Title: Only Wait for the Lord!
Contents
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27. Why do you say, O Jacob, and say, O Israel, that my way is hidden from the LORD, and my accusation departs from my God?
28. Have you not known or have you not heard? Eternal God, the LORD, who created the ends of the earth, does not grow weary, he does not grow weary;
29. He gives strength to the weary, and strength to the powerless.
30. Even a boy is weary and weary, and even a young man stumbles and falls.
31. But those who wait for the LORD will find new strength, and they will soar up like eagles with wings; they will run and not get weary, they will walk and not get weary.
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1. Continue to love brothers
2. Do not forget to entertain guests, for in this way some have unwittingly entertained angels.
3. Think of the prisoner as you also are in prison; and, since you also have a body, think of the oppressed.
4. Marriage is honorable to all, and the bed is kept undefiled. Fornicators and adulterers will be judged by God.
5. Do not love money, but be content with what you have, for he himself said, I will never forsake you nor forsake you.
6. Therefore we boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can a man do to me?
7. Speak to you the word of God and remember those who led you, pay attention to the outcome of their conduct, and imitate their faith.
8. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Content
Title: Only Wait for the Lord!
Text: Isaiah 40:27-31, Hebrews 13:1-8
By the end of the Babylonian captivity, the visible history was still bleak. Babylon, the great power, is falling, and the Persia (Persia) Empire appears. In a world still dominated by power, there was no hope for Israel, who lost its state and became a captive anywhere. But Isaiah, a man of God, calls out 'hope', saying it is the word of God. What should Isaiah also cry out in the first place? I asked God (Isaiah 40:6). Then God compared all human beings to grass and flowers. He compares phenomena such as the upheaval in human history to ‘the grass withers and the flowers wither’. There is only one thing that is eternal. He said to cry out, ‘The word of God’ (Isaiah 40:6-8). It is said that the emergence of the Pasa Empire was also according to God's sovereign providence. It is a comforting word that the end of Israel's captivity is near (Isaiah 40:1,2).
This is the context of today's Old Testament text (Isaiah 40:27-31). The title ‘Jacob!, Israel!’ emphasizes the continuing identity of the nation of Israel before God. The providence of God is hidden behind the nations and nations. Involving its geographical environment, historical background, and cultural heritage, each one performs his or her roles as members of the community in God's universal plan, according to God's purpose. The nation of Israel is one of them. Moreover, the mission the Jewish people received is a unique role of 'Salvation of the World'. This means that the Babylonian captivity that the Jewish people experience is a history that has nothing to do with the role of the “suffering servant of the Lord” (Isaiah 53). This is why the captivity of the Israelites in the Old Testament era is compared to Golgotha of Jesus Christ in the New Testament era.
There are difficulties that arise from only looking at the visible phenomena. These are unresolved questions. These are questions about phenomena that are incomprehensible to them, asking, ‘If God is the master of history?’ The prophet Isaiah does not ignore those questions. He asks you to reconsider your questions. ‘God’s indifference’ that people think of can often appear as God’s unique mission for the salvation of mankind. This is the revelation the inspired Isaiah received from God. He commands us to reconsider the words that come out of the mouths of the chosen people of Israel like groans (Isaiah 40:27). He tells us to think of the eternal God, not the grass and flowers that bloom and wither in the wind. Only God can help His people do their jobs (Isaiah 40:28-30), but wait on the Lord! (Isa 40:31).
Our religious life is influenced by our environment. The environment is visible and invisible. Jehovah is invisible. But he is an eternal reality, the source of our help. His help is always and everywhere, without lack, full and infinite. Today's New Testament text (Hebrews 13:1-8) also conveys the same grace. There are stumbling blocks to your faith in Jehovah. They are more dependent and loving than God. Those things are idolatry. This is the lesson of verse 5. Emmanuel's grace (Matt. 1:23) is the best of all the graces we can receive and enjoy. The highest peak is the incarnation of Jesus Christ (John 1:14). Let's hold in our hearts the essence of faith that waits for the Lord, and with the grace of God, let's win regardless of circumstances!