Testimony – Isaiah 40:6-11

“I’ve got good news and bad news.”  That is often the prelude to a question, “Which do you want first?”  Would you believe scientific study has been applied to that question?  According to author Daniel Pink, most people prefer to go up not down in emotion, preferring the bad news first then the good news, the satisfying ending.  God knows that, as He shows through His word to Isaiah.

A voice says, “Cry!”  And I said, “What shall I cry?”  All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.  The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass.  The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift 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; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.  (Isaiah 40:6-11 ESV)

After the words of comfort that Isaiah is told to proclaim he is told to “Cry!”  Yahweh wants him to help Israel realize that no human being can be trusted like God.  All human beings are like grass in that they are living and have beauty but also are very temporary in their constancy.  Just as grass withers so human beings fail us.  We fail ourselves! We fade in our ability to always be true and righteous.

But God’s word, like Him, never fails.  His promises never fail to be kept and fulfilled.  What He has told us is the truth and we can stand on it forever.  That is why Israel will experience God’s comfort and restoration in that day, because God is true to His word.

Then God, who never fails and whose word of comfort will be fulfilled, charges Israel to declare the good news.  He is coming from the wilderness on the road of Israel’s heart made smooth and He comes with might and power to bring Israel her reward.  Before He came with judgment but now He is coming with reward.

Like a shepherd, the Lord Yahweh will gently take up His “sheep” in His arms and carry them close to His heart.  The sheep who need extra attention and care will receive it from Him.  When we were straying He had to be stern, but now that we are restored to fellowship the love He wanted to pour out on us He does.

These two commands to proclaim who we are and who God is are really at the heart of the gospel.  The bad news is that we all are perishing like grass and incapable of rescuing ourselves.  The good news is that God is offering us the reward of eternal life if we trust in Him instead of ourselves.  This is what we can proclaim to the world.

Discussion Questions

1. What is one of your favorite examples of glorious grass or flowers of the field?
2. How beautiful is the reliability of God’s word?
3. Why might someone be fearful of lifting up their voice to proclaim to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God”?
4. Why are we sometimes fearful to proclaim the gospel?
5. Why do people need to realize their grass-like impermanence before they hear the good news of God’s offer to shepherd us?
6. How did the dual aspect of the gospel message bring you to faith?  What is your testimony?