Transition: Isaiah 40 to Isaiah 41

[0] All right, Isaiah chapter 41.

[1] Again, a new chapter today.

[2] Yesterday, for those who don't know, yesterday was the 333 years ago.

[3] Yesterday was the beginning of the Salem witch trials.

[4] Well, some would say they actually started a little before.

[5] The hysteria started before the first three women who were...

[6] examined or interrogated.

[7] It happened 333 years ago yesterday.

[8] In Salem Village, which is different than where Salem is today, it's a place called Danvers, I believe is what it's called.

[9] And they don't get all the press and all the tourists.

[10] They all go to Salem.

[11] I guess you'd call Salem proper.

[12] But whenever I think about what happened in the Salem witch trials, one of the things, well, I've read so many books on it, but...

[13] One of the things I like to do is go back and look at the sermons that were preached leading right up to the hysteria, all the sermons preached during the hysteria, and then the sermons preached at the conclusion, at the end of the Salem Witch Trials, when finally they were basically told stop it because you know how many more people you're going to kill.

[14] And because I feel...

[15] a lot of what happened can be traced really back to the sermons, the things that were being said.

[16] And it was just basically...

[17] Inside this church, basically Satan is at work.

[18] Satan is here.

[19] You could be, that person could be that person, which then creates paranoia and then everyone starts blaming everyone.

[20] And I believe a lot of what happened was, well, people were turning on each other inside the church because some people didn't like the new pastor and there was like all kinds of problems.

[21] It was all vile and disgusting, all done in the name of, you know, Jesus.

[22] The civil authority, yeah, because they...

[23] I think it was the daughter of one of the government officials in Boston who got accused that she was a witch.

[24] And so then they were like, whoa, this got to stop.

[25] This got to stop.

[26] Okay, what is going on here?

[27] Because they were starting to, anybody they didn't like, you just accused witch, witch, and it just demonstrates it.

[28] But I like going back and looking at the sermons.

[29] So I've read a number of them.

[30] I've been using AI to try to construct a sermon.

[31] timeline chronological order of events to see okay this is the first sermon okay so I definitely know the first sermon that was preached about a month before and you can go I can see where this is headed right and then you can see so and especially right in the middle of it I mean those sermons were increasing the paranoia increasing the fear and it's just so messed up the way it works but my whole point is Sometimes when we pay attention to sermons and we pay attention to what's being preached at any given moment within Christianity, a lot of times you can tell what's going on within Christianity by paying attention to as many sermons as possible because it gives you a sense of where things are going or where things have gone.

[32] And one of the obviously things that have been so maddening since last year has been all the sermons I have listened to.

[33] Now, at this point, I'm going to be over 200 at some point, sermons based on Isaiah 40, any chapter between Isaiah 40 and Isaiah 55.

[34] In fact, on the way here, I was listening to a sermon on Isaiah 41, and they all follow the same pattern, and it is maddening.

[35] It's like...

[36] It's like a memo went out to everyone.

[37] This is the way you preach the text.

[38] And again, this morning, it was Isaiah 41.

[39] I think the name of the sermon was Fear Not.

[40] And inevitably, who does it become about?

[41] Us, us, us, us, us.

[42] And I don't know how to fix it.

[43] I don't know how to correct it.

[44] I don't know.

[45] It just seems like it's a waste of time to even try.

[46] And people got to want to hear as well.

[47] And I don't think people want to necessarily hear.

[48] All I can do is we started this, we finished chapter 40, we go to chapter 41, and we're going to continue to fight this trend of how preachers handle this section of Scripture.

[49] I don't get it.

[50] I don't understand.

[51] But we're going to do things a little different.

[52] Now, we did this once in Isaiah chapter 40.

[53] When we moved from one section in Isaiah 40 to another section, I took the time to do a study of how it transitioned from one section to the other.

[54] Because typically you don't do that in sermons, right?

[55] You just go from one section to the next.

[56] You don't spend a lot of time on...

[57] We're going to spend an hour talking about how it transitions.

[58] But this morning, we're going to spend this first hour all about how chapter 40...

[59] transitions into chapter 41.

[60] That's what we're going to do.

[61] Because first, that will help give us a reminder about 40, which everyone always needs.

[62] And it will kind of start setting us up and start seeing things in 41.

[63] And the more things you see in the chapter, hopefully what will happen, the more you see it, the more you remember it.

[64] And that's the goal.

[65] So that's what we're going to attempt to do.

[66] I almost want to ask you guys to find some things in chapter 41.

[67] but I will not do that right now, okay?

[68] So we're gonna just focus on the transition from chapter 40 to 41, right?

[69] That's what we're going to see.

[70] And the reason I'm stressing this so much is because I want us to continually to see how this...

[71] This narrative starts in chapter 40 and continues through and how it relates and how it's connected.

[72] A lot of times when people even do expositional preaching, you finish one chapter and you kind of do what?

[73] You move on to the next.

[74] You may connect it to the previous chapter, but you almost approach it as its own thing.

[75] I don't want to do that because this whole narrative starts in Isaiah chapter 40 verse 1 with what words?

[76] Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, right?

[77] The my people are whom?

[78] Those in Babylonian captivity, right?

[79] The comfort is to be taken to them.

[80] I cannot stress that enough.

