Isaiah 40:27-31, What Are You Waiting For?

Isaiah 40 and the Call to Wait on the Lord

Isaiah chapter 40 from verse 27 to 31 hear the word of the Lord Why do you say Oh Jacob and Speak Oh Israel. My way is hidden from the Lord and my right is disregarded by my God. Have you not known? Have you not heard the Lord is the everlasting God the creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary. His understanding is Unsearchable. He gives power to the faint and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even you shall be faint and be weary and young men shall fall exhausted.

But they who wait for 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. May the Lord had his blessings to the reading of his Holy Word.

Christmas, Advent, and the Difference Between Remembering and Waiting

Christmas Day, so the waiting on Christmas is over for many people. Presidents have been opened the speculation about what might have been in those boxes is over the wonder is Answered and the children's dreams about what it might appear for them have come true and hopefully exceeded.

When I was a kid, I would count down the days come about December. I'd start counting down the days to Christmas waiting eagerly for the the day when surprise gifts would appear in the living room on Christmas morning the one morning I'd be sure to get up early.

One year when I was about nine I was I guess I'm so eager to be down there as soon as I could in that living room that There's no impatient for the moment and Christmas morning when I could get the gifts that I slept on the stairs From our upstairs Bedrooms, I wanted to save you know, the two or three seconds that it would take to get from my bed.

Downstairs save a few seconds to get out of bed to go downstairs. So I figured why not sleep on the steps? Sometimes you just can't wait right when when that thing is near you can't wait anymore. Well, what are you waiting on?

Maybe not your gifts. Did you get them already? If not, you might still have to wait for a little while. Maybe you got a gift card. This is a promise that there's this thing you want you can have it, but you don't have it right now.

You still got to wait a little bit wait for tomorrow for the stores to open now. Some people hate that this gift card this promise that you could get the thing like a GameStop. You can get that game or the system you want, but you don't actually have it yet.

To have to wait another day. They want it now. The Christmas season is often sold as a time to go wait for the birth of Christ prepare ourselves for his coming as if I don't think people often when they say that they don't mean to imply but there they are implying whether they mean it or Not as if he hasn't come already.

A couple of weeks ago I I saw Advent sold as a time when we learn to wait, you know, we're this is Advent season. We're learning to wait. I thought wait for what? You know, Jesus is already born. Some people are trying to make it when they do that.

They're trying to make it sound more dramatic. You know put it in the present tense, you know, Jesus Christ is born today to make us feel that we're in the drama. Personally right now instead of just kind of remembering something that's already passed.

But when they do that, they inadvertently suggest that the Sun is coming again every December 25th and some people. Some people from some traditions purposely suggest that as if we have to wait on him again.

Almost as if he's being born all over again now most Protestants when it says that that's not what they mean. When they're when they talk like that about Christmas, but they don't understand that that kind of cyclical re-experiencing of Christ's birth.

Is exactly what some of the people who gave us these holidays originally what they what they meant after all. We don't talk like that about other holidays that are remembering something in the past. Do we you think it you would think it's weird if every June we were told we have to we're waiting.

To declare independence from Britain there were no prepare yourself to make your declaration to King George on July 4th. You go, huh? What are you talking about? We're not waiting. We're not preparing.

We're remembering and celebrating. Something that's already done something that's already accomplished this past, but there are some things we are still waiting on. We're not waiting when Jesus to come as a baby the Son of the flesh.

But we are waiting on him to come again is joy to the world. The Lord is Come. Is it about Jesus's first coming or about his second coming? I don't really know actually He's purposely and ambiguous about that as Isaac was you'd have to ask as it was we remember if we celebrate one Coming and we wait.

For another we're in between what we remember and what we're waiting for. You need to know though while we're in between What you are waiting on and what you remember? God here in Isaiah chapter 40 tells us both.

To remember what's already passed what's accomplished and to wait. We see that here in three parts and I'm borrowing from a pastor Liam Gallagher for by outline first God confronts our doubts. Then he jogs our memory and finally he increases our strength.

God Confronts Our Doubts About What He Has Already Done

If if you forget what's passed What's been accomplished already if you think everything is wait. Everything is still something to anticipate for the future nothing accomplished yet. Then you'll be liable to doubts you begin to wonder.

Well, is he ever really gonna do anything? Here the survivors remember in where we are in this context in Isaiah chapter 40 the survivors of the Assyrian attack on Judah mostly in Jerusalem. They have doubts.

Now you think they'd be celebrating what God has already done. What's he accomplished for them. The Assyrian army had been poised to lay siege to Jerusalem. They ravaged the rest of the country and then they targeted Jerusalem.

