Isaiah Encouraging All to Wait on the Lord (Isaiah
40:31; 8:17; and 25:9)
Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their
strength... And I will wait on the LORD, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; and I will hope in Him...And
it will be said in that day:
"Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; we
have waited for Him; we will be glad and
rejoice in His salvation."
Isaiah's desire to live by grace was evident in his proclaiming that
God's power was for those who admit their own weakness. Now, we see Isaiah's
heart for God's grace in his encouraging all to wait on the Lord. One of Isaiah's encouragements to wait on the
Lord came in conjunction with God's
promises to give power to the weak.
(Isaiah 40:29, 31) "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength...
They shall mount up with wings like
eagles, they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint". This gracious work of God in
people's lives only required their
waiting on the Lord. "Those who
wait on the LORD shall renew their strength."
Another of Isaiah's encouragements to wait on
the Lord occurred at a time when Israel
was rebelling against God. "For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong
hand, and instructed me that I should
not walk in the way of this people" (Isaiah 8:11). The Lord strongly urged Isaiah to stand
against Israel's rebellion, even though
they were threatening the prophet.
(Isaiah 8:12-13)"Do not...be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. The LORD of hosts, Him you shall
hallow;Let Him be your fear".
Isaiah's encouraging testimony revealed that his heart was fully set on the Lord. "And I will wait on the LORD, Who hides
His face from the house of Jacob; and I
will hope in Him."
God was not
revealing Himself to rebellious Israel.
On the other hand, Isaiah would "wait on the LORD" (that
is, he would "hope in
Him"). Isaiah's ultimate
encouragement to wait on the Lord is related to God's establishing of His
everlasting kingdom. "And it will
be said in that day: 'Behold, this is our God;
we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and
rejoice in His salvation.'" Those who place their hope in the Lord during
their pilgrimage on earth will rejoice
forever when the Lord implements for
eternity the fullness of His salvation for His people!
Posts
