“See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.
“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales… Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counsellor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him and who taught him the right way?
“To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to? Do you not know? Have you not heard? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth… He stretches out the heavens like a canopy and spreads them out like a tent to live in. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
“Why do you say…’My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God’? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but 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” (selected verses from Isaiah 40).
Spiritual strength comes from knowing God, not from knowing about God. It is good to know some facts and it is great to memorize verses, but what we really need is what Isaiah gave his readers; a picture of a great, big, powerful, in charge God who is looking after everything.
We serve a God who knows us, loves us and is big enough to care for us.
If we get that picture, it will change everything, because we will be living by his strength and not ours.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales… Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counsellor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him and who taught him the right way?
“To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to? Do you not know? Have you not heard? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth… He stretches out the heavens like a canopy and spreads them out like a tent to live in. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
“Why do you say…’My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God’? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but 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” (selected verses from Isaiah 40).
Spiritual strength comes from knowing God, not from knowing about God. It is good to know some facts and it is great to memorize verses, but what we really need is what Isaiah gave his readers; a picture of a great, big, powerful, in charge God who is looking after everything.
We serve a God who knows us, loves us and is big enough to care for us.
If we get that picture, it will change everything, because we will be living by his strength and not ours.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
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