They were laid siege to it destroy it. The end result of that would have been a massacre. Men impaled and flayed alive others butchered and everyone else hauled away as captives as They see the city behind them going up in flames.

But the angel the Lord massacred the Assyrian army instead. Recorded as a Greek historian as the result of a plague and so Jerusalem was spared. Now you'd think Having seen that. That they'd be celebrating with gratitude what God's already done.

But we have a tendency to take for granted past blessings, you know, no matter how great. We just okay that's accomplished and we'll go on. We always look for the next thing waiting for what the next blessing.

Accomplishment that we need waiting for what you want next can eclipse. What you've already been given. You may have already taken for granted here. We are not even noon yet on Christmas Day and you may have already taken for granted the gifts that you were given today and begun to think about.

What do I need next. So it never stops always waiting never celebrating what's already accomplished. But what you've already been given but today. Today we should celebrate What's been done in the past.

What's accomplished? Joy to the world the Lord has come. Here they've seen the Lord delivered them in Jerusalem. But they're so focused on what they've suffered what they've been through that they then express doubts.

The Lord confronts their doubts in verse 27. Why do you say Oh Jacob. Why do you speak Oh Israel? Why are you saying this? What he's using both the old and the new names for the nation Jacob and Israel.

Why are you saying? My way is hidden from the Lord. It was. God doesn't see me. He doesn't know what's going on. He doesn't see. They're saying all that we suffered all the destruction has come our way cities of Judah.

They've been destroyed. The thousands of people have been killed and dragged away as prisoners. The houses that have been burned down the livestock. That's been stolen. God hasn't noticed it at all. What do you tell such people even though they've just been delivered by the Lord.

You tell them but first. Remember remember what he's already done. Celebrate the gifts you already have. But they're saying in verse 27 my right literally my justice. Otherwise, what's justice for me?

I Didn't get justice. My justice is Disregarded by my God. I've got injustice. God hasn't seen it. I've suffered. They sound very American here. Don't think my I didn't get my rights. He's not protected my rights.

We had been giving him worship. They think we've been we've been giving to him our money. We've been sacrificing but keeping that temple going and we expect him. To protect our rights to keep us safe from invasion.

We paid our premiums. We expect the coverage, but we didn't get it. That's what they think that's their doubts and God confronts them. What about you? Has God done things for you? Delivered you from sins and from from darkness is provided for you what you needed.

He opened doors. He's he brought you thus far. But you're so focused on that next thing you need. The thing you're waiting on now. You begin to doubt if he sees you if he's he's hearing you if he's paying you any attention.

You're so focused on what you've suffered. The disappointments the betrayals the gift you didn't get. The relationships you don't have. That you have doubts. Well here he confronts your doubts. Remember What he's done already then remember who he is and.

Then yes wait. So he confronts their doubts and then second he jobs their memory. Have you not known? Rhetorical question that yes, you've obviously known. Known is past tense. Don't does that have you not known?

Oh, if you knew this before and playing is something they used to know, but they don't know it anymore. You ever had that haunting feeling? You read something or you heard something and you realize wait, I used to know that.

You need to keep hearing so you'll not forget. What you know? That's why it's a good idea to be continually reading your Bible every day. Try to read it through in 2023. Try that Mr. Perry said that he read the Bible through once a year that way.

What you know? Does it become something that you? Had known. Have you not heard he's jogging their memory. They've heard this before and yet they doubted it. Anyway, they had heard that the Lord notice all capital letters there verse 28 meaning Yahweh the I am.

The one that they they've heard but forgotten and so have now doubted. Wondering where God is the Lord is. Four things he says the Lord is among many others, but here's the four he focuses on first. He jogs our memory that the Lord is Everlasting.

The word for everlasting means he's long enduring unending from antiquity the ancient past the original beginning to futurity. Continuing into the future perpetually. He's the opposite of the all-flesh.

Which is grass remember in verses 6 to 8 those good but temporary things that the beautiful things. The that the breath of the Lord blows on and they wilt away. The princes the authorities who seem so powerful.

But scarcely does their term start when it's all over. The Lord is not like that. He doesn't fade he doesn't wither he isn't blown away. This means that he is not affected by time in any way is over time.

He's beyond time. He doesn't change or develop. He doesn't get soft in his old age like some people are just cynical with experience like other people and Theology this is called the immutability of God the fact that he is unchanging.

You know to change and you and I change either get better or get worse or for God to change He would have to either get better or worse, but since he's perfect. There's nothing better for him to evolve to to grow to and since he's perfect.

