Is40:26-31 Wait (3/3)

# WAIT
## Isaiah 40:26-31

---

# How do I **wait** on the Lord?

[###](#/outline "secret")

>>>
+ waiting is not easy
+ for school to let out
+ to grow up, independent from parents
+ for a mate / marriage
+ for God to answer prayer
+ for God's justice to judge wrongs

---
[26](# "ref")
Lift up your eyes and look to the **heavens**: 
Who **created** all these?

He who brings out the **starry host** one by one 
and **calls forth** each of them by name.

Because of his great **power** 
and mighty strength, 
not one of them is missing.

[Isaiah 40:26 (NIV) (p.1/5)](# "ref")

---
[27](# "ref")
Why do you **complain**, Jacob? 
Why do you say, Israel,

“My way is **hidden** from the Lord; 
my cause is **disregarded** by my God”?

[Isaiah 40:27 (NIV) (p.2/5)](# "ref")

---
[28](# "ref")
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.

[Isaiah 40:28 (NIV) (p.3/5)](# "ref")

---
[29](# "ref")
He gives **strength** to the weary 
and increases the **power** of the weak.

[30](# "ref")
Even **youths** grow tired and weary, 
and young men **stumble** and fall;

[Isaiah 40:29-30 (NIV) (p.4/5)](# "ref")

---
[31](# "ref")
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.

[Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) (p.5/5)](# "ref")

---

## WAIT [(Is40:26-31)](# "ref")
1. **Eyes** [(v26)](# "ref")
1. **Heart** [(v27)](# "ref")
1. **Mind** [(v28-29)](# "ref")
1. **Wings** [(v30-31)](# "ref")

>>>
+ eyes up: creation ⇒ creator
+ heart humble: God hears
+ mind obedient: God's justice
+ wings open: soar in God's grace
  + boast in own weakness

---

Lift up your **eyes** and look to the **heavens**: 
Who **created** all these?

[Isaiah 40:26 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ creation points to **creator**
+ **science** is Godly:
+ Kepler: merely thinking God's thoughts after Him
+ Ps19 (devo):

---

The **heavens** declare the **glory** of God; 
the **skies** proclaim the **work** of His hands.

[Psalm 19:1 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **speech** of the skies
+ **declare**: for purpose of being known
  + skies want to **tell** us:
  + are we **listening**?

---

He who brings out the **starry host** one by one 
and **calls forth** each of them by name.

Because of his great **power** 
and mighty strength, 
not one of them is **missing**.

[Isaiah 40:26 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ calls by **name**: indiv **care**
+ none **missing**: cf sheep
+ ⇒ **character** of God

---

# What does the **sky** teach me about God?

>>>
+ science, created world ⇒ **Creator**
+ **power** + strength
+ personal **care**: by name, none missing

---

## WAIT [(Is40:26-31)](# "ref")
1. Eyes [(v26)](# "ref")
1. **Heart** [(v27)](# "ref")
1. Mind [(v28-29)](# "ref")
1. Wings [(v30-31)](# "ref")

>>>
+ humble **perspective**
  + God **cares** for the stars
+ **heart** humble:
  + trust God cares for **me**

---

Why do you **complain**, Jacob? 
Why do you say, Israel,

“My way is **hidden** from the Lord; 
my cause is **disregarded** by my God”?

[Isaiah 40:27 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **way**: road, journey of life
  + **cause**: (plea for) justice
+ **hidden**: concealed, unnoticed
  + **disregard**: passes through/over
+ feel **ignored** ⇒ assume God doesn't **see**
  + ⇒ **oppress** others:

---

They pour out **arrogant** words; [...] 
They slay the **widow** and the **foreigner**; 
they murder the **fatherless**.

They say, "The LORD does not **see**; 
The God of Jacob takes no **notice**."

