God's Greatness, Our Comfort

So before we get into the passage, this morning, I wanna take a minute and just review where we are in the text. So, Isaiah 40 comes on the heels of the betrayal of King Hezekiah. See, Hezekiah had showed off his wealth to some Babylonian envoys that came and then Isaiah came and told Hezekiah that this same nation, Babylon, would come and take Judah captive. And you could flip back a couple of pages or so to your left at Isaiah 39:8 and we see Hezekiah's response. He says this. The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good, for there will be peace and truth in my days. And this betrayal is just astounding. God just delivered the nation from the hands of the Assyrians. He healed Hezekiah from a, a terminal illness, and this is the thanks he gets. It's incredible But God is so gracious and instead of, of words of judgment and condemnation in chapter 40, we see words of comfort. And back in September, we worked through the 1st 11 verses of this, this chapter and we saw that the Lord had 4 declarations of comfort for his people. He said that salvation had come, that his glory would would be revealed, that his word never fails, and finally, he declared that he would defend and protect his sheep. And these are beautiful words of comfort meant to calm the hearts of God's people facing the consequences of their rejection of God. Words meant to show them that God had not abandoned them. and last week, Pastor Milne walked through the, the promise inspired prayer of Daniel. And in this message, Pastor Milton made the point that Daniel read the promise of God in Jeremiah that, that God would bring his people out of Babylon. And rather than sitting passively by, Daniel goes to prayer, and he asked God to bring to pass the very thing that God said he was going to bring to pass. And yet at the same time that Daniel is uncovering these promises. There are others captive in Babylon for whom these promises are buried. The hope of being an everlasting kingdom and a blessing to the nations has been squashed under the heels of Babylon. I, I, I think that we tend to think the same way. the wreckage. And the circumstances of our lives are like a dense fog. And it clouds our vision of God. I, I like the way John Calvin says it, quote, when any adversity befalls us. Our salvation is hidden. And as if a cloud had come between. The power of God is concealed. We are held in astonishment. As if the Lord had forsaken or overlooked us, end quote. We look up from the depths of loss or look back on the devastation of some sin and we ask, how can God comfort me? How can God forgive me? And we doubt the greatness of our God. We doubt that God has the power to do what he said he would do. And I'll ask you this morning, have you ever been there? Well this This is what lies at the heart of Isaiah's message to us this morning. this whole section is framed by the lament that comes in verse 27, so I wanna start there, so you can look with me at verse 27. Isaiah writes, Why do you say, oh Jacob? And assert, O Israel. My way is hidden from the Lord and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God. And that's it. That's the perennial question for everyone who suffers. Why isn't God doing something? the promises that are yours, and yet you still suffer. My life must be hidden from God. how could he allow this to happen to me? And, and Isaiah tells us just how habitual this thinking was, but most of our English versions have the word say and assert and escape. And in the Hebrew these words are meant to show something that happens continually or habitually. you could translate it this way. Why do you keep saying and asserting that your case keeps being dismissed? The people of Judah are continually at a loss. And Isaiah has so much to say to encourage the weary people of God. even in this verse right here there's hope and encouragement, right at the beginning of Little men. Isaiah calls the people Jacob and Israel. these aren't just any people. These are God's covenant people. And maybe this designation is meant to call Genesis 32 to mind. You remember the story, the time when God showed up and wrestled Jacob and then gave a new name and, and new strength to that fearful and helpless man. Isaiah saying, you're God's covenant people. Do you think God can forget his people? Do you think God would abandon those he's chosen to set his love on? There's nothing and no one hidden from the sight of God, and he will not, he will not abandon his people. And so to help us see this, Isaiah gives us 4 reasons to believe the promise that God will comfort and deliver his people. 4 reasons to believe the promise that God will comfort and deliver his people, and the first reason is that God's power is unmatched. God's power is unmatched. Look at verses 12 through 17. Isaiah writes, who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens by the span and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure and weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills and a pair of scales? Who has directed the spirit of the Lord or as his counselor has informed him. With whom did he consult and who gave him understanding and who taught him in the path of justice and taught him knowledge and informed him of the way of understanding. Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales. Behold, he lifts up the islands like fine dust. Even Lebanon is not enough to burn, nor its beasts enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are as nothing before him. They are regarded by him as less than nothing and meaningless. And Isaiah begins with a series of rhetorical questions and what a picture they paint. the power of God is unparalleled in creation. And Isaiah expresses the the totality of God's creation with those contrasting aspects of waters and earth and heavens and dust. And not only that, but you also see the precise nature of God's workmanship. God measured and marked off and calculated and weighed all of creation. It's absolutely perfect. The balance of the earth, the distance from the sun, the size of the moon. Isaiah paints a stunning picture of a caring and meticulous creator. But he also paints a picture of an immensely powerful God. Look again at verse 12. Isaiah says that God measured the waters in the hollow of his hand. And, and I did some, some pretty extensive research and I found that most people on average can hold about 4 ounces of water in their hand. Give or take. And yet Isaiah tells us that God can take all 332 cubic miles of water on the earth in his cupped hand. But God also marks off the heavens with a span. And to mark off, it's the idea of measuring or apportioning. think about adding ingredients when you cook, or you pull out a measuring cup to make sure you get just the right amount and God stretched out his hand. And he marked the exact boundaries of the heavens. And Isaiah also tells us that he, he calculates or contains or gathers up the dust of the earth in a measure or a small basket. And he takes the mountains and hills, and he weighs them on a scale. the untold tons of rock and soil in each individual mountain range, let alone the whole earth. Are simply put on a scale and weighed in a balance. Isaiah wants his readers to know, he wants us to know that there's no one that can exercise power like our God. But not only is his power unmatched, so is his wisdom. Look, look again at verse 13 and 14. Isaiah says, who has directed the spirit of the Lord or as his counselor has informed him? With whom did he consult and who gave him understanding? And who taught him in the path of justice and taught him knowledge and informed him in the way of understanding. the whole point in these verses is that if we can't take the measure of the physical world, how can we even hope to plumb the depths of the mind of God? what is it, what advisor is there who can show God the right way to do something? I'm in my 3rd year of seminary and the amount of information that I receive is unbelievable. I know that I've forgotten more than I, than I remember. But think about your own lives. how much new information have you learned over the course of a lifetime? And, and you haven't learned anything. Unless someone taught it to you. But Isaiah says, when did God raise His hand? which focus group did God learn from? Who did he consult to create the universe? No one. God has never learned anything. There's never been a moment when God was perplexed about what to do. He's never been stuck due to lack of information. And this should really bring us such comfort. See, God not only has the power to govern his creation, but the wisdom to bring it about perfectly. And that means that the trials. That you face are being used by a wise and powerful God to do his good work in your life. And Isaiah also shows us that the nations are no match for God's power. Look at verse 15. Isaiah writes, behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales. Behold, he lifts up the islands like fine dust. I'm curious How many of you might ask the cashier for a discount for that drop of soda that's running down the side of your cup? or how many of you will stop the butcher and say, oh man, wipe the dust off those scales before you weigh my meat? Right? I might do that when I weigh myself but not, not when I buy my meat. it's It's negligible. It doesn't, it's, it, it weighs nothing. It's meaningless. It's not enough to make a difference. And that's really the theme that runs through these verses, isn't it? Not enough. think about how Judah must have felt under Babylonian oppression. This was a powerful nation. And it would be easy to see how Judah could think the Babylonian gods had won. But Isaiah says no. Even Babylon, who destroyed their homeland and uprooted them, is nothing more than a drop from a bucket and dust on the scales. They're not enough to thwart God's plan. And this is true today. Governments may attempt to press their own agendas, but despite their influence or power, Isaiah reminds us that it's not enough. Compared to God, these nations are nothing more than a drop from a bucket and dust on the scales. But not only can the nations not approach the greatness of God, but neither can our worship. Look at verse 16. It says even Lebanon is not enough to burn, nor its beasts. For enough for a burnt offering. So in the Bible, Lebanon is known for its, it's fertile lands and especially for its cedar trees. The trees were used by Solomon to build the temple and the righteous are said to grow like a cedar in Lebanon. These trees were a big deal. And based on the way they're portrayed in scripture, we can safely assume that the forests were pretty large. I'm not sure how many of you have ever visited the sequoia groves in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. But it's a, it's a pretty amazing sight. It's estimated that there's about 40 groves, different groves in the park