Isa 40:7-8 | KingComments | STEP | After describing the glorious state of things in , another voice is heard, giving the command to call out ( ). As a reaction to this, the question sounds, what should be called out. The first calling out, in , has as contents the glory and splendor of the LORD. This second calling out has as content the nullity of man. The answer to the question of what to call out is twofold. A twofold statement must be made. On the one hand, the perishableness of the flesh is proclaimed; on the other hand, the imperishableness of the Word of God is proclaimed ( ; ). What God says , He is ( ). Hence, just as He Himself is eternal, His Word is eternal. The Word is also a Person ( ; ). All the glory on which the unbelievers of Israel boast will perish, while what God has said and Who He is will stand forever. God’s Word is fulfilled to the smallest letter ( ). The unbelieving mass will wither like the grass. This is a well-known picture in Israel of the effects of the hot wind from the wilderness, the so-called chamsin . When this wind blows, within two days everything that grows and blossoms is withered. That is what becomes of man without God. To the believer it is an encouragement to know that the Word of God remains as the unshakeable support when all support in man and from man is lost. The contrast between man’s perishable nature and the imperishable Word of God cannot be presented more strongly.

‏ Isaiah 40:7-8

The Flesh Opposite the Word of God

After describing the glorious state of things in Isa 40:3-5, another voice is heard, giving the command to call out (Isa 40:6). As a reaction to this, the question sounds, what should be called out. The first calling out, in Isa 40:3, has as contents the glory and splendor of the LORD. This second calling out has as content the nullity of man.

The answer to the question of what to call out is twofold. A twofold statement must be made. On the one hand, the perishableness of the flesh is proclaimed; on the other hand, the imperishableness of the Word of God is proclaimed (Isa 40:7-8; 1Pet 1:23-25). What God says, He is (Jn 8:25). Hence, just as He Himself is eternal, His Word is eternal. The Word is also a Person (Jn 1:1; Rev 19:13).

All the glory on which the unbelievers of Israel boast will perish, while what God has said and Who He is will stand forever. God’s Word is fulfilled to the smallest letter (Mt 5:18). The unbelieving mass will wither like the grass. This is a well-known picture in Israel of the effects of the hot wind from the wilderness, the so-called chamsin. When this wind blows, within two days everything that grows and blossoms is withered. That is what becomes of man without God.

To the believer it is an encouragement to know that the Word of God remains as the unshakeable support when all support in man and from man is lost. The contrast between man’s perishable nature and the imperishable Word of God cannot be presented more strongly.