Isaías 40

Isaías 40:31

Barclay explains it this way… Faith begins with receptivity. It begins when a man or woman is at least willing to listen to the message of the truth (cp Ro 10:17-note). It goes on to mental assent. A man or woman first hears and then agrees that this is true. But mental assent need not issue in action (Ed: specifically in God honoring righteous action, cp Titus 1:16-note). Many an individual knows very well that something is true, but does not change his or her actions to meet that knowledge (cp Titus 1:1NIV-note). The final stage is when this mental assent becomes total surrender (cp Jn 1:11, 12, 13). In full-fledged faith, the individual hears the (truth about Jehovah), agrees that it is true, and then casts himself or herself upon it in a life of total yieldedness. (In this present passage this surrender is manifest as a willingness to wait upon Jehovah, trusting totally in His timing and sufficiency to meet every need in time and eternity. cp Php 4:19-note) Nothing before, nothing behind, The steps of faith Fall on the seeming void, and find The rock beneath. --Whittier The precious truths in Isaiah 40:31 have given comfort and encouragement to countless numbers of saints over the centuries. Although the truths in this passage can be applied in the life of all believers, it behooves us to be sure that we interpret the passage in its context. First, recall that Isaiah the prophet is primarily addressing Judah and Jerusalem (Isa 1:1) and although the first 39 chapters dealt primarily with judgment, in Isaiah 40-66 the prophet changes the focus to that of comfort, addressing these words of encouragement to the Jewish exiles in Babylonian captivity. It is not surprising therefore that Isaiah 40-66 is replete with a number of great Messianic prophecies pointing the Israel (and all mankind's) ultimate source of strength, Messiah, the Holy One of Israel. The words of William Cowper's great hymn could have just as well been written to Israel as to modern believers… Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; Behind the frowning providence He hides a smiling face. Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan His work in vain; God is His own Interpreter, And He will make it plain. CONTEXT: Isaiah 40:31 is one of those famous, favorite passages that we cannot read or hear enough because of the encouraging promises God gives us. The problem however is that too often we read this great text out of its proper context and as a result lose some of the meaning which God intended. So be sure to take some time to ponder the passages preceding Isaiah 40:31 to help you appreciate and appropriate the God's great promises. The immediate context is Isaiah 40:27-30 (in fact slowly read Isaiah 40:1-24 to help understand the context)… 25 "To whom then will you liken Me That I should be his equal?" says (literally "keeps saying" as in Is 40:1) the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see Who has created these stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name. Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power not one of them is missing (The third mention of His incomparable power as Creator, Is 40:12, 21, 22). (Read these 2 passages again and make a list of what you learn about God. Why is this so important? Because He is the One Who stands behind the promises of Isaiah 40:31. And so we need first to really know Him, His character, His attributes, His capability… and not just know about Him.) 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God (Elohim)"? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting (eternal) God, the LORD (Jehovah - the covenant keeping God), the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable (not readily investigated, interpreted, or understood). 29 He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly 31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:25-31) (Play the beautiful melody Do You Not Know? (Scroll Down)) (If you like a bit of a beat play Lincoln Brewster - The Everlasting God - and as you do please read Scriptures posted with the video) Here are a few brief comments on Isaiah 40:25-30: God Himself asks a rhetorical question (reiterating the truth in Is 40:18) which begs the answer that there is no one like Him! None is His equal! God identifies Himself as the Holy One, the one who is separate from His creation and is to be distinguished from those He has created. And by extension He is indescribably superior to all so called gods (including the pantheon of Babylonian idols)! Motyer notes that Holy One is the killing blow to any thought of a comparison! It is not only his power (Is 40:12), wisdom (Is 40:13,14), dignity (Is 40:15, 16, 17), sovereignty (Is 40:22, 23) and authority (Is 40:24) that put Him beyond compare. Of far more significance is His unattainable, unassailable moral perfection. The Holy One is here an adjective without the definite article, as though ‘Holy’ were another name for the Lord: ‘Holy keeps saying’. (The Prophecy of Isaiah- An Introduction & Commentary) As Young rightly states… Only God can ask these questions, for only God is holy. The creature is finite, temporal, and, because of sin, mortal; God is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.