Isaiah 40:1-11

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • "Eternal in a World of Transcience," Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit.
  • Chapter XXXIV of The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Clement of Rome (ca. 96).
  • Chapter L, Dialogue With Trypho, Justin Martyr. (c 160)
  • V.XXXIII.4, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter IX, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
  • Chapter VI, On Baptism,  Tertullian (c. 198)
  • Chapter I, Exhortation to the Greeks, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • I.5, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • III.17, IV.22, IV.26, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • IV.13, IV.33, IV.39, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Chapter XXXII, Against the Valentinians, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Chapter X, Chapter LIX, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,  Tertullian (c. 211)
  • V.2, V.4, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 212)
  • VIII.VII, The Refutation of all Heresies (Philosophumena), Hippolytus of Rome. (c. 225)
  • I.11, II.25, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
  • VI.14, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Philocalia [anthology of Origen prepared by St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen], Origen. (c.230)
  • XI.3, XI.19, XIII.30, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
  • On the Dress of Virgins, Cyprian of Carthage (c. 249)
  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "This is a consolation for the Church, assuring them that they will never be destitute of prophets by which he exhorts the true ministers of God that then were, and those also that would come after him, to comfort the poor afflicted and to assure them of their deliverance both of body and soul."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "All human life is a warfare; the Christian life is the most so; but the struggle will not last always. Troubles are removed in love, when sin is pardoned."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "The prophet having now foretold the Babylonish captivity, chap.39:6,7, does here arm his people against it by the consideration of their certain deliverance out of it, and their blessed condition after it, as in other things so especially in the coming of the Messiah, and the great and glorious privileges conferred upon God's church and people in his days."
  • "Comfort Proclaimed; Isaiah 40:1," Charles H. Spurgeon, 1858.
    • "While nations and kindreds are passed by as being simply nations, he says of them "My people." In this word there is the idea of proprietorship to teach us that we are the property of God."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "Eastern monarchs send heralds before them in a journey to clear away obstacles, make causeways over valleys, and level hills. So John's duty was to bring back the people to obedience to the law and to remove all self-confidence, pride in national privileges, hypocrisy, and irreligion, so that they should be ready for His coming."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Isaiah 40:1-11, Samuel Giere, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
    • "With these opening words of Second Isaiah (chapters 40-55), the prophet offers a balm for the festering wounds of exile."
  • Isaiah 40:1-11, Studies on Old Testament texts from Series B, Ralph W. Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
  • Isaiah 40:1-11, Advent 2B, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • The Old Testament Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11. Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Howard Wallace Audrey Schindler, Morag Logan, Paul Tonson, Lorraine Parkinson, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
    • "As we move through Advent we await the coming of the Lord in the person of the baby Jesus. It is not just a period of waiting for an anniversary to come around, but it affords us time to reflect on the nature of the one who comes to us."
  • "Straight Highways," Rev. Todd Weir, bloomingcactus.
    • "The King’s Road, which connected Heliopolis (modern Cairo) to Damascus, literally put Israel on the map as spices, gold, textiles and olive oil flowed through the great caravans.  Unfortunately, armies traveled the highway as well, as Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and Rome all coveted the strategic dominance that came with subduing Palestine.  It was a perilous and wondrous journey that traversed the Sinai desert, wound through the ravines of Petra and across mountain ranges, fighting heat, thirst, stubborn camels and bandits along the way."
  • "Close to His Heart: Tenderness," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation, 2006.
  • "Isaiah 40:1-11," Commentary, Background, Insights from Literary Structure, Theological Message, Ways to Present the Text. Anna Grant-Henderson, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "In spite of ... reassurances we know that very small numbers of exiles returned which indicates how difficult it must have been for Isa 40-55 to convince some people to return."
  • Isaiah 40:1-11, Isaiah in Advent: The Transforming Word, Diane Jacobson, Texts in Context, Word & World, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1990.
    • "This call does not deny the world. But, the voice concludes, reality consists of more than what plain sight and common sense can perceive."
  • Isaiah 40:1-11, Bible Study by Anthony Bartlett at Preaching Peace.
  • "Prepare the Way of the Lord," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • The Turn Toward Hope: Verse Commentary on Isaiah 40:1-15, Dennis Bratcher, Christian Resource Institute.
