Comfort, comfort my people, says your God; Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for…A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:1-3
The Prophet Isaiah is given this oracle to speak to the people of Israel when they near the end of the Exile. God is calling out to Israel to give them comfort. It’s an important verse in the book of Isaiah because it presents a huge shift in the message of the book. In fact, some people call the following few chapters the “Book of Comfort” because the tone is one of support and encouragement. The Jews are about to go home.
The second part of this passage talks about building a road in the wilderness. A long straight path on which God will travel. But where is God going, and where has God been? Remember that one of the most important themes of Scripture is that God is always with God’s people. The Lord was with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David, Deborah, Ruth, Esther. When Jerusalem was destroyed and the temple was burned, God did not migrate up to heaven or float out into the desert. God went into exile too.
Christian writer Bob Goff tells a story about a tradition he started with his children and neighbors more than twenty years ago. On New Year’s Day, he sent his kids door-to-door to invite everyone to a parade they would be having later that day. The only catch was that no one would be allowed to watch the parade. They all had to march in the parade together.
Isaiah imagines the journey back to Jerusalem like a parade with the living God leading the way. Many generations from now, John the Baptist will use this very scripture to talk about his purpose in preparing the way for Jesus Christ. John will literally go into the wilderness beyond Jerusalem to preach and turn people’s hearts back to God in anticipation for the ministry of Jesus. Imagine God walking side-by-side with you, offering comfort, support, and encouragement.
Kena Hawkins Newkirk 