Stroll through Scripture for Sunday, December 10, 2023 -

Reading from Isaiah 40:1–11

Isaiah 40 begins what is often referred to by biblical scholars as second Isaiah. Chapter 39 tells of Jerusalem’s “welcoming” the Babylonians, which will be followed by the destruction of the Temple, the sacking of Jerusalem, and the people being exiled to Babylon. All of this is portrayed by the prophets “as the penalty for their many sins, including trusting foreign powers, worshipping idols, and neglecting the needs of the poor.” (Lutheran Study Bible, pg. 1157).

Chapter 40 takes place at some point while the Israelites are in exile in Babylon. And it is a declaration that the exile is over — not in terms of it happening at that moment, but in terms of the judgement against Israel being over. It is now a foregone conclusion that the exile is ending — God has declared it so. It’s only a matter of time for the world to catch up to what God has declared.

Second Isaiah starts with the word “Comfort” and this will be the overriding theme of several chapters that follow. All of this is related to God’s actions. What else could there be? Since the people are exiled, they can’t rely on their own efforts. They can’t rely on their strength or might. They can’t rely on their wisdom. They can’t rely on a king. They can’t rely on the Temple. They can’t rely on the myth of being invincible. All of that is stripped away completely. There is nothing within their power that can change their circumstances — nothing at all. And this is where faith…