Week of July 28

“The Only True God Will Deliver and Restore His People” is a covering for the entirety of our lives. It encourages our hearts and reminds us of God’s excellent daily care. The heading in fact provides us with an excellent caption for chapters 40-55 in Isaiah. This section of the prophecy answers a key question in Israel’s history: Is God powerful enough to defeat all foreign gods (cf. NAC, EBC)? This query, albeit asked in a different contemporary form, represents a question that people still ask in our generation and provides us with an excellent focal passage for our daily devotional.

Have you ever questioned whether God is present and able to help you in a time of critical need? God answers such a question in chapters 40-66, but in our focal passage He does claim to be: all-powerful, the Creator of the world, the Redeemer of all of mankind. There is one aspect we often overlook in the relationship between God and humans—our repentance (55:6-8). Yes, when God speaks to Israel (and us) about His plans for them, the words are offered to produce their repentance and trust. Really? We are good folks, aren’t we?

There are tell-tale signs of spiritual lethargy, where Israel failed to apply belief to practice. Israel was theologically simple-minded (42:7, 16, 18-19; 43:8; 44:18; 48:4). First, the nation did not obey God’s law (42:24; 48:18), which in turn contributed to their obstinance (48:4). They were unwilling to do the tough work of integrating God into the daily practice of their covenant. They, in other words, opted for the outward show of obedience instead of offering their hearts to Him through their actions. Here are two examples: they offered God useless sacrifices (43:22-24), and they carried the burden of unforgiven sins in their lives (43:25; 44:22; NAC). So, how should we title an escape from this type of hopeless, dead-end religion?

Our context has been a difficult one to interpret in this chapter of Isaiah. Some believe that it was a cry from God’s people while in Babylonian exile (EBC), while others believe that it was a brief period when Assyria had invaded and subdued all of Israel and Judah except for Jerusalem (NAC). Either way, God does sometimes hide His face from His people when they fall into sin (cf. 8:17; 54:8; 59:2; 64:7; Deuteronomy 31:17; Micah 3:4; Ezekiel 39:23-24, NAC). In response to these fears, Isaiah offers the word that God will be our strength! So, what does our generation do in our day? Answer: Turn to the God who upholds the stars and who also supports His weary people (42:29-30; EBC).

First, recognize that we need God’s help. Everyone grows weary, even young people if they put forth too much effort. Secondly, we need to rely upon God’s strength, and we know this means His power is perfected in our own weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). God will “replace, exchange, and renew” those who are exhausted. Thirdly, this requires that we make certain we will place all our expectations or hope in the Lord. This hope is an “active dependence” upon the Lord, where we patiently await His timing with confident expectation (see above, “integrating God into our daily lives”; “mount up with wings as eagles”; cf. Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11). Fourthly, He will replace our weary legs with strong ones. The exhausted person will be revived and enabled to walk for miles. “Trust is never easy, but it is the key to unlocking God’s power. Trust enables people to walk the path (40:31) God has chosen for their lives (whether it be pleasant or unpleasant) without growing weary or wanting to quit” (NAC).

We have a finicky office door at the Baptist Center for Global Concerns. Access to the building through that entrance depends upon whether the heat or cold has caused the door frame to expand. If the weather is not right, then it becomes virtually impossible to open the door. There are days where I rush to get inside the building with my arms filled with books and supplies, only to be stopped dead in my tracks trying to gain entrance! Please insert a spiritual segue here.
 
If you are weary of the spiritual “dead stop” in your life, that leaves you jiggling a door knob of life, then take the time to invite God’s Spirit to search your heart and remove anything that is unseemly to Him and unsuitable for His purposes. Then, ask God for fresh hope. Follow the manual of instructions above and watch as God’s spiritual engine within you roars to new life with power and purpose.

1. Here is a mental picture and question: Are you weary from dragging along in breathless, wobbly-legged commitment to God? Your spiritual weariness need not continue. Follow the steps to renewal of hope in verse 31 (listed above). God will provide you with fresh hope!
 
2. How many of the characteristics of flawed worship (listed above) are evident in your church’s fellowship? Take active steps to eliminate each form of disrespect, then repent and return to Him.
 
3. For Families: This is a marvelous verse to memorize as a family. Make it a priority to commit this verse to memory this week. Invite your family to do so, and reinforce the memorization process by quoting a part of the verse to every family member each day, until they can finish it for you!

Practice mounting up with eagle’s wings and soaring this week, renewed in your strong faith that God is your steadfast hope. If you have a baby, here is a praise song from this verse to sing while you rock them to sleep: They Who Wait Upon the Lord.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock