May 11th 2025 // Isaiah 40:28-31
APPLICATION: Read & watch/listen to Isaiah 40:28-31
2. Who We Are: vs. 29-30
3. What We Should Do: vs 31
I have been before God, and have given myself, all that I am and have, to God, so that I am not in any respect my own.…
In other words, “All I want out of my life, what I’ll be happy to walk away with, is God and God alone. Whatever other gifts he gives me I will enjoy with thanks to him and for his sake. But God is my salvation, and everything else in my existence will find its meaning in reference to God, or it will have no meaning for me at all.” Paul charted his course that way, and God brought him all the way through. At the end Paul wrote: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7, 8).
Digging Deeper:
The Way
In 40:27 The initial question inquires about the audience’s rationale for the repeated statements (they “are continually saying”), almost implying that they should have figured out the answer by now. This complaint is about “my God,” who should be taking care of his people and insuring that they are dealt with justly. One assumes that the “way” (derek) that is hidden from God’s eyes refers to the difficult path the people were facing at this time, but there is no explicit explanation of what troubles the people were facing or what injustice the lamenter is referring to. They probably expected, based on their covenant relationship with God, that God would deal with them mercifully, but this was not happening. These statements could be interpreted almost as accusations against God (as in a dispute), but they are actually part of a sorrowful lamenting plea that is searching for an answer (they are not accusing God of evil). They wanted God to intervene on their behalf, but so far he has done almost nothing. These lamenting questions correspond in many respects to the lament that was expressed in 26:7–27:1. When Assyria was attacking, the people of Judah “yearned for God” because they wanted to see his “judgments come upon the earth” (26:9–10) to defeat their enemy. But the prophet asks, why (lāmmâ) are the people of God saying these things? Do these people really think that God does not know what they are doing (their “way, path, conduct” derek)? Is God really unjust?[2]
Waiting
Some translations of the Bible say that our part is to “hope” in the Lord. That isn’t wrong. But the ESV is wise to use the word “wait,” because waiting is an important part of our faith. Waiting is what faith does before God’s answer shows up. God gives us great and precious promises, and then he calls us to wait. And Isaiah’s point is that such bright expectancy is the psychological leverage God uses to empower us. The “how” question is answered in this word “wait.” Are you willing to wait? Are you willing to let God set the pace? Or are you such a controller you can’t live on God’s terms? Is the prospect of having the glory of the Lord as your eternal delight out beyond the barbed wire—does your heart prize him as worth the wait? If so, your heart will be endlessly renewed until that great day. If not, you’re on your own.[3]
The key is the word “wait.” What does it mean? To wait for the Lord means to live in confident, eager suspense. It means to live with the tension of promises revealed but not yet fulfilled. This waiting is not killing time. It isn’t sitting around, drumming your fingers. It is waiting on tip-toe, waiting with eager longing. It is forgetting what lies behind, straining forward to what lies ahead, and pressing on toward the goal (Philippians 3:13, 14). It isn’t erratic bursts of hyperactivity within a general pattern of boredom. It is steady, rugged progress, sustained by the conviction that the display of God’s glory in Christ is yours.[4]
Questions to Consider:
Prayer Time:
[1] Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. and R. Kent Hughes, Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 255–256.
[2] Gary Smith, Isaiah 40-66, vol. 15B, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2009), 120–121.
[3] Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. and R. Kent Hughes, Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 254–255.
[4] Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. and R. Kent Hughes, Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 254.
- Who God Is. vs. 28
- His Permanence
- His Position
- His Power
- His Perception
2. Who We Are: vs. 29-30
- Our Persistence fades
- Our Perseverance grows weary
3. What We Should Do: vs 31
- Wait on the Lord
- Soar with the Eagles
- Run with strength
- Walk with purpose
Life Application:
On Saturday morning, January 12, 1723, Jonathan Edwards wrote these words in his journal:I have been before God, and have given myself, all that I am and have, to God, so that I am not in any respect my own.…
I have given myself clear away, and have not retained anything as my own.… I have this morning told him that I did take him for my whole portion and felicity, looking upon nothing else as any part of my happiness, nor acting as if it were.…
In other words, “All I want out of my life, what I’ll be happy to walk away with, is God and God alone. Whatever other gifts he gives me I will enjoy with thanks to him and for his sake. But God is my salvation, and everything else in my existence will find its meaning in reference to God, or it will have no meaning for me at all.” Paul charted his course that way, and God brought him all the way through. At the end Paul wrote: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7, 8).
