Last Sunday we looked at the first two verses of Isaiah 40. The message of
God's comfort and tender mercy is promised to His people. The continuation and explanation
of this grace flows naturally into the next verses. This grace and comfort is through true
repentance, as this text shows.
When it speaks of the "voice of Him" crying in the wilderness it is a direct
reference to John the Baptist but is not limited to him, for it is God's own voice
that declares this message which brings repentance, faith, and glory (as shown in verse
5).
King Herod, in a moment of intoxication and lust promised his lover's daughter (who had
eroticially danced at the wine-flowing party) "up to half his kingdom". Her
mother, with a deep-seated hatred against John the Baptist seized the opportunity to
demand his head on a platter. She hated John for openly declaring that it "was not
right for Herod to take his brother's wife". Nevertheless, the decaptitation of John,
did not silence "the voice of Him". Even after the death of John this voice
continued to cry out; as it does even now.
What is the message of Him that "crieth in the wilderness".
Repent! Verses 3 and 4 make give a graphic explanation of deep repentance which leads to
"the glory of God" being revealed.
As an example of the language used in these verses: yesterday, we drove via shortcut to
a place called Efaya. Although it was shorter (only 48 km compared to over 100 with the
tarred road) it takes longer to get to one's destination because it is full of deep
valleys, steep hills, rough places and many potholes. Building a "highway for our
God" (as in some translations) was such a clear picture to me. I remembered many
years ago how the main road was built. Huge earth-moving equipment was used (some made by
R.G. Le Tourneau, a Christian businessman who learned the grace of giving more than the
tithe to God) and tremendous levelling, filling and smoothing-out took place.
The "high-places", the mountains and hills speak of inner pride and haughtiness.
The "valleys" are places where the pollution and filth from storms collect.
Deep-rooted sins of hypocrisy, hatred, envy etc, need to be rooted out.
A God-given remorse for sin drives the sinner to true confession of sin, and a turning
away from iniquity and turning towards Christ for true righteousness. It is there that the
sinner finds grace. It is there that the Saviour comes and His glory shines.
