“Comfort, comfort my people,
    says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
    that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins.”  Isaiah 40:1-2

            God’s message to Jerusalem/Judah was that God would pay for her sins.  Isaiah 40:3 (the prophecy for John the Baptist) appears next, then…

“Every valley shall be raised up,
    every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
    the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 40:4-5

            God’s glory would be revealed one day in Jesus Christ.

A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever.”  Isaiah 40:6-8

            Things will change over time, but God’s word (his prophecies) never changes or withers.

“You who bring good news to Zion,
    go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,
    lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
    say to the towns of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”
See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
    and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.”  Isaiah 40:9-10

Good news would come to Jerusalem, delivered by God himself.  “Here he is!”  He will come with power.

“He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.”  Isaiah 40:11

            That one who comes will be like a Shepherd, gently leading his people.