THE RENEWAL OF STRENGTH.
Isaiah 40:25-31.
In case we are overawed by the Other-ness of the Holy One (ISAIAH 40:25), we are reminded that:
1. the same God who has brought out the host of heaven, calling stars and constellations into existence so that not one is missing (ISAIAH 40:26),
2. has never stopped watching over His own people (ISAIAH 40:27-28).
[‘He neither slumbers nor sleeps’ (cf. Psalm 121:4)];
3. He is the all-knowing, all-powerful eternal Creator of the ends of the earth, who gives power to the weak and strengthens those who are without might (ISAIAH 40:28-29).
In exile, even the youths would faint and be weary, and the young men would utterly fail (Isaiah 40:30): but “those who wait upon the LORD” (ISAIAH 40:31) -
1. “shall renew their strength” (ISAIAH 40:31). Passively, God’s strength is made perfect in their weakness (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9).
There is a time to wait, to ‘stand still and see the salvation of the LORD’ (cf. Exodus 14:13), and a time to ‘move forward’ (cf. Exodus 14:15).
2. Now they move from the passive to the active, from waiting to moving, and in doing so their strength is renewed: they “mount up with wings like eagles, they run and are not weary, and they walk without fainting” (ISAIAH 40:31)!
Why are we fearful, when ‘the Captain of our salvation’ (cf. Hebrews 2:10) is in the vessel (cf. Mark 4:38-40)? Let us be strong in the LORD, in the power of His might (cf. Ephesians 6:10). Wait, stand, be still: then move forward as the mighty church that we are, before whom the gates of hell shall not prevail (cf. Matthew 16:18)!
‘The people that do know their God shall be strong - and do exploits’ (cf. Daniel 11:32).
