in the presence of His divine council (chap. 6) had come to pass, and now the time had arrived to announce words of consolation (cf. 12:1, “Although You were wroth toward me, Your wrath has turned back and You comfort me”). In both chap. 40 and chap. 6 members of God’s council “call out” (קרא; 40:3; 6:3, 4) and “speak” (אמר; 40:6; 6:8); both prophets have an apprehensive response to God’s call (6:5; 40:6); the expiation of “sin” is mentioned (in 6:7 the prophet’s sin, and in 40:2 the people’s sin);