Isaiah 40 

When we come to this chapter of Isaiah, we leave behind the sour-faced Rationalists who quibble over the fact that the language of Isaiah 1-39 and that of Isaiah 40-66 differ and therefore Isaiah 40-66 was written during the Babylonian Exile in 586 BCE. They claim that words are used in the first part that are not used exactly the same in the second part. The fact of the matter is, they admit that in a lesser sense sometimes it is used also in the second part here and there but they are insistent that it is a different author. Investigating the question, it is clear that of the 35 cases listed by S. R. Driver nearly one fifth remain since the others could be found in similar phraseology or synonyms in the second part, overlooked by the scholar. After all, the great writer Isaiah did not like to employ the same word twice in a sentence [like all great writers and poets in modern literature] and always sought for synonyms in parallelisms. Added to this, those one fifth cases are many cases where Isaiah borrowed rare words from Moses, especially Job. It is not necessary to use loanwords always. People who lived in four countries will know that loanwords that one brings into one’s vocabulary disappear after one move to another country and they only resurface now and then. Is the genre of the second part the same as the first part? Was the first part written in his earlier life and the last part near the end of his life or vice versa? Were they spread out throughout his life but just conveniently collected together as a group for convenience sake? With Isaiah 40, Isaiah laid the diary aside and also historiography. Isaiah had a vision of the second, third and fourth Elijah in future. They all had to preach the coming of the Messiah in reality or in function change. They preceded the Messiah with powerful messages. The second Elijah was to “comfort My people” with good news after the double punishments (v. 2e) “double for all her sins” meaning 723 BCE Exile and 586 BCE Exile. The Holy Spirit permits a prophet to see in future but Rationalists deny that ability. “A voice is calling: clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness” (v. 3a-b). It is John the Baptist shortly before 27 BCE announcing the arrival of the Suffering Messiah. He was the Second Elijah as Maleachi foresaw and Jesus confirmed. Isaiah describes the mechanism of road-building (v. 4). Road-building was to allow important kings to travel smoothly and quick in the Ancient Near East. This highway is a figurative speech for gospel preparation: the good news of a coming saving King. Isaiah described it with highway building projects imagery (also later in Isaiah 62:10-11). The incarnation was to bring the glory of God visibly to humanity (v. 5a). Man is frail and destined to death (v. 6c-8a). “But the Word of God stands forever” (v. 8b). Christ the Messiah was that Word that became flesh and we beheld His glory, says John the Evangelist. Verse 9 is a call to the [remnant] of Zion and the [remnant] of Jerusalem to proclaim good news of His Second Advent “say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God’” (v. 9f). This remnant is the fourth Elijah since the third one was announcing the coming of Christ the High-Priest into the Most Holy of the Heavenly Sanctuary to “cleanse” it from the stigma of sin (what the heavenly beings think about it). “Behold the Lord God will come with might” (v. 10a); ruling (v. 10b); “His reward is with Him” (v. 10c) which is only possible if the function of stigma removal in the Heavenly Sanctuary since 1844 is completed and past; “and His recompense is before Him” (v. 10d). Good news for the Resurrected ones. He will tend the flock (v. 11a); gather the lambs (v. 11b); carry (v. 11c); gently lead (v. 11d). Then Isaiah changed the panel to address a problem that especially the Time of Jacob’s Trouble Spiritual Israel shall experience: “My way is hidden from the Lord and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God” (v. 27). He answers this claim by the post-Latter Rain remnant as follows: “Do you not know? Have you not heard” in verse 21 and repeated in verse 28. Each panel of Isaiah throughout the chapter wishes to describe an aspect of God not to be overlooked by the remnant. Isaiah opened a panel of the wonder of God as Creator: He measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, He marked off the heavens by the span, He calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, and weighed the mountains in a balance, and the hills in a pair of scales (v. 12). Christian Accountant Frikkie de Waal sent me these statistics about God’s wonder:

The reciprocals of the Earth’s and Moon’s orbits correspond exactly: 1/27.32 = 0.0366.

The Earth’s orbit around the Sun takes 10000/27.32 days = 366 in a leap year.

1/366 = 0.002732. Times 10 000 = Moon’s orbit around the earth (27,32 days).

The diameter of the Moon measures 0.273 Earth diameters.

The acceleration of the Moon in its path around the Earth is 0.273 cm/s².

The number for absolute zero (the point at which all motion stops) is not an arbitrary number. It is based on the Celsius temperature scale (the freezing and boiling points of water). Absolute zero is ‑273.2° C.

Gasses expand by 1/273 of their volume with every degree on the Celsius scale.

A human fetus spends exactly 273 days (10 sidereal months) inside the womb. 10 x Moon orbit = 273 day (Human Gestation [development]). Current scientific consensus is that this relationship is nothing but coincidence.

The mean for female menstrual cycles is regarded to be 27.3 days (moon’s orbit around the earth).

Ain’t evolution jest wonderful?

Isaiah knew more than we previously thought. He then opened the panel for the role of the Holy Spirit as counselor, consultation, understanding, information (vv. 13-14c). Nations are but a drop in a bucket and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales (v. 15). “They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless” (v. 17b). In another panel Isaiah broke down the idol adoration and admiration since they are made by craftsmen and artists, mere products of humans mostly reflecting the image of their friends and associates (vv. 18-20d). Heavens was spread out like a curtain (v. 22c). God created and leads the stars by their number and names them (v. 26a-d). Humans are only renaming them. Thus Isaiah could come to the final thrust that the Time of Jacob’s Trouble remnant do not have to fear since “He gives strength to the weary and to [who] lacks might He increases power” (v. 29a-b). “Those who wait for the Lord [Christ’s Second Coming patiently] will gain new strength, they will mount up [at Resurrection] wings like eagles, [with perfect recreated bodies] they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary” (v. 31a-e).

Dear God

Awesome are you in Creation and dependable for crisis and modern living and the answer for our eternal future. Keep us on Your highway through this Third Elijah voyage and also the impending Latter Rain Fourth Elijah experience. Amen.

Koot van Wyk, (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Kyungpook National University, Department of Liberal Education, Sangju, South Korea; conjoint lecturer of Avondale College, Australia