Daily Devotion, September 23, 2020

 

Devotion: Read Isaiah 40:21-31.

In verse 31, the word “wait” caught my attention. How are you at “waiting?” Over the last century we have been blessed with a world which offers us faster paced things….cars, microwave ovens, fast-food, computers, the internet, and mobile phones, to name a few. With these gifts, perhaps we have lost touch with what it means “to wait.” When we hear the Prophet Isaiah speak these words, “But those who wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength…” how can we best understand what he is saying?

Some translations replace this word “wait” with the words “trust” or “hope”. These are important words as well. But for today, again, the word “wait” caught my attention. Through the years, I realized that this “waiting upon the Lord” is not a passive word, but an active word. It is a call to actions of service to others. But the Hebrew word for “wait” also includes a definition which is, “to bind together.” I believe it is Isaiah’s call for the people to bind themselves to God and to one another such that they realize that their strength isn’t from themselves alone.

In seasons of suffering, sometimes the seasons go on longer than expected. It had been a long season of suffering for the Israelite people who were living in exile. They were weary and exhausted. They were wondering if God was hearing their prayers. Isaiah 40 opens with the words, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” (If you have the time, I would encourage you to read all of Isaiah 40.) The concluding verses 28-31 give the assurance that God is hearing their prayers and our prayers. God is the Creator of the ends of the earth. The prophet assures us that those who look to God will not be weary and will not faint, but shall be renewed. Our part is to wait, to trust, to hope, to bind together, to not give up, and to be active in service to others. God created order out of chaos, God is understanding and is able to create order out of the chaos of our lives. Personal Worship Option:

Creating, listening and understanding God, we bring all of our concerns to you trusting completely that you are working in ways in which we cannot see. Bind us to You and to one another such that our strength is renewed to love and serve others. Amen.