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Have you ever heard the book of Isaiah referred to as a Bible within the Bible? Well, it is an interesting comparison to say the least. We will begin this mini-series on Comfort in Isaiah by taking a brief look at the features which have prompted some to allude to Isaiah, the grand book of Messianic prophecies, as a Bible within the Bible.

The Bible has sixty-six books that are divided as follows: the first thirty-nine books comprise the Old Testament and the last twenty-seven books are referred to as the New Testament. The Old Testament is principally about the nation of Israel and how God dealt with her and the nations by whom she was surrounded. The New Testament is about the coming of Messiah and the impact that He had upon the world, with special emphasis on the forgiveness of sins and eternal life

The book of Isaiah has sixty-six chapters, the same as the number of books in the Bible. The book naturally divides itself into two great sections; the first thirty-nine chapters (same number as the books in the Old Testament) are writings of rebuke and chastisement. The final twenty-seven chapters have a much different flavor as they are principally dealing with the comfort that would arrive when Messiah came into the world. These similarities are behind the claims that Isaiah is a Bible within the Bible!

Isaiah 40 (the portion that corresponds with the New Testament in the previous comparison) begins as follows: “'Comfort, yes, comfort My people!' Says your God. 'Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’S hand Double for all her sins.' The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.' The voice said, 'Cry out!' And he said, 'What shall I cry?' 'All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.'” (Isaiah 40.1-8).

Years of trouble from both inside and outside of Israel had taken its toll on the souls of righteous people. When it seemed that all had failed, God's comfort yet appeared on the horizon to offer a glimmer of hope to sustain the soul. Battle upon battle had been lost and year after year had seen the growth of opposition by Jerusalem's. Finally at long last, the standard of God appeared hoisted above all other standards; righteousness would finally ride victorious over all her oppressors. The time was not yet, but at least it was coming. Victory on the horizon was much better than defeat in the now! And that is exactly what God was promising.

In reality, the longed for victory over sin had been anticipated for more years that Israel had existed. Israel was, from one standpoint, but a means to an end by which the great Comforter (Messiah) would become reality. The first promise of redemption had been made to humanity in Genesis 3.15 and was continued to Abraham and his descendents. So, the comfort that Israel was promised in Isaiah 40 was a promise to more than Israel; it was a promise to all of humanity! “Comfort, yes, comfort My people,” says the God of all comfort! (2 Corinthians 1.3).

Questions:

1. RESEARCH: In the time of Isaiah, what turmoil had Jerusalem seen that would have caused her inhabitants to yearn for comfort?

2. What promise had been made to humanity in Genesis 3.15? How would that promise have related to the desire of the citizens of Jerusalem to see peace?

3. How did the promises made to Abraham in Genesis 12.1-3 relate to the promise of comfort that was made to Isaiah's readers?

4. From Isaiah 40.3-8, who or what would precede the coming of comfort (Messiah) to Jerusalem?

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

Origin Of Nations