Isaiah 40 (Part 03) – Isa 40:2b-3 – John the Baptist

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1. “…for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” (Isa 40:2)
2. God had said that Israel would be recompensed double for their sins (Jer 16:18).
3. Jeremiah asked God to destroy them with a double destruction (Jer 17:18) because they had forsaken the LORD (Jer 17:13).
4. Wicked sinners, like those in Mystery Babylon, will be rewarded double according to their works (Rev 18:5-6).
5. God judged Israel severely for their sins by sending the Babylonians to destroy them and take them captive for 70 years (2Ch 36:14-21).
6. Even at that they got less than their iniquity deserved (Ezr 9:13; Job 11:6; Psa 103:10).
7. Getting double punishment for their sins was getting off easy because God had said that He would punish them seven times for their sins (Lev 26:18,21,24,28).
8. This was also a prophecy of Christ who would make complete payment for all their sins (Col 2:13).

iii.    “…or rather at the complete satisfaction made by Christ for her sins, and of her receiving at the Lord’s hands, in her surety, full punishment for them; not that more was required than was due, but that ample satisfaction was made, and, being infinite, fully answers the demerit of sin; and this being in the room and stead of God’s people, clears them, and yields comfort to them.” (John Gill’s Commentary, Isa 40:2)

Isa 40:3

1. “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isa 40:3)
2. Isaiah prophesied of a man that would cry in the wilderness, preparing a way for the Lord.
3. This was a prophesy of John the Baptist (Mat 3:1-3; Mar 1:1-4; Luk 3:1-6; Joh 1:19-23).
4. After he was born he went out and lived in the wilderness until the time he began to preach the gospel (Luk 1:80; Luk 3:2-3).
5. John cried in the wilderness.
6. Wilderness – 1. b. (with article or other defining word) A wild or uncultivated region or tract of land, uninhabited, or inhabited only by wild animals; ‘a tract of solitude and savageness’
7. The wilderness seems like an unlikely place to announce the coming of the Messiah.
8. But, “The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.” (Ecc 9:17)
9. Jesus Christ likewise would not cry in the streets (Isa 42:2), but taught in the desert (Mar 1:45; Mar 6:32-34).
10. John was to make a highway for our God (Isa 40:3).
11. Highway – 1. a. A public road open to all passengers, a high road; esp. a main or principal road forming the direct or ordinary route between one town or city and another, as distinguished from a local, branch, or cross road, leading to smaller places off the main road, or connecting two main roads. the king’s highway
12. He indeed did make a highway because people from all the land of Judea came out to hear him preach and be baptized by him (Mar 1:4-5).
13. On this highway, men would see the glory of the LORD in the person of Jesus Christ, whom John announced (Isa 35:1-2 c/w Joh 1:6-8,14).
14. On this highway, men would be healed of their infirmities by the Messiah, Jesus Christ, whom John announced (Isa 35:3-6 c/w Luk 4:18 c/w Mat 11:4-5).
15. On this highway the Messiah would give men living water to drink (Isa 35:7 c/w Joh 4:10,13-14).
16. This highway would be called The way of holiness (Isa 35:8).
17. The highway was to be made for our God, who was the Messiah.
18. John prepared the way for the Lord Jesus who was to come after him (Mar 1:2-3,6-9; Act 19:4).
19. The Lord Jesus Christ, for whom John made a highway, was God manifest in the flesh (Joh 1:1-3,14; 1Ti 3:16).