Isaiah 40-43

God has been speaking to me through Isaiah lately. The bold is Scripture and the italicized are my notes.

Comfort, comfort my people, say your God. (He wants us to be comforted.) Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, (He wants me to know this.) that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. (40:1-2)

Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; life up your voice with strength, (Don't be ashamed!) O Jerusalem, herald of good news; life it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; (protection) he will gather the lambs in his arms; (gentleness) he will carry them in his bosom, (loving care) and gently lead those that are with young. (tenderness) (40:9-11)

To whom then will you like God, or what likeness compare with him? (You cannot even begin to compare God.) (40:18)

To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like Him? says the Holy One. Life up your eyes on high and see: who created these? (Our God.) (40:25-26a)

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"? (Do not complain. It is not so!) 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. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they 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. (God's grace to us.) (40:27-31)

Listen to me in silence... (41:1a)

...and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved. (41:7d)

But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen you and not case you off"; (Praise be to God!) fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (41:8-10)

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "fear not, I am the one who helps you. (41:13)

...And you shall rejoice in the Lord; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory. (My longing!) (41:16c)

...that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it. (41:20)

"I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them." (42:6-9)

And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the thing I do (Ah hah! I LOVE THAT!) and I do not forsake them. (42:16)

But now those says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. (43:1)

For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Amen! Amen!) (43:3a)

Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you... (Aaaaah!) (43:4a)

everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. (43:7)

"You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. (Hallelujah! The highest calling!) Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and I am God. (our roles) Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?" (43:10-13)

...the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. (43:21)

"Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with you sins; you have wearied me with you iniquities. (Oh, God, merciful God, please forgive!) (43:22-24)

"I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." (Praise God!) (43:25)