[81] And then this entire section, 40 to 55, is often referred to as the book of comfort or the book of consolation, all right?

[82] So how then does the, and how did 40 end?

[83] Those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.

[84] They shall mount up with wings as eagles.

[85] They shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.

[86] That's, again, not about us.

[87] It's about those in Babylonian captivity.

[88] And then chapter 41 begins with, Keep silence before me, O islands.

[89] Now, but notice the next part.

[90] And let the people renew their strength.

[91] That sounds interesting, right?

[92] Now, do you immediately see kind of a contrast, something that may raise a question?

[93] In chapter 40, verse 31, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, right?

[94] And 41, oh, islands, and let the people renew their strength.

[95] So is it the people renewing their strength, or do they renew their strength by waiting?

[96] Is it God renewing their strength?

[97] I mean, just immediately I start seeing some...

[98] some things that I would start asking.

[99] So the transition from Isaiah 40 to 41, Isaiah 40 and 41 are deeply connected.

[100] All right.

[101] There's going to be a connection, but here's what we're going to be looking for.

[102] Do they have distinct emphasis?

[103] Is there a specific emphasis in 40 and is there a different emphasis in 41?

[104] That's what we're going to attempt to see and see what we can find.

[105] All right.

[106] Isaiah 40 sets the stage by declaring God's greatness, his sovereignty, and his faithfulness to his people.

[107] I think that's fair.

[108] Do we agree that that's pretty fair?

[109] Shows God's greatness, his sovereignty, and his faithfulness to his people.

[110] Which people is it referring to?

[111] The people in Babylonian captivity.

[112] Why is God demonstrating faithfulness to those in Babylonian captivity?

[113] Because of a covenant.

[114] given specifically to them and specific promises.

[115] I cannot stress that enough, okay?

[116] Isaiah 41 builds on those things by addressing God's power over the nations and his unique relationship with Israel.

[117] So this where it's going to get specific on God's power, his sovereignty and his faithfulness, but it's going to show his power and sovereignty over the nations and then his unique relationship with Israel.

[118] We'll see.

[119] We'll look for that.

[120] And if it does focus on his unique relationship with Israel, once again, that demonstrates there is no excuse for any preacher who makes this all about us because the text, we'll see how clear the text is.

[121] The two chapters are not disconnected.

[122] Rather, 41 develops and applies the theology in Isaiah 40.

[123] Isaiah 40, in a sense, gives us a theological foundation.

[124] 41 is going to build upon that theological foundation.

[125] All right?

[126] So we're going to look at how Isaiah 41 builds off Isaiah 40 and in what ways they are different.

[127] Okay?

[128] Does that make sense?

[129] That's kind of a good, hopefully, introduction.

[130] All right.

[131] So we're going to kind of look at how Isaiah 40 leads into Isaiah 41.

[132] All right.

[133] First, let's think of the theological foundation of Isaiah 40.

[134] The theological foundation that establishes, we're going to look for Isaiah 40 as a theological foundation that establishes God's power, supremacy, and faithfulness.

[135] Isaiah 40 lays the theological foundation.

[136] And basically it declares and establishes God's power, his supremacy, and his faithfulness.

[137] Okay, look at Isaiah 40 verses 1 through 2.

[138] All right, Isaiah 41 through 2.

[139] We all see comfort here, do we not?

[140] Would you say we see comfort and hope for Israel in Isaiah 41 through 2?

[141] All right, where do you see?

[142] We see the comfort where?

[143] Right at the very first words, where do we see hope for Israel?

[144] Verse 2, speak ye comfortably to?

[145] To Jerusalem.

[146] You see that?

[147] To Jerusalem.

[148] I want to make sure we're establishing clearly who it's being spoken to.

[149] And basically, they're being told the exile is ending.

[150] God is speaking words of comfort and restoration to Israel.

[151] I cannot stress that enough.

[152] So it's going to establish the theological foundation.

[153] Hey, guys, you can have comfort.

[154] There's hope for you guys.

[155] And it's because your exile is ending.

[156] What happens in 12 through 26?

[157] The incomparable God, right?

[158] The incomparable God.

[159] And how do we see that in 12 through 26?

[160] Well, what's the focus in 12 through 17?

[161] But it speaks about creation, right?

[162] All right, so God is supreme over creation.

[163] There's nothing within creation you can compare God to.

[164] He's incomparable, incomprehensible.

[165] He's above, beyond.

[166] All right, we get that, right?

[167] And then what happens in verses 18 through 26?

[168] Yeah, God is greater than the idols and the nations.

[169] So God is supreme over creation.

[170] He's greater than the idols.

[171] He's greater than the nations.

[172] We see that?

[173] And then verses 27 through 31, this is strength for the weary, right?

[174] This is a specific promise to those in captivity.

[175] Israel may feel forgotten.

[176] Israel may feel abandoned, but what?

[177] God will not forget them, and God's never going to grow weary, and he will renew their strength.

[178] All right, so the theological foundation, what I want you to see, though, and the theological foundation in Isaiah 40, Basically, from one to the end of the chapter, it's all about God, God.

[179] And that makes it theological, right?

[180] Because theology is the study and knowledge of God.

[181] What does he want them to understand?

[182] God.

[183] He wants them to see God.

