Hope in the Lord (Isaiah 40:27-31)

Hope in the Lord (Isaiah 40:27-31)

 

27 야곱아 어찌하여 네가 말하며 이스라엘아 네가 이르기를 내 길은 여호와께 숨겨졌으며 내 송사는 내 하나님에게서 벗어난다 하느냐

27 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord;  my cause is disregarded by my God”?

 

28 너는 알지 못하였느냐 듣지 못하였느냐 영원하신 하나님 여호와, 땅 끝까지 창조하신 이는 피곤하지 않으시며 곤비하지 않으시며 명철이 한이 없으시며

28 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.

 

29 피곤한 자에게는 능력을 주시며 무능한 자에게는 힘을 더하시나니

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

 

30 소년이라도 피곤하며 곤비하며 장정이라도 넘어지며 쓰러지되

30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

 

31 오직 여호와를 앙망하는 자는 새 힘을 얻으리니 독수리가 날개 치며 올라감 같을 것이요 달음박질하여도 곤비하지 아니하겠고 걸어가도 피곤하지 아니하리로다

31 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.

 

 

 

1. As some of you may know, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote a short story titled, “The Great Stone Face.” The story goes like this:

 

There was a village with rich and fertile farmlands located high in the mountains. Looking down on the village was the side of a large stone mountain that looked like a man’s face.

 

Up close the mountainside was merely a bunch of rocks, but from the village it clearly looked like a face. The face looked so grave, strong, dignified, and admirable that the village people believed it to be a benevolent guardian.

 

In the village lived a young boy named Ernest. Ever since he was young, his mother told him of a prophecy that told a great man who looked just like the great stone face in the mountains would come to the village one day and he believed this with all his heart.

 

From boyhood to manhood, Ernest looked upon the stone face with joy and waited for the day a great man with the same generous face would come. Over the years, wealthy merchants, war heroes, political leaders, famous poets, and countless other great people came to the village but none were like the great stone face.

 

Each time Ernest had hoped the new acclaimed visitor would resemble the stone faced man, but each time he found the visitor did not meet his expectations and was left disappointed. Ernest eventually became an average farmer, the head of the village, and a preacher of affection, truth, and love. Soon, people came from far and wide to hear his sermons.

 

One day, a poet came to the village to hear Ernest’s sermons. Upon seeing his face the poet threw his arms in the air in surprise and proclaimed, “Behold! Behold! Ernest is himself the likeness of the Great Stone Face!”

 

Seeing Ernest’s warmth and compassion, the poet had discovered the affection and love he lacked and then saw the face of the stone mountain reflected in Ernest’s own face. The village people realized that over time Ernest’s face had become strong, dignified, compassionate, and gentle just like the mountain’s.

 

 This story helps us to realize that a person’s hopes and what they look for shapes their lives and even their appearance.

 

2. Koreans often say that married couples become more like the other. And in many cases, they really do slowly start to reflect and resemble each other. It should not be a great surprise since the couple live together and constantly see each other.

 

Now, who are you looking at while you live your life? Who are you living to resemble? Who do you want to reflect?

 

A) Look to the Lord

 

1. Isaiah 40:26 says, “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”

 

Isaiah 40:28-31 also tells us, “28 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. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 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.”

 

The word “hope” in this verse also means to “wait upon”. These verses are telling us that when we grow tired, weary, and it seems that nothing in our lives will go right, do not depend on yourself, your knowledge, your strength, or your background. Rather, depend wholly on God.

 

2. God gave hope to Jacob even while he was running away. He gave strength to a desperate old woman like Naomi who had lost her husband and her two sons and was left to return to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law. He gave courage to David, a mere boy who defeated the giant Goliath. He gave victory and healing to an incompetent king like Hezekiah. Our Almighty God did all these things and we must remember that.

 

3. Hebrews 12:2 says, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” We must look to and wait upon Jesus.

 

4. Psalms 42:4 also tells us, “These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty one with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.”

