After a few months tackling the latter part of Romans, I’m back to the task of preaching through the book of Isaiah.  Some of Scripture’s best encouragement comes from Isaiah 40ff.  Like the early readers of Isaiah’s gospel, we need to know that our Lord hasn’t left us alone in a world that’s spinning out of control.  How on earth can God in heaven keep His promises to us when the godless seem so powerful?!  The answer lies in part with God’s eternal word (Isaiah 40:8).  That word is fleshed out in Isaiah 40:9-11 where we find God using powerful arms to defeat evil (Isaiah 40:10) and to care for us in our weakened condition (Isaiah 40:11).  Our Lord Jesus Christ arrives on the earthly scene to become our Shepherd.  While we wait for God’s complete care in the future, by faith we experience His shepherding of our souls in part as His Spirit transforms us into His servants.