[184] Why does he have to do, why is he spending the entire first chapter trying to help them see God?

[185] Well, I think we can say it this way.

[186] If they look to their circumstances, are they going to find comfort and hope?

[187] No, if they look to themselves, they're going to find comfort and hope.

[188] Or they look to the Babylonians, they're going to find comfort and hope.

[189] If they look to the Babylonian idols, are they going to find comfort and hope?

[190] Hmm, where does that leave them?

[191] No hope unless they look to God.

[192] But what's the problem?

[193] Are the Babylonians going to point them to God?

[194] Are their circumstances going to point them to God?

[195] Are themselves going to point themselves to God?

[196] No, they have to look to God from a theological perspective.

[197] And so here's this theological truth about God and whom you cannot see and whom you're not feeling and you're not even experiencing because everything you say goes against it.

[198] So they need a theological foundation, right?

[199] A theological foundation is truths about God and they are not impacted, they are not changed by what?

[200] Emotion, feeling, or circumstance.

[201] That's the theological foundation.

[202] That establishes the theological foundation.

[203] And there's practical lessons in that for everyone.

[204] Everybody got that?

[205] All right, now, so there's the theological foundation.

[206] Now, the transition to Isaiah 41.

[207] Isaiah 41 now picks up where Isaiah 40 leaves off, but shifts from a theological proclamation, well, to it seems, I kind of want to, Do I give this away?

[208] I'm just going to give it away.

[209] I was going to try to work us through it, and then you have to try to figure it out for me, but I'll just give you this.

[210] All right, so let's try this again.

[211] Isaiah 41 picks up where Isaiah 40 leaves off, but it shifts from a theological proclamation to a direct engagement with the nations.

[212] This transition is seen in two major ways.

[213] Two major ways the transition is seen, all right?

[214] First, it's going to seem clear that God is sovereign over the nations, and this moves from a theoretical to an active demonstration of it.

[215] All right?

[216] It's going to demonstrate this by God's sovereignty over nations, and it's no longer theoretical.

[217] It's going to be seen as active.

[218] 40 is the theoretical.

[219] or the theological.

[220] 41 is going to try to move this into a more active or practical.

[221] Think of it this way.

[222] In Isaiah 40, God's greatness is proclaimed as an abstract theological truth.

[223] An abstract meaning, it's just saying, God is this, or God is greater than this, but it's not saying God is...

[224] Okay, well, that's great.

[225] Like, if you're there, you're like, okay, well, this is great.

[226] You're telling me all of this theology.

[227] But when I walk out of this room, what am I walking back into?

[228] The reality of what?

[229] We're in Babylonian captivity.

[230] How are we going to get out?

[231] It's great for you to tell me all these wonderful things about God, but what does that do for me in a practical way?

[232] Right, so that's why it's theoretical.

[233] Isaiah 41, God is going to demonstrate his sovereignty.

[234] And it's going to be demonstrated by his controlling history, particularly through raising up a particular ruler.

[235] And that will be Cyrus, right?

[236] To defeat nations, right?

[237] So it's going to go from theoretical to practical.

[238] And the first way, God's sovereignty over nations moves from theoretical to active.

[239] That's the first major way.

[240] Second, the theme of comfort transitions into God's protection of Israel.

[241] Hey, it's going to go from comfort, but now it's going to go to specifically God's protection of Israel.

[242] Isaiah 40 says, Behold your God.

[243] Israel must trust in God's greatness.

[244] Isaiah 41, look at verse 10.

[245] Isaiah 41, verse 10.

[246] What does it say in 41 .10?

[247] Now it gets specific.

[248] It's not, behold your God, look at how great he is.

[249] Now it's, hey, fear not for why.

[250] That great God in chapter 40, that incomparable God in 40 is now what in 41 .10?

[251] With you, God assures Israel his protection against enemies.

[252] Now please note, those promises in 41 are to Israel.

[253] Not to us, even though we want to claim them.

[254] The sermon that I was listening to on the way here immediately took the promises in 41 and made them applicable to whom?

[255] Us.

[256] And as complete, that's just wrong.

[257] That's just wrong.

[258] But you see how it goes from the theoretical to the practical?

[259] All right, so this transition happens in two ways.

[260] Number one, God's sovereignty over nations moves from theoretical to active.

[261] And number two, the theme of comfort transitions specifically into God's protection of Israel.

[262] Everybody see that?

[263] Are we good with that?

[264] All right, so we see Isaiah 40 is the theological foundation.

[265] We see the transition basically from theoretical to practical.

[266] Now, how Isaiah 41 builds upon Isaiah 40.

[267] We see how it transitions to how does it build.

[268] Isaiah 41 expands upon the themes of Isaiah 40, but shifts focus to two key areas, all right?

[269] First, God's power over nations and history.

[270] God's power over nations and history, right?

[271] Look at Isaiah 40, verses 15 through 17.

[272] Isaiah 40, 15 through 17.

[273] Yeah, 40, yeah, 40.

[274] Because we're trying to show how this is going to build.

[275] What do you see in Isaiah 40, 15 through 17?

[276] Yeah, Isaiah 40 states that God is above all nations.

[277] Would you agree you see that in 40, 15 through 17?

[278] God is greater above all the nations, right?