    • "The message here is not that the Israelites have simply paid a debt and therefore deserve pardon. The intention is that God views the suffering of the exiles as an acceptable sacrifice. The nation justly deserved the punishment. God had no obligation to do anything more. It was by His gracious choice that He willingly accepted their suffering as atonement for their iniquity and by that offered pardon. He has simply said, "It is enough.""
  • "Announcement: Freedom and Return!" Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.
    • "How do you plan to turn away from the self this Advent? And turn toward God?"
  • "Comfort For God's People: Behold Your God (Isaiah 40)," by Hampton Keathley III at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "So the theme of verses 3-8 is PREPARATION, the preparation necessary for God’s people to experience the Lord, first in His comfort now, and ultimately in His personal coming."
  • Isaiah 40:1-11, Nativity of John, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
• Articles & Background:
  • "'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,' The Holy City," Peter Walker, Sojourners, September/October 2000.
    • "Belief in the city's holiness has sometimes been used to legitimate unholy action."
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  • Cody, Aelred, O.S.B., "A Palindrome in Isaiah 40;4b: Allowing Restoration of an Original Reading," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2004.
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  • Davies, Andrew, "Oratorio as Exegesis: The Use of the Book of Isaiah in Handel's Messiah," Biblical Interpretation, 2007.
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  • Geller, Stephen A., "A Poetic Analysis of Isaiah 40:1-2," Harvard Theological Review, 1984.
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  • Golding, Thomas A., "The Imagery of Shepherding in the Bible, Part 1," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2006. Part 2.
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  • Golding, Thomas A., "The Imagery of Shepherding in the Bible, Part 2," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2006.
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  • Jacobson, Diane, "Isaiah in Advent: The Transforming Word," Word & World, 1990.
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  • Keiser, Thomas A., "The Song of Moses as a Basis for Isaiah's Prophecy," Vetus Testamentum, 2005.
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  • Landy, Francis, "The Ghostly Prelude to Deutero-Isaiah," Biblical Interpretation, 2006.
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  • Limburg, James, "An Exposition of Isaiah 40:1-11," Interpretation, 1975.
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  • McDaniel, Judith M., "Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room," The Living Pulpit, 1997.
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  • Montgomery, Stephen R., "Beyond Fear, Fundamentalism, and Fox News: The Active Hope of Advent," Journal for Preachers, 2005.
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  • Russell, Keith, "A Time for Repentance," The Living Pulpit, 1997.
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  • Seitz, Christopher R., "The Divine Council: Temporal Transition and New Prophecy in the Book of Isaiah," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1990.
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  • Snodgrass, Klyne, "Streams of Tradition Emerging from Isaiah 40:1-5 and their Adaptation in the New Testament," Journal of the Study of the New Testament, 1980.
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  • Tidwell, Neville, "The Cultic Background of Isaiah 40:1-11," Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, 1973.
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  • Van Seters, Arthur, "Isaiah 40:1-11," Interpretation, 1981.
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• Sermons:
  • "Our Patience, God's Peace," the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Carter, Day 1, 2008.
  • "We Live in Two Orders," Paul Tillich, from The Shaking of the Foundations, 1955. At Religion Online.
  • "True and False Comfort," NT Wright. A sermon for Matins on the third Sunday of Easter, 2002. Westminster Abbey.
  • "Permanence and Change," "The Miracle of Comfort," Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
• Reviews:
  • Reviews: Peter Damian Akpunonu, The Overture of the Book of Consolations: (Isaiah 40:1-11). Peter Lang, 2004. Reviews by Jacques Vermeylen and James Kennedy, Review of Biblical Literature.
  • Review: Jim W. Adams, The Performative Nature and Function of Isaiah 40-55. T&T Clark, 2006. Review by Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer, Review of Biblical Literature, 2008.
• With Children:
  • "Your Slavery Is Past," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "Prepare the Way," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
• Drama:
• Liturgy and Worship:
  • "A Voice Cries Out...: Creative Approaches to Selected Scripture Readings for Advent," Douglas Macomber, Reformed Worship.
• Graphics, Multimedia & Bulletin Materials:
  • Commercial Site: "Don't Be Afraid," video for Advent 2B based on Mark 1 and Isaiah 40, The Work of the People.
  • PowerPoint Slides for Advent 2B / Isaiah 40:1-11, Will Humes, Word & Table.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Isaiah 40:1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymn Selections, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • "Comfort, Comfort, Comfort My People," lyrics, midi, sheet music, mp3. Stephen J. Pearson, The Psalmistry.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
    • O Zion, Haste
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Isaiah
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Isaiah