Isaiah 40:31 (KJV) “But they that wait upon the Lord shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,
and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Let’s review Part 1:
Reward 1: Inner/Moral Strength: “shall renew their
strength.” Bible example: Noah (Genesis 5:32-10:1).
Reward 2: Upward
Strength: “they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” Bible example: Joseph (Genesis 37, 39-41).
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Reward 3: Outward Strength: “they
shall run, and not be weary”. This is strength for service.
They shall run and not be weary - This passage, also, is but
another mode of expressing the same idea - that they who trust in God would be
vigorous, elevated, unwearied; that he would sustain and uphold them; and that
in his service they would never faint. (Barnes' Notes on the Bible)
Galatians 6:9 “So let’s not get
tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of
blessing if we don’t give up.”
Example from Scripture:
After Paul’s conversion, he went
into the wilderness of Arabia for a period of between 1 and 3 years. There is no record of how long he was in the
desert, however, there is a three year period between his conversion and the
next time we see him mentioned in Scripture visiting Jerusalem for the first
time. Galatians 1:17 “Nor did I go up to Jerusalem
to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into
Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.”
The patristic commentators seem to have held, for the most
part, to the belief that the object of his visit to Arabia was to preach to the
heathen there; but the whole context of the Epistle shows that it was rather
for solitary meditation and communion with God. (Ellicott's Commentary for
English Readers)
Paul, author of most of the New
Testament, waited on the Lord for a period of 1-3 years. He stayed in the desert in meditation and communion
with God. Following this period, he
returned to Jerusalem and began serving as an evangelist. We know that Paul was tireless in him
ministry/service and that his ministry was powerful. Waiting on the Lord gave Paul outward strength
for service. God sustained Paul and preserved his life on numerous occasions.
Another interesting fact, Paul did
not receive his commission from the other apostles. He was commissioned directly by God. Waiting also gave Paul clear vision and direction
about his calling.
And returned again unto Damascus - He did not go to
Jerusalem to consult with the apostles after his visit to Arabia, but returned
again to the place where he was converted and preached there, showing that he
had not derived his commission from the other apostles. (Barnes' Notes on the
Bible)
Examples from Scripture:
There are two people who appear in the
book of Luke who both waited on the Lord their entire lives. They served and trusted God and were given strength
to keep on keeping on all the days of their life. They were both present at the dedication of Christ
as well.
Simeon (Luke 2:25-32). The Scripture tells us in Luke 2:25-26 “At
that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and
devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The
Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he
had seen the Lord’s Messiah.” Simeon heard the promise of God and waited to see
it fulfilled. Luke 2:27-28a “That day
the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the
baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there.” Simeon not only
heard the promise, but he obeyed the leading of the Spirit while he
waited. If he had not obeyed he would
have missed the promise for which he watched and waited.
Note: While we wait, we must obey the
Lord’s instructions!!
Anna (Luke 2:36-38 36 “Anna, a
prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the
tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been
married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She
never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with
fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and
Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who
had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.”)
Anna was widowed young after which
she devoted her life to prayer and fasting.
Like Simeon, she was waiting for the promised Messiah. She never left the
temple but stayed there ministering to the Lord. She was rewarded by being there on the day the Messiah was dedicated!
While we may not be called to “live
in the temple” we all need onward strength to sustain us as we journey
through this life. The enemy loves
nothing more than drawing believers away from their focus on the Lord. The Word tells us “the thief comes to steal,
kill, and destroy” but it goes on to say that Jesus “came to bring us life and
that more abundantly” (John 10:10).
As
we wait on the Lord he will give us abundant life which includes: Inner/Moral
Strength, Upward Strength, Outward Strength, and Onward Strength.
Teach us Lord to wait!!!
All Scripture is NLT unless otherwise stated.
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