and some of those groves have tens of thousands of trees. And in 2021 there was the KNP complex fire, and it burned 16 giant sequoia groves, and it's estimated that almost 2400 trees were burned and the fire burned for approximately 99 days. that's an incredible amount of fuel to allow a fire to burn for over a quarter of a year. And Lebanon would have been an even greater fire. And God says that's not enough. For the sacrifice I deserve. And this is an amazing statement when you, when you think about it, right? God, God instituted the sacrificial system, it was his idea. And yet even the largest sacrifice imaginable falls short of God's glory. And it's, it's not that it's wrong to offer worship. God desires for us to worship Him. But the greatness. Of the God we worship. Cannot be scaled in our minds by our worship. The greatness of the God we worship cannot be scaled in our minds by our worship. his greatness is unmatched, even in our worship. Alec Mateer, he's a commentator, says this, quote, Over every human effort to move God, over every human effort to meet God's demands, to satisfy his requirements, to maneuver him to our advantage, and to climb up into his good books, Isaiah writes, not enough. End quote. See our sacrifices, our worship, our attempts to climb up into God's good books are not enough. But in a few chapters, The Lord prescribes a sacrifice that is enough. The man of sorrows who was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities became the sacrifice worthy of God. And by faith, we embrace what Christ has done on our behalf and we forsake every attempt at trying to worship God on our own terms. Amen. Well, finally, in verse 17, Isaiah rounds out his discussion with the summary statement that the nations and their people are nothing. Look at verse 17. Isaiah says all the nations are as nothing before him. They are regarded by him as less than nothing and meaningless. And it's, it's important to note, I think that these verses don't say that the nations or their people don't matter to God. This isn't, this isn't a judgment on the worth of the nations or their people. It, it's a question of stature. Right, God exists on a completely different plane. Than his creation. They can't be compared to one another. God is totally unmatched. Right, there's, there's a world of difference between the five year old wearing an Otani jersey in his backyard hitting baseballs over the fence and Otani hitting baseballs out of Dodger Stadium. You see, Isaiah reminds his reader that every nation and its power simply fades into nothingness when placed next to God. This is an amazing God. And in the midst of suffering and and trials, our, our vision of God becomes blurred. We, we lose focus on just how great God is. We forget that his power is unmatched by anything in creation, any perplexing situation, any, any nation. And Isaiah holds a God before us who is infinitely worthy of our trust. Trust that belongs to no other God. Which leads to our second reason. That God is able to comfort and deliver His people. And that is that God's deity is incomparable. The second reason to believe the promise that God is able to comfort and deliver His people is that God's deity is incomparable. Look at verses 18 to 20. To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with him? As for the idol, a craftsman casts it, a goldsmith plates it with gold, and a silversmith fashions chains of silver. He who is too impoverished for such an offering. Selects a tree that does not rot. He seeks out for himself a skillful craftsman to prepare an idol that will not totter. Deity is God's divine status, is godness, right? And Isaiah says based on what I've shown you about who God is, how can you compare him to an idol made by man? And it's so amazing how Isaiah brings this out. First, Isaiah doesn't use the normal word for God in verse 18. Instead of Elohim, God says, or Isaiah says El. Which is used to speak of the superiority of the Lord. I like the way Alec Mateir says it again, he, he says this quote, It's the most transcendent of the God words connoting dominion overall, absolute deity, the unique God of Israel and the God of inscrutable purposes, end quote. It's used in Isaiah 42:5 to describe the creator of the worlds and giver of life. And in Isaiah 43:10 to describe the fact that the Lord alone is God. So Isaiah is taking all that he's just said about God, and he wraps it up in a single word. And the second thing Isaiah does is to contrast the work of the craftsman with the work of God. Right back in verse 12, we saw that God measured, marked off, calculated, weighed all of creation. And in verses 19 and 20, if someone wants an idol. If someone wants an idol, they need to find someone to craft it. Another to plait it, another to fashion chains, and another to prepare a base for the idol. do you see the contrast Isaiah's making? God by Himself created and governs all creation. And here's a man trying to get an idol he can put on his mantle, and he needs at least 4 other people. To make it happen And Isaiah, he, he really ridicules this process with the sharpest sarcasm. He, he depicts the process of, of creating the idol like he's this play by play commentator. You can picture Isaiah in the booth. It's, well, the casting has been made and now look, he's plating it with gold and, and he's fashioning silver chains around it and decorating it. it's ridiculous. But it, it gets even more ridiculous in verse 20. Most