My brother, blessings to you as we start this new week that the LORD has given us – let us rejoice before Him and be glad!
Read Isaiah 40:23 – 31.
Chapter 40 of Isaiah opens with the words (vv 1) ““Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God.”. And how does the LORD provide comfort to His people? Well, the remainder of the chapter is filled with a series of amazing declarations about the power and glory of Our LORD – if we, as His people, will take the time to fully understand and embrace His greatness, we will be comforted. In fact, in this morning’s reading, Our Good God invites each of us to ‘get to know Him’ (vv 26): “Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.”. He created the universe, and He has named the stars! Lift up your eyes and see Him!
This morning’s short reading opens with a statement of God’s preeminence over the princes and judges of this world. My friends, in today’s politically-supercharged atmosphere, it is both good and wise for each of us to understand two points that are being conveyed by the Spirit here in vvs 23 – 25:
1 – Every worldly leader, whether they are elected or assigned or even self-appointed, is truly ‘here today and gone tomorrow’, but the LORD is eternal. Indeed, the Word says (vv 24): “Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.”. Remember this the next time you see a politician filled with pride and self-importance campaigning for your support.
2 – The ultimate power and the ultimate authority is in the mighty hand of the LORD Our God. Here is how the Lord Jesus puts it in Luke 12: “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”.
And in some of the most personally encouraging words to be found in the entire Word, the LORD describes Himself and promises to convey His endurance and strength to those “who wait on the LORD”. Get this my brother – when you feel overwhelmed; or are despairing because of the cares of this life; when you feel like you can’t go on; or you have been treated unjustly; or even when you just feel fatigued and run-down, here is what Our Good God declares to you (vvs 28 – 31): “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on 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.”.
He is indeed ‘The Defender of the Weak’, and He is Our Everlasting God! Let every one of us take heart because of the glory and greatness of our amazing God – and be comforted by knowing just how marvelously great He is!
LORD, You alone are God, and You never fail. Strengthen me and comfort me during this coming week, Father. And when I need Your help, give me the patience and endurance and faith to wait on You! Amen!