the tragic consequences of the present world. We need to be biblical followers of Jesus Christ. What we do in this world has significance, what we do in this world can change things, what we do in the service of Christ in this world lasts. When we know that, we know why we work, why we try to improve the world, why we create: all of our work has a place in God’s new order and will be made a part of the City that he will build. It is exactly that kind of hope that this great prophet of ancient Israel is encouraging us to embrace in this chapter when he says, Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Consider:
1. the response of Isaiah’s first readers to the words of this chapter; 2. your response to Isaiah’s words when you feel that there’s no future for you; 3. how you can be a ‘biblical Christian’, living a meaningful life now with the tension the hope of God’s new city before you and knowing that God has a purpose for you now.
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
3 A voice cries out: “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 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10 See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep. 12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? 13 Who has directed the spirit of the Lord, or as his counselor has instructed him? 14 Whom did he consult for his enlightenment, and who taught him the path of justice? Who taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? 15 Even the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as dust on the scales; see, he takes up the isles like fine dust. 16 Lebanon would not provide fuel enough, nor are its animals enough for a burnt offering. 17 All the nations are as nothing before him; they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness. 18 To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him? 19 An idol? —A workman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold, and casts for it silver chains. 20 As a gift one chooses mulberry wood —wood that will not rot—then seeks out a skilled artisan to set up an image that will not topple. 21 Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; 23 who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. 24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. 25 To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. 30 Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; 31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
HOPE’S COMFORT
The issue of suffering and hardship is one of the toughest questions professing Christians face. We almost become immune to news of the tragedies and injustices, poverty and hardship that so many experience – until they touch us. In those times of suffering and grief we so often ask ‘Why?’ and long for genuine comfort and hope.
One of the great chapters of the Bible, Isaiah 40, offers us a framework to live by. Some two and a half milennia ago, Israel, once a great nation of the ancient world, had been brought low by the conquering armies of Babylon. It is quite impossible to imagine the shattering effect those events would have had on the faith of those people. Their temple was in ruins, their economy was in tatters and their homes were destroyed.
Now they were in exile. **The temptation to reject their God would have been enormous. ** But the faith of ancient Israel survived through the voice of the prophets such as Isaiah. Consider the opening words of Isaiah 40: Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. And the tenderness of his language continues: He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom… (40:11).
Isaiah’s strategy was to paint a picture of the awesome majesty of God – ‘Consider your God,’ he said; he then asked a question; and finally he challenges and comforts us.
Nowhere does the Bible exult in the greatness of God so triumphantly as in this chapter: To whom then will you liken God? we read in 40:18; and, more personally, in 40:25, To whom then will you compare me? He puts his questions to scientists (40:12), to the wise (40:13–14), to leaders (40:15–17); to idol worshippers (40:18–19), asking, to whom or to what they would liken God. There is no-one or nothing as great and as awesome as God. ‘How can you say,’ Isaiah asks, ‘God has forgotten you?’ (40:27ff) Isaiah wanted his readers then and you and me today to know that God will not abandon anyone on whom he has set his love. Yes, he let his ancient people suffer for a while, but he never let them go. He even let Jesus die on a cross, but at the right time he raised him from death. We can have every confidence in God’s commitment to our good. He’s big enough, awesome enough, and loving enough, to carry out our rescue.
No matter how heart-breaking our situation, no matter how perplexing, we can be assured that life is not out of God’s control. Tragedies and disasters don’t mean that God’s hands have slipped from the helm or that he is asleep. They are events allowed by a sovereign God who is in control, and who often uses such events as a wake up call for us.
Which brings us to Isaiah’s memorable conclusion. Because this God is so great, he has power enough to sustain us in our distress: He gives power to the faint, and gives strength to the powerless (40:29). And what is it that we most need in difficult times – fleetness of foot, the wings of an eagle? No: the persistent endurance and determination of a long-distance walker – walk and not faint (40:31).
Consider:
1. What does the word ‘God’ mean to you?
2. Can God always be trusted in the tough times of life?
3. How big is your God? Have you ever said to him, ‘I love you Lord’?
Others suggest that by saying that he had come to preach good news to the poor, Jesus was speaking primarily about spiritual poverty. The spiritually poor of the old covenant, the non-Jewish people, as well as Jewish people, could now be beneficiaries of God’s grace. But there is a deeper purpose – Jesus had come to rescue all people who had no status, honor or glory before God. The reference to the poor is a metaphor for those who lack honor or glory before God: it crosses the barriers of class, education, religious association, race and nation. ‘Now’, Jesus was saying, ‘there is good news for all. God’s grace has been opened to everyone’. The coming of God’s king makes it possible. He would use his position and power in the service of all men and women. People from all places would be able to hear and benefit from the good news.
Titles: Savior in the Old Testament generally refers to God’s work in rescuing his people in times of need (for example, Psalm 25:5; Isaiah 25:9). The title Christ means anointed one: the baby is anointed as kings were anointed. Mary’s son is of royal descent, being of David’s house and born in David’s town. The baby is born to be king, a king who saves or rescues his people and brings peace. This is a special kind of King, though, because the Greek word Christ is the translation of the Hebrew term Messiah. The Messiah was the expected ruler and rescuer of Israel, who would be the definitive, perfectly just and powerful King. We also hear the prophetic words of Isaiah 9:1–7 that announced: Unto us a child is born, a Son is given… Further, the title Lord, is striking. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint (LXX), which was the most commonly used version of the Hebrew scriptures in Jesus’ day the word Lord is most frequently used to translate the name of God, YHWH. The title Lord set the scene for what was to follow. Here was a baby full of exceptional promise. Would he realize his potential and actually fulfill all these expectations?
Clearly Jesus is more than a prophet: he not only stands in the tradition of the kings, he is the King God had promised long ago (2 Samuel 7:9–16; Psalm 89:14, 19–29, 35–37). Jesus’ connection with David is very important. While he will be recognized as David’s descendant after his death and resurrection (for example Acts 2:29–36), there would be times when he is recognized as such during his ministry (18:39; 19:38). Moreover this royal figure is also the Son of the Most High (1:32). His rule is over Israel (Jacob) and is eternal (1:33).
Consider the man the baby grew up to be. Everywhere Jesus went he displayed a unique power and authority that pointed to the fact that divinity had come amongst us. This fact speaks of a God who is not just approachable, but who is willing to humble himself, to shrink his immense power and awesome glory to become a weak, crying human baby, taking on human form. These themes are consistent with the God who had made men and women in his image, as we read in Genesis 1.
But Isaiah was not just pointing to the city of Jerusalem that was rebuilt after the exile. He was pointing to the time when God’s rule would come down to earth. God would bring in a whole new order, a new creation. The city of which Isaiah spoke was a picture of God’s rule and the glory of a new and lasting city where God himself would fill the city with the light of this presence.
No matter how heart-breaking our situation, no matter how perplexing, we can be assured that life is not out of God’s control. Tragedies and disasters don’t mean that God’s hands have slipped from the helm or that he is asleep. They are events allowed by a sovereign God who is in control, and who often uses such events as a wake up call for us.