Isaiah 40:31 Commentary

The word "wait" in Isaiah 40:31 has the thought of simply and singly looking to Him. It also embraces waiting for Him, and expecting from Him. It is a very full word. That accounts for it being variously translated. One word in English does not give the fullness of its meaning. It is upon God alone then we are to wait. We are to look to Him; to wait for Him; and to expect from Him only. In this exercise we deepen in the knowledge of that which is before the mind of God; and that displaces things which have been before our own minds that are not according to His.

Does not waiting upon the LORD imply prayer, and yet more than prayer. In prayer we make known our needs, in waiting we seek to learn His mind in His presence. In prayer He hears our words; in waiting we sit in His presence and hear His words, like Mary of old who sat at His feet and heard His word.

There is reason to fear that it all springs FROM WANT OF WAITING UPON GOD. "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." This scripture is conclusive, and assures us that spiritual strength is the direct consequence of waiting upon God. It is so of necessity; for in so doing we confess our weakness, and express our dependence, and it is only when we are dependent that the Lord can display through us His almighty power.

The youth who trusts merely in his own vigour faints and grows weary. The young man who seems so tireless in his natural energy shall fall. But those that wait upon God find strength unfailing. Nature fails, but God fails not... His mind and strength are to be ours. We thus change our strength.

Moments of depression come, weakness asserts itself, circumstances seem too difficult for us to grapple with. In our feebleness we wait on the Lord, we bring our depression and feebleness into His presence, and they pass away, they cannot remain in such an atmosphere. We rise up from our knees, our strength is renewed, not perhaps physically, but spiritually, though even a cheerful mind is good medicine for a sick body.

Such will "mount up with wings as eagles." They will rise above the sorrows of earth to see the glory that is coming.

This new divinely given strength will enable us to mount up and "seek those things which are above where Christ sits on the right hand of God."

Mounting up with wings like eagles gives us the idea of power over the very elements, vigorous life in the extreme. Running does not give the sense of easy graceful superiority over the law of gravitation that flying gives, but the idea of real effort, betokening a measure of strength of course. Walking is slow, sedate, step by step.

"They shall mount up with wings as eagles" — rise triumphant over every difficulty and depression.

It is interesting that running is put before walking in this verse in Isaiah. The same order is to be observed in Paul's letter to the Galatians 5. "Ye did run well; who did hinder you...?" (v. 7) "This I say then, walk in the Spirit" (vv. 16 and 25). In the Scriptures both exercises are related to the believer, and are to have their rightful place in his journey through this world.

Fifthly, this new divinely given strength will enable us to mount up and "seek those things which are above where Christ sits on the right hand of God."

Sixthly, it will enable us to "run with patience the race that is set before us."

Seventhly, it will enable us, in all the circumstances of life to "walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing" without fainting.

These three stages might well illustrate the changing conditions of human life. Youth flies, middle age runs, old age walks, creeps along. Is God able to meet us in differing circumstances? Surely He is.

In all the energy of youth, if we wait on the Lord, we can mount up. There seems no question but that of mounting. But time goes on, and life begins to alter. The slim youth becomes the heavy middle-aged man, not able to do what he once did... But waiting on the Lord they run and do not weary. Their spirits are sustained.

But old age creeps on. Where they once could walk a dozen miles as a mere refreshing exercise, a few steps now test their powers... See the aged man or woman, who waits on the Lord, taking a few steps, they walk and do not faint.

Fainting is a stronger expression of weakness than being weary. It is more intensive in its meaning. What a comfort that waiting on the Lord means that spiritually we do not faint. That whatever the circumstances are — old age, weakness, sickness, even mortal malady, our days numbered — the Lord, upon whom we wait, can minister power and strength, so that believers can triumph even in the article of death.

The resurrection life of Christ, in the power of the Spirit of God, is the "power that worketh in us." When that power is checked from entering into our daily life we come to a standstill — the Church of God comes to a standstill... But now the Spirit of God, if we may use such imagery, as the engineer, applies the lever — the cross of Christ — and the throttle is removed. What is that throttle? It is self in all its forms; not naughty self merely, but religious self as well. The cross has brought in the sentence of death upon me, and when the blessed Spirit of God applies that, all His own energy and power passes into our every-day life, and we shall speed along as on the wings of the wind — "mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint." Was any new power obtained? No, but "the power that worketh in us" was permitted to work out as well.

Lastly, Jehovah falls back on what He has been to His own from the beginning... He cannot deny Himself, nor fail to strengthen the weakest that wait on Him. But the great public demonstration of His ways will be when His people at the consummation of the age are delivered from that evil heart of unbelief, which has been fatal to them hitherto in all their varied history.