versions have something like the new American, it says he is too impoverished. And this is a single word in in Hebrew and it's not used anywhere else in the Bible. There's a similar word in Ecclesiastes 9:15 and 16. That refers to to the poor. Hence, hence our translation, he who is too impoverished. But some commentators think this word in Isaiah is more closely connected to a word that refers to a type of wood. So what you have is an idol made and decorated in verse 19. And then in verse 20, it needs a wooden base so it doesn't topple over. Which of course is understandable because it wouldn't be good to have an idol that falls over. can you hear the sarcasm? Why on earth would anyone think that something made by a craftsman. From the stuff of creation that can't even stand up on its own. would be a worthy substitute for the transcendent Almighty God. And now you might be sitting there thinking, Chris, I haven't put any gold statues or silver statues on my mantle. I'm, I'm not crafting some image I can worship. Fair enough, but The sad fact is that we're much, much better at crafting things to worship. So we don't need a goldsmith or a silversmith. We take care of it right, right inside of our own hearts. And we exalt things over God every day. These things control the way we think. They, they control the daily rhythms of our lives and, and ultimately these idols control what gets our devotion. So here's an example. I don't know if it applies to you, but it was my own personal conviction. I'm reading Paul Tripp's instrument in the redeemer's hands, and I was convicted over an example that he gave. my attitude toward, toward public prayer at times has been warped by idolatry. I'd sit and I'd think about it, I would stress over it, I would even rehearse it. And, and Tripp said this specifically about our, my, I don't know if it applies, my fixation on public prayer. He said this quote, why do we do this? Are we trying to get it right for the Lord? That doesn't work because he hears the rehearsal. Ouch. Isn't it really? An attempt to use the public prayer to gain the respect of the people around us. Because our hearts are captured for a desire excuse me, because our hearts are captured by a desire for human approval. We use an act of worship to gain glory for ourselves, end quote. And guys, there's a million things that we can all point to that steal the honor. That rightly belongs to God. And there's a million things we can point to that we trust will save us other than God. But as we've seen, nothing surpasses or compares to the power and the deity of our God. And Isaiah will, will show us there is no one. Who can rival the authority of our God. Which leads to our 3rd reason to trust the promise that God can deliver and comfort His people. And that is that God's authority is unrivaled. God's authority is unrivaled. Look at verses 21 to 24. Do you not know? Have you not heard Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. Scarcely have they been planted, scarcely have they been sown, scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, but he merely blows on them, and they wither. And the storm carries them away like stubble. So Isaiah continues to encourage the people first by asking another set of rhetorical questions. But this time Isaiah isn't appealing to what we would call natural theology or understanding God based on the world around us. He, he appeals to knowledge the people received through revelation. Truth, which had been, been made known to them by the teaching of the law and the message of the prophets. And really, Isaiah isn't asking a question so much as making a statement. Verse 21 could be translated, surely, surely you've heard this is something that's been declared to you from the beginning and taught from the foundation of the world. See, Isaiah isn't asking whether the people are aware. But whether they'll listen to what they've heard. And then Isaiah reminds them again of the truths taught since the beginning. See, Isaiah wants the people to know that God isn't just a powerful creator beyond compare. He's also the king who sits enthroned above the earth. The God who demonstrates his power in creation and over the nations is the same God who's right now reigning above the heavens. And the inhabitants of the earth are seen as nothing more than grasshoppers. And when I first read this, I thought, man, I'm nothing more than a grasshopper. I'm as, I'm as insignificant as an insect. But, but really I Isaiah's so masterful in the way he, he describes God's care for his subjects. First, Isaiah tells us that God provides a covering for his people, a, a place for them to live. The second part of verse 22 says, God stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. from his throne, God isn't reigning as some angry monarch. He's gracious, he graciously provides a shelter for his people by stretching out the heavens like cloth over tent poles. And that really, that really hits home for me. I, I don't know how many of you go camping. Like real camping where you put up a tent. You see, we used to have this tent. It was like an engineering project. To put together, it was color coded, it was marked. But, man, this thing was, it was hard to put together. I eventually had to make pictured instructions just so I could get it right. but, but God, he, he doesn't need guides. Or pictured instructions to give his people shelter. With ease and care, he, he provides exactly what's needed. And Isaiah goes on to describe how God provides protection. See, God's kingship isn't just some empty remark. Look again at verses 23 and 24. It says, he it is who reduces rulers to nothing. Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. Scarcely have they been planted, scarcely have they been sown, scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, but he merely blows on them. And they wither And the storm carries them away like stubble. See, the rulers of this world, the kings and princes and and presidents with their monumental egos and selfish agendas are quickly reduced to nothing. They're tumbleweeds Blowing in the wind of God's breath. And Isaiah speaks with more sarcasm in verse 24. Most versions have something like, like scarcely or no sooner, which, which, which is accurate, but that Hebrew particle at the beginning also can have this ironic sense to it. So you might say something like, so they're planted, are they? So their song? Sure. So, so their stem has taken root, indeed. But then he blows. Like undeveloped plants, the powerful rulers are blown away by the breath of God. and these, these aren't just pie in the sky trite remarks. Isaiah uses words meant to remind the people that God has made these promises before and he kept them. Back in Isaiah 29:5, Isaiah spoke of the destruction that would come upon Assyria and, and he says this in Isaiah 29:5, but the multitude of your enemies will become like fine dust. And the multitude of the ruthless ones like the chaff, which blows away. And it will happen instantly. Suddenly. And then we read in 2 Kings 19, that the angel of the Lord went out and struck 185,000 Assyrians and Sennacherib returned to Nineveh without so much as firing an arrow against Judah. And guys, this is, this is important for us. Right, this is a point we've seen made repeatedly in the book of Daniel. The kings of the earth will magnify themselves. But in the words of Nebuchadnezzar, all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing. But he does according to his will in the host of heaven. And he is able to humble those who walk in pride. And this is true for evil kings. It's true for presidents whether we're satisfied with them or not. In relation to the The eternal reign of our true king. These rulers are momentary blips on the radar. But not only are world leaders no rival for God's authority, neither are the hosts of heaven. Look at verses 25 and 26. Says to whom then will you liken me? That I would be his equal, says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high. And see who has created these stars. The one who leads forth their hosts by number. He calls them all by name. Because of the greatness of his might and the strength of his power. Not one of them is missing. And this question asked in verse 25 matches the question in verse 18, but this time it's certainly more personal. All of a sudden, Isaiah stopped speaking. And we hear from God. Verse 25 shifts to the first person and God asked His people, is there anyone who can be found comparable to me? And the decisive blow to this question comes at the end of verse 25. God refers to Himself as the Holy One. You see, not only do God's power and wisdom and authority and sovereignty have no rival. But even more incomparable is his unattainable, unattainable, unquestionable moral perfection. See, God is completely separate from his creation in who he is and how he acts. And to illustrate this, Isaiah calls the people to lift their eyes. To the skies, I wondered why, why would Isaiah point to the stars? he's already talked about creation and the and the Lord unfolding the heavens. Well, what's the point? And I, and I think what Isaiah is doing is, is directing the people away from worshiping the host of heaven or looking to them for their deliverance. Just like the man-made idol is unable to deliver you. So are the stars. See, this had been a problem for Israel since before they entered the promised land. You can write this reference down, Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 19. Moses Moses speaking to the second generation before they go into the promised land, says this, and beware, not to lift up your eye to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the hosts of heaven and be drawn away and worship them and serve them. And then in 2 Kings 17:16. The author tells us that part of why the northern kingdom was taken captive was because they worshiped all the hosts of heaven. And even the southern kingdom fell prey to this. In 2 Kings 21:3, we're told that Manasseh erected altars and worshiped all the hosts of heaven and served them. You see, God. The Holy One Is the only supreme deity. There is nothing in the created world that can compare, nothing that can rival the majesty. Or authority Of our God And not only is God completely distinct from the host of heaven, but Isaiah wants the people to know that these stars, as as breathtaking as they are to look at. Haven't existed forever. Someone brought them into existence, and not only did God create them, he commands them. Isaiah uses military terminology to show that God leads out the hosts of heaven like, like a general commanding his troops. And the idea is that God does this every single night. He leads each one out by name, and not a single star is forgotten. there's more than 100 billion stars. In our galaxy alone. And not one of them or one of the billions of other stars in the billions of other