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Sermon Notes
Isaiah 40:27-31
27Why do you say, O Jacob,and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD and my right is disregarded by my God”?
28Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
29He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
31but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40
Comfort has been announced (prophetically) to the exiled people of God: they’ve done their time, vv.1-2; God’s word of promises stands, vv.3-5; just look at him, vv.9-11; he is sovereign and wise – over the
nations, vv.12-17; the living God (contrast the idols), vv.18-20; the sovereign creator – over the rulers, vv.21-24; incomparably holy – over the powers.
Isaiah 40:27
And yet in the face of this they are despondent and doubting as if the LORD doesn’t care or understand (v.27).
Isaiah 40:28
So the prophet challenges them to remember their creed, their history, and the prophetic word already given. (v.28a)
The LORD is the everlasting God who is sovereign in and over time – there is no doubt that he will keep his promise. (v.28b)
The LORD is the creator of the ends of the earth – his arm can reach there and bring his people back to the centre. (v.28c)
The LORD’s living power is limitless – he is not tired of ruling the universe or exhausted by caring for his people. (v.28d)
The LORD’s wisdom is immeasurable – he knows precisely what is going on and can’t be tricked into missing his purpose. (v.28e)
His rule, his reach, his resources, his regard are boundless and indubitable.
Isaiah 40:29
Perhaps, then, the problem is that he meanly withholds what his people need? No, the LORD is a generous God, tirelessly munificent, abundant in goodness. (v.29)
Isaiah 40:30
Wind it up, Isaiah. Set up the contrast. Young men, choice men have limited resources and fall to the ground.
Isaiah 40:31
Bring it home, Isaiah. But … While they wait and because they wait, those who wait for the LORD to act / those who wait on the LORD in trust exchange one worn-out strength-garment for a new one (v.31a).
Far from falling to the ground, they soar to the sky (v.31b). As the LORD arrives to lead and accompany his people on the journey from exile to home, he energizes those who walk with him.
A couple of summaries:
a) 28-30 are true so stop occupying 27 and occupy 31 instead.
b) the flow:
27 – despondency amongst God’s people is groundless
28-29 – because God is great and wise and generous
30-31 – so wait for the LORD to act and wait on the LORD in trust and you will find strength for the journey
Keep in mind:
You and your circumstances – one trustful step at a time.
You and your sin – “consider Him … so that you may not grow weary” Our persecuted brothers and sisters – pray for them to prove Isaiah 40.31. The church in history – walk upright in bold confidence.
But most of all …
What Jacob-Israel calls out faithlessly (v.27), the Lord Jesus Christ calls out faithfully. Never was a man more faint and weary. Never did a man more wait on the LORD. Surely, surely, he must rise.
And he does.
And we find in him, both the Jacob-Israel who truly looks to the LORD and the LORD whose advent (coming) is renewal and redemption for those who look to him.
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