Introduction
A. Segway
Encourage Bible reading.
B. Background
· The BlueLetterBible identifies over 150 NT quotes and allusions from Isaiah.
· Handel’s Messiah makes over 15 references to Isaiah
· His master piece begins with the words from 40.1, “Comfort my people.”
· This verse turns a corner
from the first part of the book’s focus on the need for salvation
to the second part of the Isaiah’s focus on the provision of salvation.
· If this is chronological, this part was written after Hezekiah's reign during the spiritual decline of Manasseh. Parts of the chapter are considered prophetic in the NT.
· It also seems to anticipate when the Jews would return back to the Land.
· This chapter was written to consul Israel in and prepare Israel for tough times. It can do the same for us.
C. Big Idea
Patient focus on God’s
essence can sustain us
when we are weary.
“patient” - challenges us to abide, to wait on God
“focus” - conscious awareness and apprehension
“essence” - not just facts about God, but knowing who He is.
“sustain” - Not always to remove, but to see us thru (like He saw Christ
“weary” - God uses our weakness and weariness to show Himself strong / an opportunity for God to work.
D. Read Text and Pray
I. The Conundrum
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
My way is hidden from the Lord,
And my just claim is passed over by my God?
Note: how the name Jacob connected Israel with the promises God made long ago.
A. Does God Even Know I am here?
My way is hidden from the Lord,
B. Does God Care about what happens to me?
And my just claim is passed over by my God?
· The Judahites kept saying, "How can God do this to us? He has forgotten us and no longer cares about us." They questioned God's nature (He could not see them) and His dealings with them (He would not defend them). —Thomas Constables Exp. Notes.
TE: When we are feeling alone and don’t think we see God or understand what is happening, we need to remember who God is.
II. The Creator
28 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.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might
He increases strength.
· In response to the conundrum Isaiah repeats and re-answers the question.
· These questions are here earlier in this chapter.
21 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
23 He brings the princes to nothing;
He makes the judges of the earth useless.
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.
25 "To whom then will you liken Me,
Or to whom shall I be equal?" says the Holy One.
A. Eternal … everlasting God
Time doesn’t get in God’s way.
John 8.58
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 57 Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." 59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Revelation 1.8
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
B. Omnipresent … ends of the earth
God is everywhere at one.
Psalm 139:
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens,
you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths,
you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Jeremiah 23.23-24
23 "Am I a God near at hand," says the Lord, "And not a God afar off? 24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?" says the Lord; "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the Lord.
C. Faithful: … neither faints
God is never off duty.
Deuteronomy 7:9
Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
1 Thessalonians 5:24
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
D. Wise: … understanding is
God’s plan is sometimes inscrutable.
Romans 11:33
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Daniel 2.20-21
20 Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. 21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. 22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.
E. Omnipotent … power
Strength without end.
Jeremiah 32:17-18
17 'Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. 18 You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them--the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts.
Job 42:2 "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
F. Compassion … gives to the weak
God is moved by our sit
Psalm 145.8-9
8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. 9 The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.
Exodus 34.6-7a
6 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,
III. The Confidence
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 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.
A. Human strength isn’t enough sometimes
“young men shall utterly fall,”
· Circumstances may overcome even the strongest young people I their prime either through lack of inner resources or because of the hardness of life. —Thomas Constables Exp. Notes.
B. Wait on the Lord
“those who wait … will renew their strength”
Strong's H6960 - qavah
(1) prop. to twist, bind; whence a rope
(2) to be strong, robust (for the notion of binding fast.
(3) to expect anything
“This root means to wait or to look for with eager expectation. It is used for the wicked who make an attempt to destroy the life of the righteous (Ps 56:6 [H 7]; 119:95). Waiting with steadfast endurance is a great expression of faith. It means enduring patiently in confident hope that God will decisively act for the salvation of his people (Gen 49:18).” —-TWOT
Application:
When life makes you weary,
keep your eyes on Christ!
28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." Matthew 14:28-33
Application: When life is great, keep your eyes of Christ!
BENEDICTION: Isaiah 41.10-13
