Tired and weary.
I’ve said that multiple times in the past several months.
What about you?
Our current culture is built upon busyness. We constantly rush about, filling our days, and have little time for rest. Our to-do lists never end, and our commitments seemingly increase.
And thus we are tired and weary.
Our Everlasting God
Isaiah declared, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not become weary or tired” (Isaiah 40:28).
What an incredible declaration!
Our God does not become tired or weary!
He is unlike us.
With infinitely more to do and focus upon, Yahweh, the Everlasting God, the Creator, does not become weary, burdened, or tired.
Listen to how Isaiah continues the passage …
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weary, and to him who lacks vigor He increases might. Though youths grow weary and tired, and choice young men stumble badly, yet those who hope in Yahweh will gain new power; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary (Isaiah 40:28–31).
Amen.
Yahweh, the Everlasting God, the Creator, who does not become weary, burdened, or tired … gives power and strength to those who are weary.
Do you need rest for your soul?
Do you need God’s strength today? Do you need His refreshment? Do you need rest for your soul?
Jesus (i.e., Yahweh in the flesh) promises the same thing as what was written in Isaiah:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30)
Jesus is quoting Jeremiah 6:16, where it is written: “Thus says Yahweh, ‘Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.'”
If you desire rest and strength, God promises to supply what you need. “…those who hope in Yahweh will gain new power” (Isaiah 40:31).
The word “hope” in Hebrew is qāvâ (qāwâ), meaning “to wait, look for, hope, expect.”
- But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength (KJV)
- But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength (NLT)
- Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength (NASB95)
- Yet those who hope in Yahweh will gain new power (LSB)
- But those who wait for the LORD [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] will gain new strength and renew their power (Amplified)
Do you put your trust, hope, and wait upon the Lord?
John N. Oswalt explains this concept beautifully …
This expression implies two things: complete dependence on God and a willingness to allow Him to decide the terms. To wait on Him is to admit that we have no other help, either in ourselves or in another. Therefore we are helpless until He acts. By the same token, to wait on Him is to declare our confidence in His eventual action on our behalf. Thus waiting (qāwâ) in Hebrew is not merely killing time but a life of confident expectation (see Isaiah 8:17; 25:9; 33:2; 49:23; 64:3). Those who give up their own frantic efforts to save themselves and turn expectantly to God will be able to replace or exchange (yaḥalîpû) their worn-out strength for new strength. How like God: He takes the useless and gives back the good (53:11). (1)
Do you have a confident expectation, hope, and dependence upon God? Are you willing for Him to decide the terms?
In order to come to that point, it is imperative that we realize that we have no other help but the Lord our God.
Are you tired and weary? Are you needing rest for your soul?
The solution is in Jesus Himself.
Will you and I put our whole hope, confidence, and trust in Him? Will we risk everything and have no other solution or option or help but Him?
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weary, and to him who lacks vigor He increases might. Though youths grow weary and tired, and choice young men stumble badly, yet those who hope in Yahweh will gain new power; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary (Isaiah 40:28–31).
Cheering you ever deeper into the One who is our rest, hope, and strength: Jesus Christ!
FOOTNOTES
(1) John N. Oswalt, The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 40–66, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998), 74.
Photo Credit: Mathew Schwartz
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