 

5. Abraham’s nephew Lot had looked upon Sodom and Gomorrah seeing only its green pastures and fertile land. He failed to see the deprave sins that filled it. And when God chose to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot had to flee for the sake of his own life.

 

If we only see the worldly perks and positives, we will naturally be led to fall. If we only seek worldly glory, then we will naturally follow worldly glory. If we seek worldly pleasure, then we will naturally follow worldly pleasures. Hence, what we seek and what we look to is vital in shaping the outcome of our lives.

 

B) Look to God for Strength 

 

1. Moses prayed on Mount Sinai and looked upon God with his own eyes. When he came down from the mountain, his face glowed so brilliantly, people could not bear to look at him directly.

 

Exodus 34:29, “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” For our own faces to shine as radiantly, we too must look upon the Lord.

 

2. If a person looks down on others and only seeks money, their greed grows and their faces darken. If a person chases after honor or power, their greed causes their faces lose its radiance. If a person only seeks pleasure, their lust and desires cloud their faces.

 

 Let us become people who always seek the Lord. Think of Jesus all the time: when you’re walking, working, talking, studying, teaching, tending to the sick, cooking, or even just washing the dishes. Always look to the Lord and the blessings He will bring.

 

3. Take a look at your own faces reflected in the mirror. Does your face reflect the goodness of a Christian? Does your face shine like the sun? Is your face one that smiles? Or are you showing anger, frustration, and contempt? What are you doing to resemble Christ? What are you doing to reflect the beautiful face of a true Christian?

 

Psalms 62:1,5 tells us, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him… Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” Looking to the one who gives salvation will bring you hope. 

 

Colossians 3:2 also says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

 

We may live in a world where people and our very surroundings try to tear us down, but we too can receive new strength and smile joyfully. All we need to do is remember that our God sleeps neither in the day nor night, shines on us sunlight during the day and moonlight during the night, over powers waters and fires, and protects us with a pillar cloud in the day and a pillar of fire during the night.

 

4. This is why the Apostle Paul said, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength,” and David praised, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”

 

God told us that if we give our lives to Him as He commanded, we will be given strength like an eagle soaring to the sky. Think about how powerful an eagle is. It is the king of birds. Its wings are nothing like those of a tiny sparrow or pigeon. It can fly with prey as large as sheep in its talons.

 

Let us live with the powerful wings of an eagle God gives us and cast away all worries, fears, and anxieties. Have faith in His promise. Make Jesus your first and foremost priority in life. Look to Him and only Him.

 

5. There is a Korean praise song called, “Only Look to God”. Take a look at the lyrics:

“Verse 1: A person who yearns and serves the love of God

A person who looks to the peace of God

Our God, your Creator, loves you so greatly

Verse 2: A person who praises and worships God

A person who resembles the goodness of God

Our God, your Creator, has made you His child

Chorus: God always looks upon you with love

God always hears you with benevolence

He shines a light in your darkness, He answers your quietest cries

Wherever you are face the Lord and only look to Him

Only look to God”

 

Let this song become your testimony. Hallelujah! 

 

6. There is no failure if you look to God. If you only look to your bank account, you quickly lose strength. But if you look to our Lord, who replenishes all our needs, you will never be disappointed. God has the power and more to reign over the universe. He will give you new strength.

 

We are His children. If the Lord looks over a mere sparrow, would He not take care of us, His own children? He knows every hair on your head and every need in your life. No matter how many times you fell, He will raise you up again.

 

He is good. He is goodness. He will always give you what you need. He will give you things greater than you could have imagined. Hallelujah!

 

 

Let us dedicate this week to pray as such:

 

“Heavenly Holy Father, let me spend every day, every moment looking towards Jesus. Help me become more like him each day. Shine brightly on the hardships of our lives and drive away the darkness and hinders us. Let us seek and see your love and peace. Do not let us seek the worldly joys and walk down a path to sadness. Protect us from our own desires and despair. Just as Moses’ face was transformed to shine radiantly, let me shine reflecting your glory. Let all who see me know that I am Your child. Let all who meet me smell the fragrance of a Christian. Help me be victorious every day!”

 

 Hallelujah!