galaxies. Goes missing. I I can't even leave my house without counting and double checking whether all my kids are in the car. I may or may not have left one behind before. And yet Guys, God calls out stars that we don't even know exist. it's amazing. And it might be tempting. after hearing about how completely distinct God is from everything he's created, to think of God as some Some impersonal or detached, colorless, passionless force. But, but Isaiah doesn't want us to walk away with that thought. God is unmatched. He's incomparable. He's unrivaled in everything. But that doesn't mean That he doesn't care It doesn't mean that he isn't intimately involved in every aspect of his creation. It doesn't mean that he doesn't see you. And it certainly doesn't mean that he can't intervene in your specific situation. You see, God's not too great to care. He's too great to fail. He's not too great to care, he's too great to fail. if God can keep track of the billions of stars in our universe, he can certainly keep track of his people. And this is the hope. And the comfort that leads to the 4th and final reason to trust that God is able to keep his promise. To deliver And comfort his people, and that is that God's strength is inexhaustible. God's strength is inexhaustible. Look at verses 28 to 31. Do you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might, he increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired and vigorous young men stumble badly. Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary. Verse 28 mirrors verse 21 by making a statement more than asking a question. Isaiah says, I know that you've heard this, and I know that this. But let me remind you, just in case. And what, what is he reminding them? Exactly who their God is. Isaiah reminds them that the covenant Lord is the eternal creator. There's nothing in the past or the future outside of his knowledge. There's no one and nothing on the face of the earth outside his sovereign control, as RC Sproul has said, there isn't a single rogue molecule in all the universe. Right, and God isn't some local deity who has no power outside of his hometown. But what's even more comforting is that with all God does. He never grows weak or tired. He never abandons his plan from lack of resources. He never postpones his purpose because he needs to rest. And we may not understand. What God's doing because His understanding is inscrutable. It goes beyond our comprehension. But we can be sure that there are no loose ends or uncontrollable circumstances that stretch God's ability. To guide them to their intended end. But God, he, he does so much more. Than just guide his creation. he, he isn't sitting above the circle of the earth, pulling strings and telling us do better. Verse 29 tells us that that our God is the one who gives. It's part of his nature. To give strength and might to his people. See, our God has every resource at his disposal and giving to those who need it most. is who he is. But notice In verse 29 that God's strength only comes To him who lacks. You see, in order to receive strength for the trials that you face in life, you have to admit your own weakness. if, if your heart isn't convinced that you're inadequate in and of yourself. Why would you need God's strength? This was Paul's testimony in 2 Corinthians 12:9, right? That God's power is perfected in what? Yeah, and weakness. And weakness is something everyone experiences. Even the young and those in the prime of their life. If you're a parent, you can, you can probably relate, but man, it It's exhausting to see the amount of energy that my kids have. Right? And, and our care group has, has something like 20 kids and so when they're all together. The amount of energy can be a bit overwhelming. But it doesn't last forever. some of my kids have been so exhausted at times that they've fallen asleep at the table of a restaurant or wherever with food in their hands. But it's, it's not only kids that grow weary, even vigorous young men. Even young men in their prime become so weak. That they falter, I, I, I was reading this week just about some of the, the recovery regimen for, for NFL players. there's, there's ice baths and, and saunas, hot tubs, compression therapy, this meticulous diet. And don't forget about getting 10 to 12 hours of sleep. And all of this so that they can go out and compete. But what, eventually they reach a point. When it no longer matters. Eventually every vigorous young man will stumble. But Isaiah offers a better solution, one that outlasts the energy and the vigor of the youth. Isaiah tells us that those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength. Our old strength will be exchanged for his. Our weakness will be replaced with his power. And to receive this exchange, Isaiah tells us we need to wait on the Lord. And, and the idea of waiting, it, it has nothing to do with killing time. Right, it's, it's a life of confident expectation. The NIV translates verse 31 with the word. Hope It's a It's a confident resting in the plans of God, knowing we have no other help. a confident resting in the plans of God knowing we need no other help. And it's a confident resting in the plans of God, knowing he is the one who loves to give help. And this confident rest. Gives us the ability to stretch our wings and soar. As effortlessly as eagles who glide. On the win. And to tirelessly and steadily move forward in life. On the renewed strength that only