Deuteronomy 20 & Isaiah 40

Deuteronomy 20
- God tells them not to be afraid when the fight against an army bigger than them because God is with them.
- The priest shall speak to the people before battle.
- He will tell them not to let their hearts be faint and remind them that God is with them.
- The officers shall speak next and will let anyone leave who:
1) Didn't dedicate a new house he just built
2) Planted a vineyard and hasn't enjoyed its fruit
3) Hasn't taken his betrothed wife yet
4) Is faint hearted and fearful (that man should leave so he doesn't make other doubt God)
- The commander shall be appointed next
- God instructs Israel to offer peace before fighting a city
- If they accept peace they will do forced labor for Israel
- If not, they shall besiege it
- They shall kill all men found in the city
- The women, children, and livestock shall be their spoil.
- That's what they should do to far away cities.
- But in the cities God is giving them as an inheritance, they shouldn't save anything that breathes.
- They should completely destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
- This is so the Israelites don't learn abominable practices from them and sin against God
- When besieging, they may eat from trees but not cut them down.
- They may cut down nonfood trees for seigeworks.

Isaiah 40
- God comforts His people by speaking tenderly to them.
- Her warfare will end that she has received doubly for her sins.
- The voice of one crying in the wilderness, "prepare the way of the Lord" (Later used by John the Baptist)
- The land will be leveled.
- The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it.
- The flesh is like the grass and will wither when the breath of the Lord blows on it.
- v. 7 and 8 are echoed in James 1
- Zion shall speak the good news and fear not.
- God comes with might and His reward is with Himself.
- He will gather his flock and carry them in His arms.
- No one can measure the water in His hands or the span of the heavens, or weigh the mountains
- Who can measure His Spirit or offer Him counsel... No one
- No one taught Him justice, knowledge, or understanding.
- There aren't enough animals to make burnt offerings
- All nations are nothing before Him; they are like a drop in a bucket or fine dust
- An idol is created by a craftsman and an idol is NOT like God.
- They should know these things they've always been told from the beginning.
- God sees man like grasshoppers and unrolls the heavens like a carpet.
- God makes princes and kings nothing.
- God asks who can be compared to Him (echoes of the end of Job)
- He will call them out by His might and strong power.
- God asks why the people say their way is hidden from God when He is the everlasting God, creator of the earth.
- God does not grow faint or weary and His knowledge is "unsearchable"
- God gives power to the faint and strength to the weak.
- Even young men grow weary but God will renew their strength.
- "They shall mount up on wings like eagles. they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint" (Used in a hymn)
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