Isa 40:10-11 | KingComments | STEP | Now that everything is turned for the better for Zion, that is Jerusalem, Zion is called to climb on a high mountain ( ). In the realm of peace, Mount Zion will be the highest of all mountains ( ), while all of Judah will be like a plain ( ). The proclamation of the gospel will come from Jerusalem ( ). This is about the good message that God Himself has come to redeem Israel. Zion may pass this message on to the other cities of Judah. Jerusalem in the Old Testament is the starting point for the revelation of the glory of God. Through the rejection of the Lord Jesus, God’s glory has disappeared from Jerusalem ( ). But now God has returned in Christ. Of this they must, with strength and without fear (cf. ), herald the joyous message to all the cities of Judah. They may proclaim it: “Here is your God!” or “Behold your God!” (Darby Translation). It is the great message that the Messiah, Who is God, has come to His people and has delivered Zion. The prayer of Psalm 14 has been answered ( )! From Zion comes the Savior ( ). We also see the call “behold” concerning the Lord Jesus in other places, some of which we can connect with the way He is presented in the Gospels: 1. Here we read: “Behold your God” ( ). This refers to the Gospel according to John, where we see the Lord Jesus as God the Son . 2. We will hear again: “Behold, My Servant” ( ). This reminds us of the Gospel according to Mark, where He is presented as the Servant . 3. Then we also hear: “Behold, a man whose name is Branch” ( ). This reminds us of the fact that He is truly Man , Whom we meet especially in the Gospel according to Luke. 4. Finally, it sounds: “Behold, your king is coming to you” ( ). This determines us at the Gospel according to Matthew, in which He is described as King . After the first “behold” in , two times another “behold” follows in as an assurance that the Savior really has come. Through the one “behold” the eye of the cities of Judah is directed toward Him Himself, “the Lord GOD”. He will also show His power for them and they will experience that He takes His dominion. The other ‘behold’ draws attention to what He has with Him. He has “His reward” with Him for the faithful, and for the enemies of His people He has “His recompense” with Him. He is the Conqueror, He is the Judge. These three times ‘behold’ also show us that Israel will get to know Christ in three ways: 1. “Behold your God.” When Christ is revealed to Israel, the people will realize that Christ is the God of Israel. Now Israel denies the Godhead of the Lord Jesus, but then the veil will be removed from their faces. In that day, the people will be very willing ( ). Like Thomas, who is a picture of the faithful remnant of Israel, they will come to the confession: “My Lord and my God!” ( ). 2. “Behold, the Lord GOD.” With might He will come, and His arm will rule. Israel will also discover that the Lord Jesus is also the sovereign Ruler, the “Lord” ( Adonai ), the King of Israel and the King of kings, and “GOD” or the “LORD” ( Yahweh ), the God Who fulfills all His promises. Like Nathanael, who is also a picture of the faithful remnant of Israel, they will acknowledge: “You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel” ( ). 3. “Behold, His reward is with Him, … like a shepherd …” (cf. ). The remnant of Israel will also discover that the Lord Jesus is the true “good Shepherd” and the “great Shepherd” of Israel ( ; ). At His first coming, He comes as the good Shepherd, but is rejected by Israel. Then He gives His life for His sheep, who are scattered ( ). At His return He will be the great Shepherd, risen from the dead, and will gather the little ones, the remnant, to Himself ( ). When the LORD comes and the call “behold your God” sounds, we see 1. how Israel has received double from the hand of the LORD for all their sins ( ); 2. how the mouth of the LORD gives the assurance that His glory will be visible ( ); 3. how the breath of the LORD will destroy all enemies and all unbelief ( ); 4. how the arm of the LORD grants salvation and at the same time tenderly cares for His sheep ( ). “Like a shepherd” He will gather all His scattered sheep together and surround them with particular care ( ; ). He will “tend” His flock, so that the sheep may be given rest and food. He will “gather” the little ones and the vulnerable in His loving and all-powerful arms to protect them. He will lead the “nursing”, those who are to feed the young, with all gentleness, without rushing them (cf. ). Thus, for each member of the God-fearing remnant, He has the attention that fits the stage of spiritual growth. We find here an example for those entrusted today with the care of God’s flock ( ). It takes a lot of dedication and discernment to follow this example of the Lord Jesus in dealing with the various categories that make up the flock. The Lord teaches us the need to deal with those entrusted to our care with tender compassion and grace (cf. ).