[Psalm 94:4-7 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ doubt God's **power** or **love**:
+ either God is **unable** to see,
  + or He doesn't **care**
+ oppress the **powerless**:
  + widow, alien, orphan

---

# Have I ever felt **ignored** by God?

>>>
+ long-term unanswered **prayer**
+ how does it affect my **heart**?
  + **faith** / trust in God?

---

## WAIT [(Is40:26-31)](# "ref")
1. Eyes [(v26)](# "ref")
1. Heart [(v27)](# "ref")
1. **Mind** [(v28-29)](# "ref")
1. Wings [(v30-31)](# "ref")

>>>
+ eyes up: creation ⇒ **might** + **care**
+ heart humble: God **hears** us
+ mind **obedient**:
  + submit to God's **justice**

---

Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the **everlasting** God, 
the **Creator** of the ends of the earth.

[Isaiah 40:28 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ If God does not **answer** my prayer,
+ not because He doesn't **hear**:

---

Does He who fashioned the **ear** not hear? 
Does He who formed the **eye** not see?

Does He who **disciplines** nations 
not **punish**? 
Does He who **teaches** mankind 
lack **knowledge**?

[Psalm 94:9-10 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ authority as **Creator**
+ awareness, judgment, wisdom

---

Surely the **arm** of the LORD 
is not too **short** to save, 
nor His **ear** too **dull** to hear.

But your **iniquities** have 
**separated** you from your God; 
your **sins** have **hidden** 
His face from you.

[Isaiah 59:1-2 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ not God's **fault** for not answering
+ but my own **sin**
+ as I **repent**
+ God has abundant **strength** to give:

---

He will not grow **tired** or weary, 
and his **understanding** no one can fathom.

[29](# "ref")
He gives **strength** to the weary 
and increases the **power** of the weak.

[Isaiah 40:28-29 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **strength** for the weary
+ **wisdom** for those lacking
  + seems **foolish** to the world
  + but is **wiser** than world's wisdom

---

Oh, the depth of the **riches** 
of the **wisdom** and knowledge of God!

How **unsearchable** his judgments, 
and his paths beyond **tracing** out!

[...] [36](# "ref")
For **from** him and **through** him 
and **for** him are all things.

[Romans 11:33,36 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ (v32): God's plan of **salvation**:
+ bound all to **disobedience**
  + that may have **mercy** on all

---

# Have I **questioned** God's judgment?

>>>
+ grand **equaliser**:
  + churched/non-churched, family Chr/non
  + CAN/TW/other
  + rich/poor, edu/not
+ all are enslaved to **sin**
+ God extends **mercy** to all

---

## WAIT [(Is40:26-31)](# "ref")
1. Eyes [(v26)](# "ref")
1. Heart [(v27)](# "ref")
1. Mind [(v28-29)](# "ref")
1. **Wings** [(v30-31)](# "ref")

>>>
+ eyes up: creation ⇒ creator
+ heart humble: God hears
+ mind obedient: God's justice
+ wings open: soar in God's grace
  + boast in own weakness

---

Even **youths** grow tired and weary, 
and young men **stumble** and fall;

[Isaiah 40:30 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ trusting in own strength
+ youth is fleeting
+ **stumble**: unexpected tragedy
  + no way to **prepare** for all events

---

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.

[Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **hope**: wait, eager expectation
+ soar, not **flap**
+ boast in own **weakness**
  + that God's **power** may be known

---

But God chose the **foolish** things 
of the world to shame the **wise**;

God chose the **weak** things 
of the world to shame the **strong** [...],

[29](# "ref")
so that **no one** may **boast** before him.

[1 Corinthians 1:27,29 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ world thinks us **fools** for Christ
+ e.g., software co: honest vs pirates

---

He said to me, “My **grace** is sufficient for you, 
for my **power** is made perfect in **weakness**.”

Therefore I will **boast** all the more gladly 
about my **weaknesses**,

so that **Christ’s power** may rest on me.

[2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)](# "ref")

---

# Do I **flap** in my own strength
# or **soar** in God's grace?

---

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.

[Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)](# "ref")

---