Isaiah 40

Isaiah 40:2

God punished the Jews in Babylon enough to answer the purposes of his glory, and more than he did many of the heathens; and in Christ he received the most abundant satisfaction to his justice; and bestows great and manifold blessings instead of punishments

Isaiah 40:3-8

By the providence of God, and proclamation of Cyrus, every thing shall tend to promote the return of the Jews from Babylon; and no human power shall, in the least, be able to hinder the fulfilment of his promises. And, by the preaching of John Baptist, shall the Jewish nation be prepared for the manifestation of the Messiah in his sufferings and glory; and all attempts of men to hinder the erection of his kingdom shall quickly be frustrated

Isaiah 40:9-11

Let the Jews loudly triumph in God’s powerful and tenderly-careful deliverance of them from Babylon, and conducting them back to their own country. And especially let the gospel church rejoice in the incarnation and mighty works of the great God our Saviour; his erection, nourishment, preservation, and government, of her and every one of her members, however weak and distressed. 21, 22. Do not even ye Gentiles know, by the light of nature, and by information derived from your ancestors, that JANOVAH, the Creator and Governor of the world, is of such infinite perfection that no image can represent him. 23, 24. He, with infinite ease, destroys the most powerful princes, and bereaves them of their power. 27, 28. Since God 4 is so infinitely powerful, wise, and good, why should his own people ever distrust him, as if he disregarded their afflictions, or could not find out a way for their deliverance, or as if he neglected to redress their grievances? Know they not that he never becomes unable to help or take care of his people, and that there is no finding out the reasons of his dispensations? 30, 31. Whatever may become of persons of the greatest natural abilities, they who depend on the Lord for his assistance, and the performance of his promises, shall grow stronger in grace, and easily overcome every difficulty in the way of their duty

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XL.—God’s abundant consolations graciously follow his messages of terror and conviction: and he takes pleasure in the comfort and prosperity of his servants. How delightful is the real preaching of the gospel of Christ! It proclaims that forgiveness of sins, without which it is impossible to obtain any true comfort. God easily removes every bar out of his way in coming to us. And it is necessary that we lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, in our approaches to him. It is a happy token of deliverance when our hearts are levelled by his grace and made to behold his glory! Human power is little to be feared when against us, or trusted to when on our side! But infinite is the power, the faithfulness, the duration, of the truths of Christ. Happy tidings are those which relate to him and his salvation! And happy is the period when he comes and performs all in all in and for his church; when he manifests his activity, care, and tenderness, in gathering singers to himself, and in bearing and nourishing them up to eternal life! What 64 93* empty nothings are all creatures in comparison of him? Why then should we not trust him in every difficulty, cleave to him under every discouragement, and re-vere him in the receipt of every favour! What image can ever truly represent the infinite JENOVAH! What idol can deserve a competition with the almighty Maker of heaven and earth! It is weak and sinful to suspect that he has or can cast off his people. To them that wait on him his infinite power and grace are a never-failing and abundant source of strength, quickening, and comfort