Is. 40 in a Viral Year

 1) Calvin noticed that a difference in tone starts here in the book. Most of us think that much of the next chapters reflect an exilic promise, far removed from the earlier material’s major concern.

Not only that we are in a sort of choral back and forth with different voices. We appear to be in another throne room scene as in Is. 6. We may well be in a meeting of gods, or demigods, if you prefer, with God as the CEO of the meeting. It is not clear to me how Isaiah is there, in a vision or some other form of transport. Hanson does a good job with this in his Interpretation commentary.

2) Comfort (nhm) here is a verb, an imperative plural verb. I guess it could be directed to a group in heaven.  Could it be to all of the people, if directed to the prophet as a representative of the people>? To whom would you direct it now? Notice the imperative to speak tenderly.

3) The response is one of resignation. Why bother? Life is transient.

4) Mark uses some of this material to introduce the gospel and the Baptist. How can you weave it into Advent? Many churches may have Communion this Sunday-how does that affect your reading?

. 

5) Double for her sins. The punishments were more than condign, they exceeded a proper sentence. Is this not more than tough love? For me it has the sense of enough is enough, or more than enough. Does this aid you in preaching with those who see the virus as divine punishment, and they know precisely what the punishment is for? What highway for God’s help do we need right now? What would make it easier travelling?

6) When God promises to be the shepherd, it is a swipe at the failed human leaders/ shepherds. Is it an admission of divine failure, of misplaced  confidence in human leaders? 

7) Does the statement about the transitory nature of life, as in the flower fades, get a satisfactory resolution or response, or did I miss it? How do you find comfort over that point, or as Bruce Springsteen says, “everything dies, baby, that’s a fact.” Yet, instead of nurturing the breath/spirit removes life (7). What word, which word stands forever?

8) If I remember correctly Lee Michaels had a hit with a song that started out, it's been 40 days, in Do You Know What I Mean, and Art Garfunkel had a song 99 miles. both deal with yearning on the road. Maybe that would be a good entry point to consider the King’s highway on this passage.

The roadway image has an apocalyptic element, certainly, but doesn’t it have a sense of obstacles being removed along with its natural upheaval?

9) Don;t let it slip by you in the rush to finish. There it is again: do not be afraid/do not fear.

Notice how far we are from the divine warrior in v. 11. Now reward comes and recompense. It has elements of a maternal image as well. Notice that the imperatives hide the last phrase of gentle leading.