He's not going to decline. It's not gonna become worse. Even when God becomes him became a man incarnated in Jesus. He didn't change. His divine nature remained the same. What we remember today is it is not a change in God but the birth of a man Who is always God?

He's the everlasting God. He's not an idol. That's something made by craftsmen or marketing people to sell. Well something made with skill something people make to look stable and Beautiful remember our gods are whatever we think is stable.

They made idols back in verse 20, so they wouldn't fall over. So they appeared stable. Of course, they really weren't. We make gods out of whatever we think is everlasting. Relationships we think will last forever.

Money that we think we can buy stuff that will last. Athletic achievement get a trophy. We think will last politics. Whatever things we think are really important that will last will make an impact but all those things even when good Aren't everlasting and so don't make good gods.

Only the true God is everlasting and we need to remember that when we're tempted to make gods out of temporary things. Second he jogs our memory that the Lord is the creator of the ends of the earth. He's not created like we are like our idols are the gods we create for ourselves to serve ourselves.

As we've seen but we know that the universe was created and it could not create itself. No atheist mockers like to say well The Lord is just another God created by mythology like the Assyrian men outside Jerusalem.

The Lord is just like any of the other gods of these other nations. And he's not gonna be able to withstand us and of course did the Lord destroyed them. But someone has to have created the universe. Now if you confront the mockers of our day with that fact.

Well, they'll fume and they'll huff and they'll puff and they'll deny it and they'll insult you. But it's still true these there simply must be a creator a first cause a prime mover and here the Lord is reminding them and you.

That he is that one and we need to remember that when scoffers are owned outs. With the consumerism of a modern Christmas. They tempt us to think that he's he's created to. Something cooked up to sell to make us feel good may be created to serve us.

No, he's not third. He jogs our memory that the Lord does not faint or grow weary. He doesn't collapse from exhaustion. He's never tired. He's never needing to recover from some exertion from chore. He just got done.

Even when Genesis says that he rested from his work of creation. It doesn't say he did it because he got tired. He created the universe with a word and then he may form the earth habitable for us and Wasn't in the least bit drained by any of that.

He didn't need an energy drink to replenish himself a nap to recover. You need to remember that in case one day you're wondering why God isn't doing for you What you want him to do and you wonder is he just too tired to get around to me.

He isn't fourth. He jogs our memory that the Lord's understanding is Unsearchable that's beyond our ability to learn. We could never grasp it. We could not master it. Even if we gave our whole lives all our time to doing nothing but studying and meditating to get wise.

Like he is he has an infinite wisdom and so he knows what he's doing. Even when he lets a Syrian armies invade Judah. We need to remember that when we're doubting whether he knows what he's doing. When he allows whatever in our lives.

Why he's given me this. Spouse are not giving me one. Why my kids are like this. Why my business is it booming? Why I'm not successful. Why God allowed death to take someone? Does he not understand? Yes, he does so we have doubts that he confronted by.

Jogging our memory with who he is. But what are we to do now? The Assyrians have ravaged the country. The biopsy has come back and the diagnosis is bad. The family is in trouble. The business is failing.

I'm alone. The Lord is everlasting the Creator. He's tireless. He's infinitely wise. Remember that. But what do I do now? Now You wait. Are you tired? Well, that's okay because you're not God. You're not tireless so rest and wait.

Waiting on the Lord for Renewed Strength

Third part in verses 29 to 31. God increases our strength. He gives power to the faint to those who are on the verge of collapsing of giving up he Rejuvenates them. The ones who are feeling like they can't go on.

Another step if only they'll cast themselves on the Lord. He'll renew them. If you have no might no power. Remember who he is. He's a faint. He doesn't run out of power. He doesn't need a recharge like your phone now.

He Recharges he'll recharge you if you'll wait and Verse 30 even you shall faint and be weary. And we can always comment on how Much energy little kids have running around. Having a hard time sitting still for the sermon so they have to go behind.

They're so energetic. But even they get tired. Take a nap. Young men shall fall exhausted. I've seen well-trained track athletes men who have developed their bodies to the maximum of endurance and strength.

Collapse and exhaustion. After having a run as hard as they could. You saw that in the chariots of fire video an Olympic athlete trained to run the steeplechase Done can barely stay up on his feet staggering to the bench.

I know exactly how that felt. No matter how well conditioned you are You'll run out of strength. But In contrast to those energetic kids Running around all the time then they have to take a nap. Young athletes So well trained but still wear out but Those who wait for the Lord in verse 31.

