Isaiah 40:29 - God Is All-Powerful With Strength For Those Who Rely On Him.
Isa. 40:29; God Is All-Powerful With Strength For Those Who Rely
On Him.
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Isa 40:29 (KJV) He giveth power to the faint; and to them that
have no might he increaseth strength.
Isa 40:29 (NIV) He gives strength to the weary and increases
the power of the weak.
Isa 40:29 (TEV) He strengthens those who are weak and tired.
Neither faints nor is weary refers to how God meets the needs of
His people: the Lord will never let His people down (Ps. 121:3, 4).
[Nelson SB]
Strength is a gift of God (Jer. 9:23). [Nelson SB]
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
Judah's sovereign LORD intends good for His people (40:1-31).
God, not the idols worshiped by the nations, controls the future
(41:1-29). Though Israel failed its national calling as God's servant, One
from the nation will fulfill God's purpose (42:1-25) when the Creator
acts to redeem His chosen people (43:1-44:25). As evidence, God will
appoint one named Cyrus to restore Jerusalem (v. 26-45:25). Oppressive
Babylon will be crushed, and God's word of blessing for Israel will be
fulfilled (46:1-48:22). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
Isa 40 begins a new rhythm played for a time of desolation.
Comfort becomes the dominant theme; poetry is the idiom. The Messiah's
forerunner was predicted. His task would be to make straight the path for
the coming King. Early Christians recognized this crying voice as
that of John the Baptist (Mt 3:3). John himself perceived this as his
task (Jn 1:23). John's Gospel highlights the magnificent metaphor of
caring by portraying Jesus as the Good Shepherd (Isa 40:11; Jn 10:14).
Christians as recipients of such care must also learn to care in their
tasks of making ready the climactic royal appearance. Patient
preparation through concern and care is our ministry of comfort as we wait
for Jesus to return. [Disciple SB]
Isa. 40:1-31. "Here is your God" The first time I traveled in
the western America, I couldn't believe the sky. It seemed so big. I
had to keep looking to the left and right to take it all in.
This is something like Isaiah's treatment here of God. He is so
big, Isaiah has us look to the left and the right to try to take Him
in. Looking left, Isaiah described a God "enthroned above the circle
of the earth" to whom the nations seem "like a drop in a bucket"
(vv. 6-26). Looking left, we are simply overwhelmed by the awesome
greatness of God's power and mighty strength.
Then Isaiah has us look right, and we see the Creator stoop down
to touch the individual, and give "strength to the weary." Because
ours is a God who not only creates but who also cares, "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" (vv. 27-31). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
Isa 40:27-31 As in many psalms of praise, Isaiah now stresses
the goodness of God after describing his majesty (vv. 12-26). [NIV
SB]
God Is Supreme
The majesty of God (40:12-31)
The Greatness of God (40:9-31)
Comfort for God's People
God Gives Strength to Those Who Depend on Him
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Psalm 29:11 (KJV) The Lord will give strength unto his people;
the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not
dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
2 Cor. 12:9-10 (KJV) And he said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most
gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power
of Christ may rest upon me. [10] Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses
for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Philip. 4:13 (KJV) I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me.
Col. 1:11 (KJV) Strengthened with all might, according to his
glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
1 Peter 5:5 (KJV) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto
the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed
with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the
humble.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
God's unceasing power reaches out to help those people who
respond to Him. In His grace God uses His power to lead and deliver His
people just as He used it to create the perfection of the heavens.
[Disciple SB]
We can depend on God as our source of strength. Even the
strongest people get tired at times, but God's power and strength never
diminish. He is never too tired or too busy to help and listen. When you
feel all of life crushing you, and you cannot go another step,
remember that you can call upon God to renew your strength. Hoping in the
Lord means expecting that his promise of strength will help us to
rise above life's distractions and difficulties. It also means
trusting God to fulfill this promise found in his Word. [Life Application
SB]
The God who faints not imparts strength to fainting hearts.
Whatever man's needs may be, God is able to supply them all (see Ps.
104:27; 145:15). Those who in meekness and lowliness of spirit realize
their own frailties and shortcomings are the most certain of having
their needs supplied (Isa. 57:15; Matt. 5:3-6). God's ear is always
attuned to the cry of those who feel themselves insufficient for the
tasks at hand and who desire the help of Heaven. It is in the weakness
of humanity that God's strength is made perfect (2 Cor. 12:9). This
fact has been proved in the lives of countless thousands. [SDA
Commentary]
God is able to deliver and restore his distressed people if they
will wait in faith for him to act. They are to trust in him and draw
strength from him. [NIV SB]
Man must trust God for deliverance because His ways are
incomprehensible and beyond the understanding of man. God is
also able to supply
man with strength and energy, even man's very existence, because out
of His divine abundance He can supply strength to even the most
weary of men.... God's strength is available for all who wait in
patience for God's purposes to be carried out. [Believer's SB]
Acknowledged weakness is the first step in receiving God's
enabling power... In our sense of weakness and need God has opportunity to
strengthen us. When we receive God's strength, we soar like eagles and run
like champions on God's mission. We then give God the glory for all
He accomplishes through us. [Disciple SB]
He gives power to those who wait on and hope in Him. [Ryrie SB]
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