Friday, June 7, 2013

EMMDEV 2013-06-07 [Renewing Strength...] Do you not know? #2

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah40:28-31

I was sorely tempted to send out only the text and say "enough said!" I didn't want to spoil this beautiful verses with inadequate commentary... (I'm still not sure that wouldn't have been better to say nothing... but here goes:)

And so we arrive to the great culmination of our journey.
Strategically positioned after the key complaint of the chapter, this final part of the "to whom?" and "do you not know?" question cycle brings to our hearts and minds the wonderful peace and comfort that God is with us in our troubles and renews our strength.

The previous "Do you not know?" dealt with the humbling of the arrogant and the powerful. This one deals with the strengthening of the tired, weary and weak.

Even youths and young men grow weary and weak. But God gives strength to the weary.

But note how Isaiah puts it to us:
He does not start with the need of the weary and weak.
He starts with the nature of God:
God is everlasting. God is the Creator.
God's nature is strength. God's nature is all-knowing.
God nature is to give.
- strength to the weary
- power to the weak

To soar on wings like eagles (to have perspective), to run and not grow weary to walk and not faint (to be inspired and persevere) comes from hoping in Him - from seeing Him clearly - from recognising that He meets us in our troubles and finds us in our brokenness.

This whole beautiful chapter has propelled us to this great and beautiful truth! Now go back and read our text passage slowly and joyfully...!!
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That brings us to the end of this series - hope you have enjoyed it.
Schools close in two weeks time which means we have 8 devs before I take a break for the July holidays. Any suggestions on a short theme for the next two weeks??
God bless,
Theo


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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/