[279] Now, Isaiah 41 demonstrates this by describing God's control over world events.

[280] Look at Isaiah 41, 2 through 4.

[281] It's going to get very specific, right?

[282] Who raised up the...

[283] Isaiah 41, 2.

[284] This righteous man from the east, call him to his foot, gave the nations before him, made him ruler over kings.

[285] He gave them as the dust of the sword and has driven stubble.

[286] Now it's speaking of someone specific, right?

[287] It's not vague.

[288] It's not just God is greater.

[289] And who most likely is that referencing?

[290] Cyrus.

[291] Now it's getting specific.

[292] This is a real person in history.

[293] Everybody see that?

[294] So Isaiah 40 demonstrates.

[295] So in Isaiah 40, God is above all the nations.

[296] But now in 41, it's going to show God's power over nation and history because God is raising up a ruler from the east to conquer nations.

[297] That's 41, 2 through 4.

[298] What happens in 41, 21 through 29?

[299] 41, 21 through 29.

[300] 41, 21 through 29.

[301] And I'm making you look at it so you just become more and more familiar with the contents of the chapter.

[302] I'm in 42.

[303] I'm like, that makes no sense.

[304] Okay, all right.

[305] I was like, wait a minute.

[306] That makes no sense.

[307] That's not what I'm saying.

[308] Okay, I was in chapter 42.

[309] Look at 41, 21.

[310] What does he say here?

[311] Produce your cause, saith the Lord.

[312] Bring forth your strong reasons, saith the king of Jacob.

[313] Let them bring them forth and show us what shall happen.

[314] Let them show the former things what they be, that they may consider them.

[315] that we may consider them and know the latter end of them or declare us things for them to come.

[316] Show the things that are to come hereafter, that you may know that ye are God, yea, do good or do evil, that we may be dismayed and behold it together.

[317] What is happening here is God is basically challenging the nations.

[318] He's almost calling them to...

[319] A trial, right?

[320] This entire section, God is demonstrating that he controls world events.

[321] 41, 2 through 4, he's raising up Cyrus.

[322] 41, 21 through 29, he challenges the nation basically to a trial to prove their, because he wants them to demonstrate that their idols are not powerless.

[323] What can they do?

[324] Now he's getting very specific, right?

[325] All right, and 40, we just found out that God is greater than all the idols.

[326] 41, now what's happening?

[327] Well, let's prove it.

[328] Come on, come on, bring your proof.

[329] Show me, I told you in 40 that God is greater.

[330] Now, come on, now step up, prove it.

[331] Does that make sense?

[332] All right, so the first key area where this is a shift from theoretical, theological to more practical is God's power over nations and history.

[333] Isaiah 40 states that God is above all the nations, but 41, it demonstrates that by describing God's control over world events, by raising up Cyrus and challenging the nations to a trial.

[334] Okay?

[335] That's the first major way.

[336] Next, Israel's special relationship with God.

[337] In Isaiah 40, the focus seems to be on God's universal greatness.

[338] Right?

[339] He's greater than creation.

[340] He's greater than the nations.

[341] He's greater than idols.

[342] Kind of in a universal way.

[343] What happens in chapter 41?

[344] Okay.

[345] God now applies this to Israel, specifically reassuring them.

[346] Look at verse 8 through 9.

[347] What does it say in verse 8 through 9 of 41?

[348] Okay.

[349] And who's he speaking to in 8 through 9?

[350] Israel.

[351] Right.

[352] They are God's chosen people.

[353] He gets specific, right?

[354] What in 8 through 9 lets you know exactly who he's referring to?

[355] Or is it something before 8 and 9?

[356] Okay, it makes it very clear who he's referring to.

[357] Thou Israel.

[358] Okay, right.

[359] I just want to make sure, since pastors can't seem to figure it out, I want to see if you guys can figure it out, right?

[360] So maybe the answer is don't go to seminary, no go to Bible college, and don't preach sermons, and you'll know how to read the Bible.

[361] Because for some weird reason, this turns into all about us.

[362] How about verse 10?

[363] We've read 10.

[364] What does he say in 10?

[365] Yeah, now, in the context, who is he clearly referencing?

[366] Israel, right.

[367] They do not need to fear.

[368] They are God's chosen people.

[369] They do not need to fear.

[370] What happens in verses 11 through 13?

[371] God is going to strengthen them and he's going to do what?

[372] Against their enemies.

[373] So what happens?

[374] In Isaiah 40, It's kind of God's greater than everything.

[375] 41 now, this is applied specifically to Israel, that they are God's chosen people.

[376] They do not to fear.

[377] They do not need to fear.

[378] And God will strengthen them against their enemies.

[379] It's specific towards Israel.

[380] So now the theology they learned in 40, now it's being applied to them specifically that would focus on what?

[381] Their current circumstances.

[382] Thus, Isaiah 40 takes the theological truths of Isaiah 40, applies them to Israel's situation, showing that God's power is not theoretical.

[383] It is active in history on behalf of them.

[384] Yeah, 41, 13.

[385] For I, the Lord thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear not, I will help thee.

[386] Yeah, very personal.

[387] speaking directly to them.

[388] Now, every preacher in the world comes in and makes that all about whom?

[389] Us, us, us, us, us.