We’re all weak. But we don’t have to be supermen. God simply calls us to believe what we believe and to set our hearts on things above. If we will, that longing for God is the channel through which his power will lift us and renew us and cheer us all the way there.[1]
Digging Deeper:
The Way
In 40:27 The initial question inquires about the audience’s rationale for the repeated statements (they “are continually saying”), almost implying that they should have figured out the answer by now. This complaint is about “my God,” who should be taking care of his people and insuring that they are dealt with justly. One assumes that the “way” (derek) that is hidden from God’s eyes refers to the difficult path the people were facing at this time, but there is no explicit explanation of what troubles the people were facing or what injustice the lamenter is referring to. They probably expected, based on their covenant relationship with God, that God would deal with them mercifully, but this was not happening. These statements could be interpreted almost as accusations against God (as in a dispute), but they are actually part of a sorrowful lamenting plea that is searching for an answer (they are not accusing God of evil). They wanted God to intervene on their behalf, but so far he has done almost nothing. These lamenting questions correspond in many respects to the lament that was expressed in 26:7–27:1. When Assyria was attacking, the people of Judah “yearned for God” because they wanted to see his “judgments come upon the earth” (26:9–10) to defeat their enemy. But the prophet asks, why (lāmmâ) are the people of God saying these things? Do these people really think that God does not know what they are doing (their “way, path, conduct” derek)? Is God really unjust?[2]
Waiting
Some translations of the Bible say that our part is to “hope” in the Lord. That isn’t wrong. But the ESV is wise to use the word “wait,” because waiting is an important part of our faith. Waiting is what faith does before God’s answer shows up. God gives us great and precious promises, and then he calls us to wait. And Isaiah’s point is that such bright expectancy is the psychological leverage God uses to empower us. The “how” question is answered in this word “wait.” Are you willing to wait? Are you willing to let God set the pace? Or are you such a controller you can’t live on God’s terms? Is the prospect of having the glory of the Lord as your eternal delight out beyond the barbed wire—does your heart prize him as worth the wait? If so, your heart will be endlessly renewed until that great day. If not, you’re on your own.[3]
The key is the word “wait.” What does it mean? To wait for the Lord means to live in confident, eager suspense. It means to live with the tension of promises revealed but not yet fulfilled. This waiting is not killing time. It isn’t sitting around, drumming your fingers. It is waiting on tip-toe, waiting with eager longing. It is forgetting what lies behind, straining forward to what lies ahead, and pressing on toward the goal (Philippians 3:13, 14). It isn’t erratic bursts of hyperactivity within a general pattern of boredom. It is steady, rugged progress, sustained by the conviction that the display of God’s glory in Christ is yours.[4]
Questions to Consider:
- What does it mean to you to 'hope in the Lord', as per Isaiah 40:31?
- In the modern world, with its diverse belief systems, how can we communicate the incomparable nature of God, as described in Isaiah 40?
- How can we ensure that we don't 'complain' about God's perceived inaction, as the Israelites did in verse 27?
- How can the promise of strength renewal (Isaiah 40:31) inspire those going through difficult times?
- In a society where people often feel weary and burdened, how can we help them 'soar on wings like eagles' (Isaiah 40:31)?
Prayer Time:
[1] Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. and R. Kent Hughes, Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 255–256.
[2] Gary Smith, Isaiah 40-66, vol. 15B, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2009), 120–121.
[3] Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. and R. Kent Hughes, Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 254–255.
[4] Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. and R. Kent Hughes, Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 254.