Renew: "To make new, or as new, again; to restore to the same condition as when new, young or fresh."
Wait on (or upon): "To observe, watch; to fix one's eyes upon, gaze at. In Bible phrases, to place one's hope in God."
I. For the person whose hope, trust or confidence is in God, there is a promise of reinvigoration in the face of adversity or weakness. ISA 40:28-31.
A. The man of faith accepts that the Lord is his strength. PSA 6:2 c/w PSA 28:7.
B. The man of flesh looks to flesh for strength and so invites a curse. JER 17:5-6.
II. Adversity can enervate or energize, depending on one's trust. NUM 13:32-33; NUM 14:6-8.
A. Adversity is designed to teach us humility and remind us to look to spiritual concerns. DEU 8:2-3; PSA 119:71.
B. God is pleased to magnify Himself through human weakness, thus teaching us not to rely upon ourselves. 2CO 1:8-9; 2CO 12:9-10.
C. For the person who waits on the Lord, his weakness is but an opportunity to fly to Christ
and His strength. 1SA 30:6 c/w EPH 6:10.
D. If our eyes are upon God and His promises, our weaknesses or inadequacies are illusory hindrances. ROM 4:19-21; HEB 11:11; HEB 11:34.
E. Heavy burdens and temptations may be more easily borne by fixing our eyes upon the good end of the Lord. JAM 5:11; 1PE 5:8-10.
III. Our passage in Isaiah is found in a chapter which opens with the announcement of the gospel of
Jesus Christ. ISA 40:1-5 c/w MAR 1:1-4.
A. The gospel announces man's weakness but Christ's strength and power to save.
ROM 3:20; 1CO 1:23-24 c/w JOH 17:2 c/w ROM 5:6.
B. There is rest in ceasing from relying upon our own works for eternal justification.
ROM 9:31-32 c/w ROM 10:3-4.
C. There is renewal and refreshing in heeding the gospel's message.
ISA 28:11-12 c/w 1CO 14:21.
D. The word of the gospel is, "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people..." (ISA 40:1).
1. Comfort is "Strengthening, encouragement, incitement...."
2. Glad tidings of completed salvation, of warfare accomplished, of iniquities pardoned: are such not strength (comfort) for the burdened soul? ISA 61:1-3.
3. Glad tidings of resurrection power are likewise strength for the soul.
HEB 2:14-15 c/w 1TH 4:13-18.
IV. Unconfessed and unforsaken sin drains away our strength. PSA 31:10.
A. The penitent soul finds renewal in confession of sin. PSA 51:10-12.
B. Personal sanctification tends to increase strength. JAM 4:7-10 c/w JOB 17:9.
C. The soul that walks in the light has also an uncondemned heart which yields confidence
which accords with strength. 1JO 1:7 c/w 1JO 3:21 c/w PHIL 1:14 c/w ISA 30:15.
V. "They that wait upon the Lord" will of necessity have their eyes fixed on Christ, "the Lord from heaven" (1CO 15:47), "Who is gone into heaven..." (1PE 3:20).
A. They need not stand gazing with the natural eye into heaven (ACT 1:11), for the eye of
faith sees the unseen Savior in heavenly glory. 1PE 1:8 c/w HEB 2:9.
B. Their gaze is into heaven where Christ is seated. HEB 12:1-2; COL 3:1-2.
C. They see themselves by grace positionally risen there in Him. EPH 2:6.
D. Their real treasure cannot be sullied by the strength-sapping corruption of this world.
MAT 6:20-21.
E. With eyes heavenwards, they faint not even though their outward man perish.
2CO 4:16-18.
F. They believe that their God is the God of the living (MAT 22:32) Whose goodness they shall see in the land of the living and without that hope they would faint. PSA 27:13-14.
G. In short, they rejoice not in the flesh but in the Lord Jesus Christ (ROM 5:11; PHIL 3:3) and so "the joy of the LORD is [their] strength" (NEH 8:10).
H. Regardless of their natural state or of circumstances, they are "can do" types through
Christ. PHIL 4:12-13.
VI. The promise of ISA 40:28-31 obviously accrues especially to the believer.
A. This world will weary us, sap our strength and make us faint.
B. Faith is the victory that overcomes it. 1JO 5:4.