Isaiah uses language which indicates Israel’s spiritual and moral barrenness. He speaks of desert, rough places and wilderness. The way of the Lord is to be prepared in the wilderness. A highway was to be made straight for him in the desert. There is always a way out of barrenness. In the midst of chastisement the Lord remembers mercy. He would come to his people and they must prepare for him.

Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming glory of the Lord has a three-fold fulfilment: near fulfilment, distant fulfilment and a more distant fulfilment still.

The near fulfilment was the return of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity. Isaiah foretold this. After 70 years in captivity the Jews returned to Palestine around 538 B.C.

The distant fulfilment was at the incarnation of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist was the forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospels quote him as the one who cries out “prepare the way of the Lord.” The Son of God came in the flesh. The disciples beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

Yet there is a still more distant fulfilment. It is one that is still to come. It is the second coming of Jesus. Jesus said his coming would be in great glory (Luke 21:27). Thus the Christian church awaits the glory of the Lord to be revealed at his second coming.

Isaiah would have people prepare for the glory of the Lord. His own generation although under chastisement, must prepare for the Lord’s glory. They would see this glory after their captivity. John the Baptist’s generation must prepare for the Lord’s glory and within a few years of John’s ministry the Lord Jesus Christ was born. Our generation must likewise prepare for the Lord’s glory. His second coming shall glorious. Are you preparing for it?

The Lord’s glory is visible and public. Isaiah says “all flesh shall see it together” (40:5). When the Jews returned to Palestine the nations around Israel knew that the work was done by the Lord. They saw God’s work.

Similarly when John the Baptist heralded the coming of Messiah, Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him (Matt.3:5). People recognised the work of God and saw his glory.

When Jesus comes again in his glory every eye shall see him (Rev. 1:7). The Christian church shall be gathered to him and shall be forever with the Lord but unbelievers shall be banished from his him.=== It is certain Isaiah’s amazing prophecy shall be fulfilled because the mouth of the Lord has spoken (40:5). The glory of the Lord shall be revealed. God has spoken and his glory will certainly be seen.

The lesson for us from Isaiah 40:3-5 is that we must prepare for the second coming of Jesus. His coming is clearly taught in the Bible. Are you preparing for it? Let us be like the New Testament church and wait for the coming of Jesus.

Simeon was an old man who waited for the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25). Joseph, a good and just man, waited for the kingdom of God (Luke 23:50,51). Paul spoke of eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of the body (Romans 8:23). The Corinthian church, troubled though it was, was nevertheless spiritual and waited for the coming revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor, 1:7). Paul wrote to the Philippians saying “our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). The Thessalonians were delivered from idols to serve the living and true God and were waiting for God’s Son from heaven (1 Thess. 1:9,10).

Finally, the book of Revelation describes the church as a bride who has prepared herself for the groom. She is arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright (Rev.19:7,8). It is fitting that the church is here described as a bride. A bride must get herself ready for the marriage. It took Esther 12 months to be prepared for entry before the king (Esther 2:12).

We must be prepared to meet with Jesus. When he comes in power and glory will you be ready? Isaiah speaks to us today: prepare the way of the Lord. Get yourselves ready.