40-48 (The Road from Exile)

Chapter 40 marks the start of the second section of Isaiah. Whereas the first section was marked by messages of judgment, the second section is marked by messages of comfort. For this reason, and because of the first words of 40:1, chapters 40-66 is sometimes called 'the Book of Comfort.' Some have found a further division of this section in that the first 9 chapters end with the words "There is no peace for the wicked" (48:22) and the second 9 chapters end with the same words (57:21), thus creating 3 sections. The first section (40-48) seems primarily about a return from Exile in Babylon. The second section (49-57) seems primarily about the Coming (1st) of the Messiah. The third section (58-66) seems primarily about Judgment Day and the ultimate restoration of the heavens and earth.

A main reason why some scholars reject Isaiah as the author of this 'Book of Comfort' is that it (especially this first sub-section) speaks very specifically about happenings much later than Isaiah's lifetime. For example, Babylon itself was not a superpower during Isaiah's lifetime, but the 'Book of Comfort' speaks as if Babylon will become such a power and then be destroyed. Perhaps more alarmingly, Isaiah speaks directly of 'Cyrus' (41:2, 8, 25, 44:28, 45:1, 13, 46:11). But unless an anti-supernatural bias (either a rejection of a supernatural being or a rejection of the possibility of such a being knowing the future) is in place, it is difficult to argue for differing authorship based on the evidence.

In discussing the end of Babylon, the decree of Cyrus, and the like, it would be easy to assume that the events being covered are more ancient than the 1st Century AD. Nevertheless, the NT authors do quote this section (or quote Jesus quoting this section) as pertaining to their own time. Indeed, 40:3-5 is clearly considered a prophecy of John the Baptist. Why would discussion of the Jewish return from exile in Babylon be mixed with discussion of John the Baptist and, eventually, the Messiah (40:9)? The answer lies in the fact that the return from exile in Cyrus' day didn't seem like much of a return. Jesus ministry, then, could well have been viewed as a 'true' return from exile (not exile to Babylon, but exile to sin). Cyrus delivered the Jews from Babylon, but Jesus delivered them from the sin that sent them to Babylon.

The people who will benefit from God's activity are those who put their trust in the Lord rather than fearing the circumstances. Fear is a major theme in this section (41:10, 13, 14, 43:1, 5, 44:8, etc). Trust in the Lord is the preferred alternative (40:29-31).