Literally, it's waiters for the Lord. They're different. The emphasis is on the fact that they are people are waiting on The Lord it's not that the waiting kind of just automatically naturally rejuvenates like resting between sets of weightlifting.

So your muscles can recover and so now you can lift a little more. When I ran the steeplechase I was wiped out. I didn't think I could run another race that day. But a couple hours later after a break I ran the 5k made my fastest I've ever.

The body recovers kind of naturally but here it's not just That not just a Rejuvenating power of a little break. It's not the waiting that gives you strength. But the Lord you are waiting on those who are waiters of the Lord.

To be a waiter of the Lord is to wait patiently in restful trust receiving his word meditating on his promises reflecting on his glory wondering at his creation and his incarnation. Casting yourself on him and complete confidence.

Like you're trusting in that Chair to hold you up right now. Now if you were afraid that any moment that chair might collapse. You'd be kind of kind of crouching probably sitting right on the edge of it.

Ready at any moment to hold yourself up. The chair gives away your legs tensed. You wouldn't be really rested but now. All for all I can tell you all appear to be resting on those chairs. Because you trust them if you have that kind of trust in the Lord.

Your waiter on the Lord. Then he will share with you some of his boundless untiring power that power that he has. Maybe you're waiting on him to give you a Victory over some sin in your life or breakthrough in your family.

Or to release your children like the people of Jerusalem were released from that siege. Maybe even waiting for freedom from something from sin something in your family they had to wait. The people of Jerusalem had to wait even while they were mocked or they were threatened and You might have to wait.

Even when people around you doubt you maybe mock you. You wait by trusting you meditate on his word you do your duty. You enjoy his coming you celebrate what's already been done. You remember what he's accomplished.

Especially on this day. And so he gives you strength to give you the strength you need in that last verse. Straight to do three things to fly. To run to walk. You'll be able to if you're a waiter on the Lord to fly like an eagle and that's supernatural.

Because you're not an eagle. But he'll give you the strength the ability to fly like one to supernaturally to overcome The world to fly over all the ways that the world tries to hold you down. Fly over the depression and the doubts the temptations to its conforming power.

You'll fly like an eagle now first before that happens. The great eagle might push you out of the nest where you've been waiting and resting. He might push you out and you feel like you're free falling.

You're wondering if you're gonna go splat on the rocks below but then the great eagle comes Underneath you and you fall on him and you've mounted the great eagles wings and You're flying on him. If you feel like you're free falling right now It's okay.

Just wait. Soon the great eagle will be below you and you'll find yourself mounted on eagles wings flying. If you're a waiter on the Lord, he gives you the strength to run. My track coach said that running is the hardest work that the human body does.

Running here is the exceptional demands that the testing the fiery trial of your faith when you have to exert yourself as Hard as you possibly can and you don't know how much longer you can keep doing this.

Keep putting up with these people. Keep bearing whatever you're bearing. Keep resisting temptation. Keep saying no to something your flesh craves. No your anger or your lust or your greed. Keep fleeing the devil running as hard as you can stretching your endurance gasping for breath.

You feel like you're about to collapse. Straining every muscle and you're running and then instead of collapsing an exhaustion. Your power is renewed. If you're a waiter on the Lord and gives you the strength you need to walk now flying like with eagles wings is Supernatural overcoming and running is the fiery trial.

Then walking Is the daily grind. It's getting up every day doing your job. Praying and reading your Bible even when you don't feel like it even when you hit Leviticus. Coming to church even when it's not exciting.

Your daily walk. You're able to walk with the Lord like eating. Remember just a closer walk with thee and You're able to do it day in and day out. Because you don't faint you don't give up you don't say stop the world.

I want to get off. You waited on the Lord and He renewed your strength. He renewed you because of what you didn't have to wait on because Jesus the Holy One has Come the word became past tense flesh. You don't have to wait for that to happen again.

He's not doing it all over again every year. We're celebrating that already. He's done the supernatural. He brought down Satan from heaven and so we can trample on him and not be hurt. He's taken the wrath of God so that God can now say to us comfort.

Comfort my people. He's made you his people that's supernatural. So that we can have tidings of comfort and joy and he's given us a spirit so we can be born again. We can be adopted sons and daughters of God and cry out.

Ah, but father we can run from temptation. We can flee from the devil and walk in the spirit every day. You don't have to wait for any of that. Rather you can now wait on the Lord because of all that.

This is the day about what you don't Have to wait on so because of what you don't have to wait for now you have tidings of comfort and joy and now now. You can wait.