Isaías 40:1-7

1 Consuelo para el pueblo de Dios
«Consuelen, consuelen a mi pueblo
—dice su Dios—.

2 Hablen con ternura a Jerusalén
y díganle que se acabaron sus días tristes
y que sus pecados están perdonados.
Sí, el Señor
le dio doble castigo
por todos sus pecados».

3 ¡Escuchen! Es la voz de alguien que clama:
«¡Abran camino a través del desierto
para el Señor
!
¡Hagan una carretera derecha a través de la tierra baldía
para nuestro Dios!

4 Rellenen los valles
y allanen los montes y las colinas;
enderecen las curvas
y suavicen los lugares ásperos.

5 Entonces se revelará la gloria del Señor
y todas las personas la verán.
¡El Señor
ha hablado!».

6 Una voz dijo: «¡Grita!».
Y yo pregunté: «¿Qué debo gritar?».
«Grita que los seres humanos son como la hierba.
Su belleza se desvanece tan rápido
como las flores en un campo.

7 La hierba se seca y las flores se marchitan
bajo el aliento del Señor
.
Y así sucede también con los seres humanos.

Isaías 40:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 40

This chapter treats of the comforts of God's people; of the forerunner and coming of the Messiah; of his work, and the dignity of his person; of the folly of making idols, and of the groundless complaints of the church of God. The consolations of God's people, by whom to be administered, and the matter, ground, and reason of them, Isa 40:1,2. John the Baptist, the harbinger of Christ, is described by his work and office, and the effects of it; it issuing in the humiliation of some, and the exaltation of others, and in the revelation of the glory of Christ, Isa 40:3-5, then follows an order to every minister of the Gospel what he should preach and publish; the weakness and insufficiency of men to anything that is spiritually good; their fading and withering goodliness, which is to be ascribed to the blowing of the Spirit of God upon it; and the firmness and constancy of the word of God is declared, Isa 40:6-8, next the apostles of Christ in Jerusalem are particularly exhorted to publish fervently and openly the good tidings of the Gospel; to proclaim the coming of Christ, the manner of it, and the work he came about; and to signify his faithful discharge of his office as a shepherd, Isa 40:9-11, the dignity of whose person is set forth by his almighty power, by his infinite wisdom, and by the greatness of his majesty, in comparison of which all nations and things are as nothing, Isa 40:12-17 and then the vanity of framing any likeness to God, and of forming idols for worship, is observed, Isa 40:18-25, and from the consideration of the divine power in creation and upholding all things, the church of God is encouraged to expect renewed strength and persevering grace, and is blamed for giving way to a distrustful and murmuring spirit, Isa 40:26-31.