Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"The voice of one crying in the wilderness"
Text: Isaiah 40:3
THE PROPHECY OF A FORERUNNER
The Messiah would have a forerunner who would prepare the way for His coming. The promise of “comfort” was tied to the coming of the Messiah. He would bring true comfort to people.
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places smooth.'”
Isaiah 40:3-4
1. The concept of a Forerunner.
a) In the ancient days, it was common to have a forerunner.
b) His task was to prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of the King.
2. A voice in the wilderness.
a) The Forerunner, when compared to the King was merely “a voice”.
b) The focus is on the Dignitary who was coming not the messenger.
c) The wilderness was both literal and figurative.
i) There were areas in ancient Israel that was “a wilderness” literally, a desert.
ii) Figuratively, ancient Israel was a spiritual wilderness and a desert.
d) But the wilderness would become a Highway for the Lord.
i) The Messiah would be a King.
ii) He would come as God-Incarnate.
3. The lie of the land physically described.
a) There were low valleys.
b) There were mountains and hills.
c) There were crooked places.
d) There were many rough places.
4. The figurative meaning must be noted.
a) There were many who lived in low valleys spiritually.
b) There were also people who were religiously proud and arrogant;
these were “the mountains and hills”.
c) There were many who were “crooked” and had gone astray in their lives.
d) There were many “rough” people; many of them resided in Galilee.
They were despised by those who were wealthy and well-educated
and who lived in Jerusalem.