[390] You cannot do that.

[391] You have no right to do that.

[392] You have no right to do that.

[393] Because if you take this personal promises and you give them to people sitting in the pew, then what should be the logical expectation?

[394] That whatever you're facing, whatever you're dealing, God's going to step in and basically fix or solve your problem.

[395] Can I give that promise to anyone?

[396] No, I cannot.

[397] I can say spiritually God is with me to take care of my sin problem to get me to heaven, but I cannot say that he's going to take care of my practical problem.

[398] These are practical promises to a specific nation and they were fulfilled in a practical way.

[399] Those sermons that do that are just, they're criminal the way they handle this.

[400] So, how does Isaiah 41 build in Isaiah 40?

[401] Isaiah 41 expands on the themes of Isaiah 40, but shifts the focus in two key areas.

[402] God's power over nations and history.

[403] Isaiah 40 states that God is above all nations.

[404] Isaiah 41 demonstrates this by describing God's control over world events by talking about raising up a ruler from the east and challenging the nations to a trial.

[405] Second, Israel's special relationship with God.

[406] Isaiah 40 focuses on God's universal greatness.

[407] 41 applies it to Israel, reassuring them of three things.

[408] That they're God's chosen people, they do not need to fear, and God will strengthen them against their enemies.

[409] Everybody see all of that?

[410] Now, next major thing.

[411] How Isaiah 41 is different from Isaiah 40.

[412] Now, how are they different?

[413] While Isaiah 41 builds on Isaiah 40, there are some key differences.

[414] I hope I have all of these right, but I think I do.

[415] Isaiah 40, just generally, we're not going to go through all the verses, emphasizes God's greatness over creation.

[416] I think we've already demonstrated that.

[417] I think we feel comfortable with that.

[418] Isaiah 41 emphasizes God's control over world history.

[419] Now it gets very specific.

[420] Isaiah 40 addresses all people.

[421] It has more of a universal scope.

[422] Isaiah 41 addresses Israel specifically.

[423] Now, there's a little bit of that in Isaiah 40 as well, but in general, it takes a more universal scope.

[424] 41 is very much directed towards Israel.

[425] Isaiah 40 focuses on God's transcendence.

[426] 41 focuses on God's active involvement.

[427] 40 calls Israel to trust in God's power.

[428] 41, Israel is assured of God's protection.

[429] Isaiah 40 uses poetic theological language.

[430] 41 uses more direct courtroom imagery.

[431] So you can say Isaiah 40 is broad and majestic.

[432] 41 is specific and confrontational.

[433] So let's go through those again, all right?

[434] Here's how they are different.

[435] You ready?

[436] Isaiah 40 emphasizes God's what?

[437] Greatness over creation.

[438] Isaiah 41 emphasized God's control over world history.

[439] Everybody got that?

[440] Isaiah 40 addresses all people.

[441] It's more universal.

[442] 41 addresses Israel.

[443] Specifically.

[444] So far, so good.

[445] Isaiah 40 focuses on God's what?

[446] Transcendence.

[447] 41 focuses on God's involvement.

[448] Isaiah 40 calls Israel to trust in God's power.

[449] 41, Israel is assured of God's protection.

[450] Isaiah 40 uses what kind of language?

[451] Poetic theological language, Isaiah 41 uses courtroom imagery.

[452] And so we can say Isaiah 40 is broad and majestic.

[453] Isaiah 41 is what?

[454] Specific and confrontational.

[455] All right.

[456] Do we feel good?

[457] Are we seeing a good transition here?

[458] Seeing how they relate, how they build upon, and some of the differences?

[459] Now let's look at the key thematic connections between the two chapters.

[460] The key thematic connections.

[461] What themes connect them?

[462] Well, I think we've kind of already demonstrated this, right?

[463] Number one, God's power over creation shifts to God's power over nations.

[464] There's the transition.

[465] There's the key theme.

[466] What's the key theme?

[467] God's power.

[468] How is it transition?

[469] 40 is about his power over creation.

[470] 41, it shifts to God's power over nations, right?

[471] Look at chapter 40, 12 through 26.

[472] We've already talked about this, but I'm just gonna reemphasize it.

[473] 40, 12 through 26 is about God being over creation, right?

[474] Okay, now look at 41.

[475] Chapter 41, look at two through four.

[476] We've already read it once.

[477] You can read it again.

[478] It gets very specific here, right?

[479] Now it's God doing what?

[480] God rules over history by raising up Cyrus.

[481] So chapter 40, God rules over all nations.

[482] Now God rules over history, raising up Cyrus.

[483] He's specifically involved in this historical event that we can read about.

[484] Forget the Bible.

[485] We can read about Cyrus coming to power in secular history books.

[486] So the first thematic connection is God's power.

[487] 40, it's over creation.

[488] 41, God's power is over nations.

[489] It's over history.

[490] It's specific.

[491] Second thematic connection.

[492] Israel's doubt, God's assurance.

[493] Look at Isaiah 40, verse 27.

[494] Isaiah 40, verse 27.

[495] What do you find there?

[496] Does Israel feel forgotten?

[497] Could you say they feel forgotten here?

[498] So Israel feels forgotten.

[499] What happens in chapter 41, verses 10 through 14?

[500] God personally reassures them.

