4.24.2025 Prayer Room – Isaiah 40

ISAIAH 40:1-11; 25-31

Isaiah 40 is a chapter of comfort and encouragement, particularly for the Israelites in exile, promising their return and the restoration of Jerusalem. Israel is comforted that the Babylonian exile is over, their sin has been dealt with, and a new era is being ushered in. 

1“Comfort, comfort my people,”says your God.

2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,and announce to herthat her time of hard service is over,her iniquity has been pardoned,and she has received from the Lord’s handdouble for all her sins.”

3 A voice of one crying out:

Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness;make a straight highway for our God in the desert. 4 Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled; the uneven ground will become smooth and the rough places, a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord will appear,and all humanity together will see it,for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

6 A voice was saying, “Cry out!”Another said, “What should I cry out?”“All humanity is grass, and all its goodness is like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flowers fadewhen the breath of the Lord blows on them;indeed, the people are grass.

8 The grass withers, the flowers fade,but the word of our God remains forever.”

9 Zion, herald of good news,go up on a high mountain.Jerusalem, herald of good news,raise your voice loudly.Raise it, do not be afraid!Say to the cities of Judah,“Here is your God!” 

10 See, the Lord God comes with strength,and his power establishes his rule.His wages are with him,and his reward accompanies him.

11 He protects his flock like a shepherd;he gathers the lambs in his armsand carries them in the fold of his garment.He gently leads those that are nursing.

25 “To whom will you compare me, or who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.

26 Look up and see!Who created these?He brings out the stars by number;he calls all of them by name.Because of his great power and strength,not one of them is missing.

27 Jacob, why do you say,and Israel, why do you assert,“My way is hidden from the Lord,and my claim is ignored by my God”?

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?The Lord is the everlasting God,the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary;there is no limit to his understanding.

29 He gives strength to the faintand strengthens the powerless.

30 Youths may become faint and weary,and young men stumble and fall,

31 but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.

HEAR: 

Listen to the Holy Spirit and pray. Specifically think about: 

• Where are you in need of the Lord’s comfort? See him rightly as the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort (2 Cor 1:3) who protects, carries, and leads you (vv.1, 11). 

• Is there any area of your life that you’re trying to hide from God, as if he does not see (v.27)? Recognize that nothing is hidden or neglected by him. 

• Is your heart prepared for the Lord’s presence (vv.3-5)? Ask God to straighten every crooked place in you that you may see his glory. 

RESPOND: 

Respond to God in prayer: 

• Intercede on behalf of Boston, that the Lord may have mercy and forgive (v.2). 

• Ask God to increase our trust in him and to renew our strength (v.31). Pray that we would keep our eyes on Jesus as he strengthens us (Heb 12:2, 12). 

• Pray that our city would receive the good news of salvation and behold God (vv.9-10). 

• Pray for the people of Boston to hear the comforting and tender voice of the Lord (vv.1-2). Pray that the Church in Boston would reflect the voice of God.