四十章一開始，以賽亞就改變了他講道的重點。因為前三十九章的主要信息是懲戒剛愎頑梗、作惡多端的百姓，正如同舊約三十九卷書一樣，但從現在起，則是一篇充滿了希望、安慰的溫暖信息，這倒是與新約二十七卷書雷同，因為此後的二十七章中宣告的是即將來臨的救贖主，祂掌管一切受造物，對蒙祂揀選與保護的以色列擁有絕對的主權，因此當然也會安慰和拯救屬祂的百姓。

        今天何不把上帝的真理放在一個即將付諸實行的計畫中，再以一段安靜的時間思想上帝的偉大全能，想一想是誰創造你？你屬於誰？下列的幾個重點提供你敬拜上帝及省察自己：
        全球海洋的水量超過340,000,000,000,000,000,000加侖，但上帝卻能以一個手心捧起這麼多的水（賽40：12）。
        整個地球的重量是6×1021 公噸，然而上帝竟能用升斗盛起大地的塵土（賽40：12，15）。
        我們已知的宇宙至少有三百億光年（即200×1021英哩），儘管那麼遙遠，對上帝而言，只不過是「虎口」之量而已（賽40：12）。
        同樣的一個宇宙，至少有一兆個銀河系，每一個銀河系大約有一兆個星球，上帝卻能一一知其名（賽40：26）。
        現在你明白「勸告」而不「敬拜」這位天上的上帝是何其荒謬了吧？所以，祂對你說：「你不要害怕，因為我救贖了你……你是屬我的」（賽43：1）！

        以賽亞書四十到六十六章的鑰節
        以賽亞書四十章二節可以洞察四十到六十六章的全貌：(1)「他爭戰的日子已滿了」，是指四十到四十八章的拯救；(2)「他的罪孽赦免了」，是指四十九到五十七章中的拯救；(3)「他加倍受罰」，是指五十八到六十六章中被擄的人獲釋。

敬拜上帝不會使祂更好；服事上帝卻能使你更好。

English

        Beginning with chapter 40, Isaiah changes the focus of his message. For 39 chapters (much like the 39 books of the Old Testament), his major message has been the condemnation resulting from the waywardness and wickedness of God's people. But now comes a heartwarming message of hope and comfort. Like the 27 books of the New Testament, the next 27 chapters declare die coming salvation of the Lord. He is sovereign over creation; He is sovereign in the selection and protection of His nation Israel. And thus there can be certainty that He will comfort and deliver His people.

        Today, rather than looking for a project in which to put God's truth to work, spend some quiet moments contemplating the greatness of the God who made you. Here are some thoughts to prepare your mind for worship:
        The oceans of the world contain more than 340 quintillion gallons of water, yet God holds them in the hollow of his hand (40:12).
        The earth weighs six sextillion metric tons, yet to God it represents but dust on the scale (40:12, 15).
        The known universe stretches more than 30 billion light years (200 sextillion miles), yet to God that great expanse represents but a "span" (hand's width, 40:12).
        That same universe contains at least 100 billion galaxies, each made up of approximately 100 billion stars—yet God knows them all by name (40:26).
        Now do you see why it is absurd to offer the God of heaven your advice rather than your worship? Even so, He says to you: "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee . .. thou art mine" (43:1)!

        A Key Verse for Isaiah Chapters 40-66
        One verse (40:2) previews all of chapters 40-66: (1) "her warfare is accomplished" describes the deliverance of 40-48;(2) "her iniquity is pardoned" describes the deliverer of 49-57;(3) "she hath received ..." describes the delivered captives of 58-66.

God is not made greater when you worship Him, but you are made greater when you serve Him.