January 18

Read Isaiah 40:3-11

OBSERVATION: WHAT DOES THE TEXT SAY? 

3 A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord[a];
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.[b] 4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
9 You who bring good news to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,[c]
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.

[a] Or A voice of one calling in the wilderness: / “Prepare the way for the Lord

[b] Hebrew; Septuagint make straight the paths of our God

[c] Or Zion, bringer of good news, / go up on a high mountain. / Jerusalem, bringer of good news

INTERPRETATION: WHAT DOES THE TEXT MEAN?

APPLICATION: HOW SHOULD THIS AFFECT ME?