Isa 40:12-26 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 40:12-17: 40:12-17 Against the backdrop of Israel’s questions (spoken by the prophet), the Lord affirmed that he is the incomparable God, a wise and sovereign creator who rules over the nations. Summary for Isa 40:12-13: 40:12-13 These rhetorical questions evoke the answer “No one!” God alone created all that exists. He will judge creation (24:17 ), and he alone can and will restore creation through his salvation.

Summary for Isa 40:12-17: 40:12-17 ^a Against the backdrop of Israel’s questions (spoken by the prophet), the Lord affirmed that he is the incomparable God, a wise and sovereign creator who rules over the nations.
Summary for Isa 40:12-13: 40:12-13 ^b These rhetorical questions evoke the answer “No one!” God alone created all that exists. He will judge creation (24:17 ^c), and he alone can and will restore creation through his salvation.
40:15 ^d God is sovereign over all the nations of the world and over their human power structures. In comparison to God, they are almost nothing. This included the Babylonian Empire, which was merely a tool in God’s hand.

• whole earth: Literally coastlands or islands.
40:16 ^e Lebanon was prized for its abundance of wood and its wildlife (see 2:13-16 ^f; Ps 104:16-17 ^g).
40:17 ^h The nations, including their leaders (40:23 ⁱ), pagan structures (41:24 ^j, 29 ^k; 44:9-11 ^l), and all enemies of God’s people (41:11-12 ^m), are worth nothing apart from God.
40:18 ⁿ To whom ... What image: Earlier in the book, idolatry was shown to be ridiculous (16:12 ^o; 37:16-19 ^p). Chapters 40–48 ^q open up a much more extensive argument against idolatry. Idols are symbolic representations of gods and, at times, other religious concepts. Those who worship them don’t recognize the implication that they are man-made trinkets. Idols are powerless (41:7 ^r, 22-24 ^s; 48:14 ^t), give a false sense of security (42:17 ^u), delude people (44:20 ^v), and lead to severe disappointment (42:17 ^w; 45:16 ^x, 20 ^y). They cannot help those who care for them. In fact, they are so weak that they fall down (40:20 ^z; 41:7 ^aa). In the end, idols compete for God’s glory (42:8 ^ab) and take away human dignity (44:9 ^ac; see also 41:21-29 ^ad).

• The Lord, the true God, is incomparable (see 40:25 ^ae; 46:5 ^af; Pss 86:8 ^ag; 89:6 ^ah); no one could resemble him.
40:20 ^ai image that won’t fall down: This is a sarcastic remark; it would be embarrassing if the idol did not even have the power to remain standing (see 40:18 ^aj; 41:7 ^ak; 1 Sam 5:4 ^al).
40:21 ^am Idolaters fail to discern who God is or to respond wisely to him. The godly in Israel would understand and see the hand of God in the unfolding story of redemption, which includes both exile and restoration (41:20 ^an).
40:22 ^ao God sits enthroned as King over all the earth (see 6:1 ^ap; Pss 2:4 ^aq; 80:1 ^ar; 99:1 ^as; 102:12 ^at; 113:5 ^au). God is so immense and awesome that humans are like grasshoppers in comparison.

• Belief in God as creator of the heavens and earth contradicts the popular Babylonian and Egyptian belief that the sun, moon, and stars represent gods.

• like a curtain ... his tent: See also Ps 104:2 ^av.
40:23 ^aw great people: God is unimpressed by human power and fame.
40:25 ^ax The Holy One is a shortened form of “the Holy One of Israel,” a common designation for God in Isaiah (see also 10:17 ^ay; 43:15 ^az; Ps 22:3 ^ba).
40:26 ^bb Look up into the heavens: Just as God directed Abraham to look into the sky (Gen 15:5 ^bc), he also directed Israel to look to the stars for encouragement (see also Isa 51:2-3 ^bd). The cosmos bears witness to God’s great power and incomparable strength. The Strong One is able to strengthen the weak (40:27-31 ^be; see Ps 147:5 ^bf).