This was a short assignment we were given in my Hebrew Bible class. We were asked to some exegesis (which is a fancy, scholarly term for "interpretation") on Isaiah 40 with the method or lens of 'Identity'. Here's what I came up with:
Asking me to do exegesis on Isaiah is much like asking my 3 year old son to solve a complex calculus problem. Nevertheless, I will do my best to show how Isaiah uses stunning imagery to shape the identity of humankind, specifically in verses 12-31 of chapter 40.
Isaiah starts by setting forth the identity of Jehovah, illustrating his power and greatness (vv 1-11). He illuminates that, as creator, Jehovah's experience with his creations is supremely intimate. Jehovah knows the precise measurements of the heavens, waters, dust, hills, and mountains. He is the one who cupped the waters in his palms and measured the heavens with the span of his hands. He is the one who measured and weighed the dust and hills and mountains (verse 12). Because Jehovah’s power and omnipotence are “everlasting,” no one counsels him and no one instructs or teaches him (verses 13-14; see also verse 28). He is never weary (verse 29)! For me I don’t know if there are any verses in all of scripture that can portray preeminence and power with such splendid imagery quite like these verses, especially verse 12.
Isaiah then sets forth the identity of humankind. The nations are as insignificant as “a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance” (verse 15). “All nations before him are counted as... less than nothing” (verse 17).
By contrasting the almighty attributes of Jehovah with the insignificant identity of humankind, Isaiah is able to make man’s nothingness even more evident and show Jehovah’s supreme power as everlasting and eternal.
What is so significant in these verses to me is not merely the idea that God is great and man is nothing, but that Jehovah is so great that mankind, through Him, can overcome their nothingness. In one breath he says that all nations are “less than nothing”, and in another, he invites man to “lift up [their] eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things”. (verses 17, 26) To those who “wait upon” him he will “renew their strength” (verse 31). “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength” (verse 29).
What I see here is an inspired Prophet, who uses these identities, not to discourage mankind, but to humble mankind. None is like God! Therefore why would man worship anything other than God, even a likeness of him? The rich man melts a graven image and spreads it over with gold, while the poor man prepares a graven image out of wood. (verses 19-20) But as the great Jehovah asks, is it these graven images that created all things and “[stretched] out the heavens as a curtain”? (verse 22) “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal?” (verse 25). In other words, these idols are not who created all things, and therefore no item, artifact, instrument or tool can be fashioned to replace he who did create all things. So he then gives that great invitation mentioned above, “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things” (verse 26 italics added).
Because man’s identity is indeed nothingness, there is only one way for him to overcome that dilemma and that is to submit to Jehovah and the power he has to save. Isaiah ends chapter 40 elegantly: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (verse 31).
