Isaiah 40:1-16: a reflection

1“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. 2“Speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.” 3The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of the LORD in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God. 4Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain. 5The LORD’s glory shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.” 6The voice of one saying, “Cry out!” One said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades, because the LORD’s breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.” 9You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength! Lift it up! Don’t be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold, your God!” 10Behold, the Lord GOD will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him. Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young. 12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and marked off the sky with his span, and calculated the dust of the earth in a measuring basket, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? 13Who has directed the LORD’s Spirit, or has taught him as his counselor? 14Who did he take counsel with, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? 15Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on a balance. Behold, he lifts up the islands like a very little thing. 16Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor its animals sufficient for a burnt offering.

In a chapter that opens with comfort for God's weary people, one image stands out for its tenderness. After declaring the greatness of God, who measures the waters in the hollow of his hand and weighs the mountains in scales, Isaiah shows this great God bending down in gentleness: He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those who have their young. The God of infinite greatness is also the tender shepherd, who gathers the lambs in his arms and leads the weak gently.

Notice the tenderness of this great God: he gathers the lambs in his arms and gently leads. The same God who holds the seas in his hand and weighs the mountains is the shepherd who bends down to gather the lambs, to carry them close to his heart, to lead the weak and burdened gently, at their pace. His greatness does not make him harsh or distant; it is joined to a tenderness that gathers the weak and carries them. He does not drive his flock, but gently leads those who have their young; he gathers the lambs, the weakest, into his arms. Greatness and tenderness meet in the shepherd God.

That tenderness is worth resting in, for the great God is tender toward us, gathering us like lambs and leading us gently. We can think of God's greatness as making him harsh or distant, too great to be gentle with us; but the God who weighs the mountains gathers the lambs in his arms and leads the weak gently. He is tender toward the weak and burdened, carrying them close to his heart. When you are weak, weary, or burdened, do not imagine God too great to be tender with you; he gathers the lambs in his arms and gently leads those who are struggling. Rest in the tenderness of the great God, who gathers you like a lamb in his arms and leads you gently when you are weak and burdened, as Isaiah says he feeds his flock like a shepherd; for the God of infinite greatness is also the tender shepherd, and he is gentle with the weak, carrying them close to his heart.

Lord, in a chapter that opens with comfort for your weary people, one image stands out for its tenderness. After declaring your greatness, who measures the waters in the hollow of your hand and weighs the mountains in scales, Isaiah shows you bending down in gentleness: he will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those who have their young. You, the God of infinite greatness, are also the tender shepherd, who gathers the lambs in your arms and leads the weak gently. Show me your tenderness: you gather the lambs in your arms and gently lead. The same God who holds the seas in his hand and weighs the mountains is the shepherd who bends down to gather the lambs, to carry them close to his heart, to lead the weak and burdened gently, at their pace. Your greatness does not make you harsh or distant; it is joined to a tenderness that gathers the weak and carries them. You do not drive your flock, but gently lead those who have their young. Let me rest in that tenderness, for you, the great God, are tender toward me, gathering me like a lamb and leading me gently. I can think of your greatness as making you harsh or distant, too great to be gentle with me; but you who weigh the mountains gather the lambs in your arms. When I am weak, weary, or burdened, keep me from imagining you too great to be tender with me; you gather the lambs in your arms and gently lead those who are struggling, Lord. Help me rest in your tenderness, who gather me like a lamb and lead me gently when I am weak and burdened.