Isaiah 40

The Lord is dealing with His people. Chapter 40 begins with the word, ‘Comfort, O comfort, my people!’ Comfort is a word linked with afflictions. [See 2nd Corinthians chapter 1:3-7.] Then follows the statement that Jerusalem has received double for all her sins; which is very strong and painful. Even the New Testament maintains parity; ‘as a man sows, so shall he reap’ [Gal 6.7]. But here Israel [God's people] have sown the wind and reaped the whirlwind! They have gone into exile. They are dead and buried; read Ezekiel chapter 37. They are forsaken and forgotten [Isa 49.14].

But the Lord says He will save His people [40.10] and He will shepherd them [40.11] He is a God of infinite power, and all the nations are nothing before Him [40.17]. There is an indictment of idolatry. Oh, how we limit God! How we reduce Him to our earthly level! We create God in our own image. We are unable to comprehend His mighty power. He sustains the whole universe; every star He knows by name and not one of them is missing. The New Testament says He has counted the hairs on your head. Can we really grasp God? His understanding is infinite. He is the God who has all the power and wisdom. Let us bow down before Him. You are the Almighty God, and the Only Wise God!

And then come those wonderful words: ‘He gives power to the weak.’ This is what the Lord told Paul: ‘My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ [2 Cor 12.9]. Those who wait on the Lord shall gain new strength [resurrection power?]. They shall mount up with wings like eagles [the power of ascension?]. They shall run and not be weary [divine energy, as seen in the cherubim in Ezekiel chapter 1]. They shall walk and not faint [the power of endurance, the capacity to bear heavy load and stress]. They shall stand and yet withstand. They are like pillars in the house of God. But do we have the strength to 'wait upon Him'? Only when we are
utterly weak can we do so.