[501] They're like, what's going on?

[502] 41, God's like, I'm right here.

[503] I'm right here.

[504] He personally assures them.

[505] You see that?

[506] So think of it this way.

[507] 40, if we want to see thematic connections, God's power over creation shifts to God's power over nations.

[508] Secondly, Israel's doubt shifts to God's assurance.

[509] That's the second major transition in thematic connection.

[510] Third, idols are worthless.

[511] Isaiah chapter 40, what happens in verses 18 through 20?

[512] Isaiah 40, 18 through 20.

[513] Shows idols cannot compare to God, right?

[514] They can't be compared to God.

[515] What happens in chapter 41, 21 through 29?

[516] 41, 20, 21 through 29.

[517] Now God challenges the idols directly.

[518] It's not just, hey, nothing can compare to God.

[519] Now God is like, okay, I'm gonna challenge you specifically.

[520] So, what are the thematic connections?

[521] Basically, God's power.

[522] It goes from God's power over creation to God's power over nations.

[523] Doubt goes to assurance.

[524] And then idols are worthless.

[525] And it goes from, hey, nothing can compare to God to God challenging the idols directly.

[526] Those are the thematic connections between the two chapters.

[527] Everybody see that?

[528] Right?

[529] Now, what does this mean?

[530] for our understanding of Isaiah 40 and 41.

[531] Now that we take all of that information, how does this help us?

[532] Well, think of it this way.

[533] Isaiah 40 is supposed to give confidence in God's greatness.

[534] Isaiah 41 gives confidence in God's presence.

[535] Now, I'm not gonna apply that to us.

[536] I'm gonna say for them, right?

[537] But us understanding it, Isaiah 40 is like, hey, God is great.

[538] God is over everything.

[539] Look at how great God is.

[540] Behold your God.

[541] And 41, it's like, hey, but God is present.

[542] He's here.

[543] He's going to do something.

[544] He's active.

[545] Think of it this way.

[546] 40 is theological reflection.

[547] 41 is personal assurance.

[548] 40 is theological reflection.

[549] 41 is personal assurance.

[550] Now, how does that work for us?

[551] Well, what we want to do is take that personal assurance and apply it to what?

[552] Our everyday problems and difficulties and sickness and trials, which is why churches constantly give people that.

[553] And then many people will look around going, none of this assurance and promise that you promised me is working.

[554] They become disillusioned.

[555] They deconstruct and they leave Christianity because they don't think it works.

[556] And that's why that's on pastor's fault.

[557] The pulpit is responsible, right?

[558] Oh, right.

[559] They had a long time.

[560] But I'm saying for us, this is how it can be applicable to us.

[561] We understand the theology that God is greater than everything, right?

[562] More powerful than everything else, right?

[563] But how can I find personal assurance in that theological truth?

[564] Because then I know God has intervened in history to do what for me?

[565] To save me from my sins.

[566] For his righteousness to be imputed to my account.

[567] To save me. To remove my sins as far as the east is from the west.

[568] To make me a child of God.

[569] And then I know nothing is going to separate me from the love of God.

[570] Because my salvation is not dependent on what I do.

[571] But what God has done for me. And then I know then that that guarantees what?

[572] That there will come a time.

[573] That there will be eternal glory.

[574] Well there will be what?

[575] No more pain.

[576] No more suffering, no more death.

[577] Now, just like them, that's a long ways away.

[578] Now, it could be tomorrow, but I mean, it could be 70 years, 100 years, depending on how long you live.

[579] And your life may be filled with what during those 70, 50, 80 years.

[580] It can, depending on how your life goes, it may be filled with pain, loneliness, isolation, and suffering.

[581] But the end result is, and that's where it's hard.

[582] How can I find assurance from God's theological truth or the truth of God theologically?

[583] I find assurance in simply knowing what God does guarantee me, not making promises about what he hasn't guaranteed me. And where can I not go find guarantees?

[584] By going to Isaiah 41 and taking those guarantees and making them about me because they're not about me. All right.

[585] Does that make sense?

[586] So that's the idea that there is a personal assurance that comes from theological truth.

[587] It's just got to be applied correctly.

[588] All right.

[589] So Isaiah 40 gives confidence in God's greatness.

[590] Isaiah 41 gives confidence in God's presence.

[591] Number two, Isaiah 40 emphasizes God's majesty.

[592] Isaiah 41 emphasizes God's intervention.

[593] 40 emphasizes God's majesty.

[594] 41 emphasizes God's intervention.

[595] In Isaiah 40, God is above all things.

[596] In Isaiah 40, God is actively working for Israel.

[597] Please note, actively working for Israel.

[598] All right.

[599] A third, Isaiah 40 shows why God is trustworthy.

[600] Isaiah 41 shows what God will do for his people, Israel.

[601] For example, Isaiah 40.

[602] Look at God's greatness.

[603] Isaiah 41, because God is great, do not fear because he's doing something for you.

[604] It's again, this theoretical to the practical.

[605] All right.

[606] Okay, now I've got a bunch of other things here.

[607] I'm gonna skip some of this.

[608] All right?

[609] I will do, let's see, I think we have a little bit of time.

[610] We have a little bit of time here.

[611] Do this.

[612] Go ahead, take your Bibles, look at Isaiah 41.