‏ Isaiah 40:10-11

Behold, Here Is Your God

Now that everything is turned for the better for Zion, that is Jerusalem, Zion is called to climb on a high mountain (Isa 40:9). In the realm of peace, Mount Zion will be the highest of all mountains (Isa 2:2), while all of Judah will be like a plain (Zec 14:10). The proclamation of the gospel will come from Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). This is about the good message that God Himself has come to redeem Israel. Zion may pass this message on to the other cities of Judah. Jerusalem in the Old Testament is the starting point for the revelation of the glory of God.

Through the rejection of the Lord Jesus, God’s glory has disappeared from Jerusalem (Eze 10:4 ; 18-19 ; Eze 11:22-23). But now God has returned in Christ. Of this they must, with strength and without fear (cf. 2Tim 1:7), herald the joyous message to all the cities of Judah. They may proclaim it: “Here is your God!” or “Behold your God!” (Darby Translation). It is the great message that the Messiah, Who is God, has come to His people and has delivered Zion. The prayer of Psalm 14 has been answered (Psa 14:7)! From Zion comes the Savior (Rom 11:26).

We also see the call “behold” concerning the Lord Jesus in other places, some of which we can connect with the way He is presented in the Gospels:

1. Here we read: “Behold your God” (Isa 40:9). This refers to the Gospel according to John, where we see the Lord Jesus as God the Son.

2. We will hear again: “Behold, My Servant” (Isa 42:1). This reminds us of the Gospel according to Mark, where He is presented as the Servant.

3. Then we also hear: “Behold, a man whose name is Branch” (Zec 6:12). This reminds us of the fact that He is truly Man, Whom we meet especially in the Gospel according to Luke.

4. Finally, it sounds: “Behold, your king is coming to you” (Zec 9:9). This determines us at the Gospel according to Matthew, in which He is described as King.

After the first “behold” in Isa 40:9, two times another “behold” follows in Isa 40:10 as an assurance that the Savior really has come. Through the one “behold” the eye of the cities of Judah is directed toward Him Himself, “the Lord GOD”. He will also show His power for them and they will experience that He takes His dominion. The other ‘behold’ draws attention to what He has with Him. He has “His reward” with Him for the faithful, and for the enemies of His people He has “His recompense” with Him. He is the Conqueror, He is the Judge.

These three times ‘behold’ also show us that Israel will get to know Christ in three ways:

1. “Behold your God.” When Christ is revealed to Israel, the people will realize that Christ is the God of Israel. Now Israel denies the Godhead of the Lord Jesus, but then the veil will be removed from their faces. In that day, the people will be very willing (Psa 110:3). Like Thomas, who is a picture of the faithful remnant of Israel, they will come to the confession: “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28).

2. “Behold, the Lord GOD.” With might He will come, and His arm will rule. Israel will also discover that the Lord Jesus is also the sovereign Ruler, the “Lord” (Adonai), the King of Israel and the King of kings, and “GOD” or the “LORD” (Yahweh), the God Who fulfills all His promises. Like Nathanael, who is also a picture of the faithful remnant of Israel, they will acknowledge: “You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel” (Jn 1:49).

3. “Behold, His reward is with Him, … like a shepherd …” (cf. 1Pet 5:4). The remnant of Israel will also discover that the Lord Jesus is the true “good Shepherd” and the “great Shepherd” of Israel (Jn 10:11; Heb 13:20). At His first coming, He comes as the good Shepherd, but is rejected by Israel. Then He gives His life for His sheep, who are scattered (Jn 11:52). At His return He will be the great Shepherd, risen from the dead, and will gather the little ones, the remnant, to Himself (Zec 13:7).

When the LORD comes and the call “behold your God” sounds, we see

1. how Israel has received double from the hand of the LORD for all their sins (Isa 40:2);

2. how the mouth of the LORD gives the assurance that His glory will be visible (Isa 40:4);

3. how the breath of the LORD will destroy all enemies and all unbelief (Isa 40:6);

4. how the arm of the LORD grants salvation and at the same time tenderly cares for His sheep (Isa 40:8).

“Like a shepherd” He will gather all His scattered sheep together and surround them with particular care (Isa 40:11; Jn 10:11-16). He will “tend” His flock, so that the sheep may be given rest and food. He will “gather” the little ones and the vulnerable in His loving and all-powerful arms to protect them.

He will lead the “nursing”, those who are to feed the young, with all gentleness, without rushing them (cf. Gen 33:13-14). Thus, for each member of the God-fearing remnant, He has the attention that fits the stage of spiritual growth.

We find here an example for those entrusted today with the care of God’s flock (1Pet 5:2-3). It takes a lot of dedication and discernment to follow this example of the Lord Jesus in dealing with the various categories that make up the flock. The Lord teaches us the need to deal with those entrusted to our care with tender compassion and grace (cf. Jn 21:15-17).