Mixed in with comforting Scripture in Isaiah 40-66 are comforting commands such as Isaiah 43:1, 5.  Sermons in this section should include some analysis of God’s self-description.  Notice all the titles for God that are stated and restated.  Allow the structure of the section to drive the sermon.  In this case, God provides several reasons why His people should not be afraid.  It’s always a timely message in a scary world.  If you’re looking to allow the Gospel to give the definitive reason why we need not fear, it might be found in Isaiah 43:3-4.  Ultimately, God did not ransom us by giving us Egypt or Cush or Seba.  Instead, we were ransomed when God gave His Son “in exchange” for our lives (cf. Isaiah 43:3-4).  So, fearless Christians are those who believe Isaiah’s Gospel.

Isaiah 42:18-25 is a terrible picture of the collective condition of God’s people.  Theology is conveyed through a description of spiritual disabilities (unable to hear and see God’s laws), the terrible response of God’s punishment, and a question (cf. Isaiah 42:23).  Every Sunday is an opportunity for us to test our listening abilities.  True believers have ears that can hear.  The reason: later in Isaiah 50:5 we learn of God’s Servant who has perfect spiritual hearing.  Faith-family members respond to the question in Isaiah 42:23: “We will give ear to this. We will attend and listen…”  Those who are in Christ have inherited His supernatural hearing.  Out of the collective condition of God’s people–spiritual deafness–comes a remnant of people who do hear Isaiah’s prophecy and “take it to heart” (cf. Isaiah 42:25).

Isaiah 42:5-9 declares three things that “the Lord” will do to His people: “I have called you…I will take you…I will give you…”  This is a guarantee that His people will serve Him and carry out His purpose in the world.  Cf. Isaiah 42:6-7, especially the goal of being “a light for the nations…”  The theology for the Church is being conveyed through this description of God’s initiative, followed by the purpose or goal God has in mind.  If Isaiah 42 is relevant at all it’s because of a sequence like this: God’s people fail to function as His servants, God’s Servant succeeds (through His perfect life, substitutionary death for sin/sinners, resurrection, ascension, dispatching His Spirit), and all who trust Him begin to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy by making disciples all over the globe.

One key to understanding the theology of Isaiah 42:1-4 is to highlight the contrast between God’s Servant (Isaiah 42:1) and the idols of the previous chapter.  Unlike the idols, God’s Servant will actually deliver.  That is because He is Spirit-driven or Spirit empowered (“I have put my Spirit upon him”).  Then the rest of verse 1 through verse 4 describe what He will do and how He will do it.  The structure is very simple.  The theology is conveyed through the description and is designed to bolster our faith in God alone, rather than choosing to worship all our American idols.  Isaiah 42:3 describes how our Savior deals with us in our weakness.  On the cross Jesus experienced total weakness-to-the-point-of-death so that He could share God’s strength with us.  Philippians 2:7-8 describe Jesus like Isaiah did (“servant”).  Our Savior will bring justice only because He suffered the wrath of God for our sins.  Because He did that for us, instead of justice, we received mercy so we can now administer justice and mercy to those in need.

Isaiah 41:1-14 teaches through a contrast between the coastlands and God’s servant, Israel (cf. Isaiah 41:1, 8).  The coastlands are afraid (Isaiah 41:5).  God’s people trust that He has not cast them off, despite their rebellion.  Despite living in a scary world where the godless are in power, God commands them, “fear not.”  It’s an extremely difficult command to obey in life-threatening circumstances.  We’re afraid in times when our weakness is exposed.  Isaiah 41:14 reminds us how weak we are!  It takes faith for God’s people to be brave. It takes faith to receive God’s shared strength.  Our faith is bolstered when we read of our Savior in Psalm 22:6.  In utmost weakness, Christ dies to give us an opportunity to share God’s strength.  We’re not afraid from a position of strength.  In light of the promise, then, in Isaiah 41:10, true or false: “I can’t take it any more!”?

In Oswalt’s commentary on Isaiah 41 he writes: “This argument will be repeated and intensified several times in the next few chapters as this court case continues” (p. 459).  You have at least two options: (1) preach the repeated themes as you encounter them along the way or (2) preach the theme in one location, adding any material from the “intensified” places.  I choose the latter option as a way of keeping a series moving along in a long book such as Isaiah.  I’ve found it helpful to read through the section and look for the repetition/restatement.  That allows you to scan for material you want to bring into the one sermon on the presented theme.  More than likely, the same theological message (how the section functions for the church) will be presented throughout the repetition.

The bulk of Isaiah 40 is devoted to showing our incomparable God (Isaiah 40:12-26).  The description of our God makes our question in Isaiah 40:27 inconceivable.  Of course God knows how difficult our way is in a world where the godless are in power!  Then, after restating God’s resources of strength and knowledge (Isaiah 40:28), we learn that all His power is transferable to those who “wait” for Him (cf. Isaiah 40:29-31).  Our Lord continues to save His people because His strength is added to our weakness so we keep putting on fresh strength each day.  Instead of being overcome with circumstances, God stabilizes our emotions and spirits.  So, is it true or false when a Christian says in frustration: “I can’t take it anymore!”?  And, of course, we know that all this available strength came as a result of Jesus’ experience of weakness on the cross.  He experienced ultimate weakness so we could experience ultimate strength as we trust Him.

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.