God can provide. Amen. Isaiah, he's, he's painted this breathtaking picture. Of our God It's a God who stands above creation and infinite wisdom and power and his, his creation extends over so-called rulers and false idols. But guys, don't forget the reason that Isaiah painted this picture in the first place. Doubt Had taken root in the heart of the people of Judah. See, the hope of God's promise had been buried under Babylonian captivity. Words of comfort. And hope were nothing but empty words. What about you? Do the comfort And hope of the promises of God seem powerless. To quiet your fears. Are they no longer the balm that soothes your grief? Have they stopped fueling your heart and motivating? Your obedience. Has your heart been devastated? By doubt, I, I think there's two major things anyway. That cause us to doubt God's ability or His willingness to keep His word and The first one is suffering, whether it's from a trial or from an illness. Right, we doubt because why? Why would God allow this? Why do I need to go through this? Maybe Maybe there's nothing God can do. And guys, this doubt is the most awful. Joy destroying, assurance sapping, comfort robbing doubt that you can have. And to this Isaiah says, do your troubles rage like the ocean? God holds them in his hand. Do your sorrows stretch beyond the heavens? God measured that with a span. Does your grief, does grief rage in your heart? Like warring nations. They're dust on the scale. See, Isaiah tells us that there is no trial. There is no sorrow that is beyond God's wisdom or his understanding. Nothing so tangled that he can't untie it. Nothing so twisted. That God can't straighten it. No life So shattered That God can't put it back together. You see, guys, Your suffering, our suffering, it's big. But Isaiah wants you to know that you have a bigger God, a stronger God. But, There's a second thing I think that can cause us to doubt. That God is able or willing. To come to our aid and that's shame. Why would God even want to help somebody like me? Right, the sins I've committed and, and recommitted. The guilt The condemnation that weighs so heavy on my soul. And to this Isaiah says, Do you need more grace? Your God never becomes weary or tired of giving grace to his people. Do you need strength to trust in His forgiveness and walk? And the good of that Well, God is the one who delights. To give strength to those who lack. You see, there's no sin. For those of us who have embraced Christ, there's no sin in our life that God doesn't have the strength to destroy. No temptation So mighty that God can't give what's needed to overcome it. And no amount of forgiveness that brings God to the point of exhaustion. See, this is a mighty God. Amen. And, even, even with all that we've seen, God has done something far more powerful. You see, the message of the gospel, that the work of Christ on behalf of sinners is an even greater power. Than what we've seen in these verses. You guys know this verse, 1 Corinthians 1:18, for the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it's what the power of God. Glimpses of God's power and greatness are seen in the fact that he holds oceans. In his hand and he, he brings kings. To an end, but nothing. Nothing And all of scripture so fully displays God's power, like the word of the cross. And in the moments of doubt caused by our suffering. It's the word of the cross that shows us that Christ knows our suffering. Personally He was a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. And in those moments of doubt caused by shame, the word of the cross tells us that Christ is able to completely save us because his blood cleanses us from every sin. And he is right now interceding for us before the Father. Guys, don't, don't let doubt. Don't let the doubt. Or of suffering or shame cause you to question. The greatness The goodness The grace of your God. Lift your eyes and behold the God who is an inexhaustible fountain of strength. And grace for those who hope in Him. Amen. Will you pray with me? Almighty God The everlasting Creator. You are An amazing God, a great God. Lord, and, and I confess that we often Have you so scaled in our minds? I, I confess that we doubt. Whether you're able to do what you've told us you would do. Whether you're willing to do what you've told us you would do. But I thank you for this word in Isaiah. And I just pray, Lord, that You would help us. By the power of your spirit to daily. Behold who you are. To see your greatness, your power, your authority. That we would see that fresh every day. But not only that, Lord, that we would see fresh how you are the one who gives help. To your people The one who gives help to the weak, the one who lacks, Lord, and I confess that we lack. We need your strength. We need your power. And, and Lord, I thank you for Christ. Who came And he did all that we were unable to do. But we were dead in our trespasses and sins. We were your enemies. And yet even then Christ died for us. Lord, and you made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we would become. His righteousness before you and I I thank you, Lord, for that, and I just pray for any here that don't, that don't know that truth, that have not embraced Christ, that you would work in their heart and do the thing that only you can do. would reach down now and save them. We thank you, Lord, for your word and for the power that we've seen. Give us the faith to believe in Christ's name. Amen.