[613] There's how many, there's 29 verses.

[614] 29 verses, all right?

[615] Isaiah 41, there's 29.

[616] Start skimming those 29.

[617] Write down as many promises as you can find in 41, 1 through 29.

[618] Write down the promise and the reference.

[619] It appears to be some kind of promise, some kind of assurance.

[620] Promise, assurance.

[621] You get the idea.

[622] Well, I will do this, or I'm going to do this, or hey, don't need to worry about this.

[623] Anything that's promise or assurance.

[624] Write down all the ones that you can find.

[625] All the ones that you can find.

[626] All the ones you can find.

[627] There's a line, I think.

[628] Yeah.

[629] Write down the ones, write down the reference.

[630] And I thought about this when I was listening to the sermon on the way here.

[631] If you start in verse 1, where's the first one that jumps out at you?

[632] If you start in verse 1, where's the first one?

[633] Let's just see if we can find them.

[634] The first one that kind of jumps out.

[635] Yeah.

[636] But it is offering almost as if a done fact, but he's going to raise someone up, right?

[637] Okay.

[638] But, yeah, right, especially.

[639] But it definitely gives us the idea that God's going to do something with someone, right?

[640] Now, some people may try to make that a messianic promise, but that's dealing with Cyrus there, okay?

[641] But then verse 8, did you say verse 9?

[642] Okay, in verse 9, thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth and called thee from the chief men thereof and said unto thee, thou art my servant, I have chosen thee and not cast thee away.

[643] Now, please note, any language that sounds like us in 8 through 9, stop it because it's very clear who he's referring to, right?

[644] Israel art my servant.

[645] Jacob, whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, my friend.

[646] Thou whom, he's referring to Israel, okay?

[647] And then verse 10 is where most of the sermons and most immediately go, they drive to 10.

[648] Even though they say the text is bigger, they go to 10.

[649] Why?

[650] Because immediately it is, fear thou not.

[651] But anyone who's a good reader, basic reading comprehension, what do you look for in that phrase, fear thou not?

[652] Sarah, who is the thou?

[653] Because the thou, isn't me, right?

[654] It doesn't tell me not to fear.

[655] It says thou.

[656] Who is the thou?

[657] How do you identify the thou in doing basic reading comprehension?

[658] The immediate reference, and the immediate reference is...

[659] It's Israel.

[660] There's no question about it, right?

[661] So, fear thou not, for I am with thee.

[662] Now, I know people want to run into the New Testament and try to find some scripture.

[663] The point is, in this context, it has nothing to do with us.

[664] What are they not to be fearing in this context?

[665] Their captivity.

[666] The idols.

[667] Babylonians.

[668] Because he's already demonstrated that he's going to rise what?

[669] Raise someone.

[670] Verse 2, who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, made him rule over kings.

[671] He gave them as the dust of the sword.

[672] Whoever that is, and in some ways they don't even need to fear that person that's being raised up because they may think they need to be fearful of him as well, right?

[673] No, the person being raised up, don't fear.

[674] Don't fear Babylonians.

[675] Don't fear captivity.

[676] Don't fear their gods.

[677] Don't fear because I am with thee.

[678] What's the next phrase?

[679] In verse 10.

[680] Well, fear thou not for I am with thee.

[681] Next phrase.

[682] Be not dismayed.

[683] Now see, if you go to Bible college or you go to seminary and you see that, you know what that screams.

[684] When you look at verse 10, maybe you don't realize this, but what does that verse just start screaming at you?

[685] Outline, right?

[686] Do you not have a sermon?

[687] Point one.

[688] Fear not.

[689] Point two.

[690] I am with thee.

[691] Break the text down, right?

[692] Fear not.

[693] I am with thee.

[694] Number three.

[695] Be not dismayed.

[696] I am your God.

[697] You can break it down into four parts if you want, right?

[698] Or actually, you can add more.

[699] I will.

[700] Strengthen thee.

[701] I will help thee.

[702] I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

[703] Okay, it preaches really good.

[704] Now you can combine some of those, and then you can probably break it down into three major points, which you would have your three points.

[705] Every sermon does that.

[706] And then everyone in the congregation, do they leave thinking about Israel?

[707] Now, will Israel be mentioned?

[708] Oh, they'll be mentioned.

[709] They'll be talked about.

[710] The pastor may give the impression that, oh, look, we got historical context.

[711] We go to a church that does exegetical preaching.

[712] But when you walk out taking those points and then you say, what was the sermon about in your church?

[713] Oh, I got so much comfort today.

[714] I was told not to fear.

[715] Slap them in the face.

[716] You shouldn't be fearful of me because I'm going to beat you unconscious because what are you talking about?

[717] That's not for you.

[718] Okay?

[719] It's not for you.

[720] It was for them.

[721] Well, then why do I go to church?

[722] Well, exactly.

[723] You want it to be about you.

[724] So go find a church that makes it about you and you'll be happy.

[725] But the text has nothing to do with us.

[726] None.

[727] We're not there.

[728] Does everybody understand that?

[729] We're not there.

[730] Verse 11.

[731] Behold, all they say that were incensed against thee.

[732] Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded.

[733] They shall be as nothing, and they that strive with thee shall perish.

[734] You know what you'll see in devotional books?

[735] Hey, today, are you having struggles with someone?

[736] Someone's been against you?

[737] Someone has spoken against you?

[738] Well, trust God.

[739] He's going to take care.

[740] You cannot say that.

[741] You cannot say that.

[742] Some woman who's in an abusive relationship hears that in their devotional, and then, I don't know, six days later, her ex -husband finds her and beats her to death, and she's dead.

[743] That verse didn't help her, did it?

[744] Some child is in an abusive situation, gets tied up in a closet, beat with a baseball bat, or burnt with a curling iron.

[745] Guess what?

[746] That verse did not help anyone.

[747] When pastors apply it to people, they set them up for total, total, absolute psychological damage.

[748] All right?

[749] And you can just go through here, and there's all this kind of stuff, like verse 13, for I, the Lord thy God, will hold thy hand.

[750] I mean, you go through here, it's filled with these kinds of promises, right?

[751] Verse 19 or verse 18, I will open the rivers in high places.

[752] I will plant thee in the wilderness in 19.

[753] I mean, I was going to have you go through and write them all down.

[754] And for those listening online, you really should make a list of all these promises.

[755] Put the promises on your refrigerator and remind yourself every day, those aren't for you.

[756] You can try to spiritualize them.

[757] You can try to rip them off.

[758] They're not for you.

[759] So how do we understand all of that?

[760] What God was doing for Israel.

[761] And what's the lesson for them?

[762] In 40, they get the theological lesson.

[763] In 41, now that theology is going to be applied specifically.

[764] Do we have theological truths that will be applied to our lives specifically?

[765] Yes.

[766] How is it primarily applied to us specifically?

[767] God.

[768] sending his son into our spiritual Babylonian captivity to do what?

[769] In a sense, to be our Cyrus to set us free from what?

[770] The condemnation of sin, the penalty of sin, the power of sin, not now, but then.

[771] Now, if you apply it that way, perfect.

[772] I got no problem.

[773] If you apply it, if you say that that's how it relates, but if when you make it that you have been set free, I mean, every church will say you've been set free from the power of sin.

[774] You've been set free from the power of sin.

[775] We've all been set free from the power of sin.

[776] Then what should we stop doing?

[777] Sinning.

[778] If I can't stop sinning, then what is holding me back from sinning then would be still what?

[779] In power.

[780] In fact, it would be the greater power.

[781] If I can't stop sinning, that which keeps me from not sinning, there is the active power still in control.

[782] Don't tell me I've been set free from something that stops me from getting to perfection.

[783] Christians are insane with some of this stuff.

[784] But if we apply it to them, does it make perfect sense?

[785] Yes, because we saw it play out in history.

[786] All right, so I will say this because we're out of time.

[787] Isaiah 41 does not stand apart from Isaiah 40.

[788] It builds upon it.

[789] Can we all say amen to that?

[790] Isaiah 40 declares God's greatness in a universal sense.

[791] Isaiah 41 shows how God's greatness is applied to history and Israel's situation.

[792] Can we agree to that?

[793] I hope so.

[794] Both chapters together form a complete picture.

[795] God is not only transcendent and powerful, but he is near and active.

[796] A correct...

[797] Reading of Isaiah 40 through 41 prevents misinterpretation by showing how theological truths in Isaiah 40 lead to specific actions in 41.

[798] It reminds us that the God who created the universe is also the God who governs history and cares for his people, Israel.

[799] And that's how we understand this.

[800] You see the connection?

[801] So when we, and that's just important to remember, whenever you read one chapter and you get ready to read another chapter, what's a question you should always ask yourself?

[802] How does that chapter lead into this one?

[803] How does the narrative continue?

[804] Does it shift?

[805] Is it a contrast?

[806] Is it different?

[807] Does it build upon it?

[808] And it's hard to do that because we have these stupid chapter divisions.

[809] But we do the same.

[810] If we would think about it, we do very good doing chapter divisions and novels, right?

[811] If I'm reading a novel, I don't see it disconnected from the previous chapter.

[812] I see it as a continuation, right?

[813] I see it as a, but sometimes in the Bible, I know we know it's connected, but because we haven't, we're so used to the way we preach it, right?

[814] Because even if I try to remind you, last week we're in Isaiah 40.

[815] This week we're in Isaiah 41.

[816] Now remember in Isaiah 40 we said this and this and this, but as soon as we start, your focus then is just you've disconnected it.

[817] So I wanted to do the transition thing just to try to show you they're more connected than we, because it's hard when I start preaching 41 to keep flipping back to 40 going, see that connection?

[818] See that connection?

[819] See that?

[820] We'll never get done, right?

[821] But if I can just do it in one hour, now hopefully you'll not forget the connection.

[822] All right, hopefully, hopefully, hopefully.

[823] All right, let's pray.

[824] Lord God, we come before you this morning.

[825] Lord, thank you for again being in a church where we can do things like this.

[826] This would not be very welcomed in many other places.

[827] And Lord, forgive us for the way we've mishandled your word countless times.

[828] Forgive us.

[829] And Lord, I pray that we would give this much thought and meditation and continue to learn and just...

[830] grow in our understanding of this important section of scripture.

[831] We ask this in Jesus' name.

[832] And God's people said,