The Strand Study Bible

ISAIAH 40:28

ISAIAH 41:11

1097

LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting 1 G O D , the LO R D , the 2 CRE AT OR of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall 3 renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as 4 eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 41 God questions the Gentile nations (Note - This portion of Isaiah’s prophecy took place in the 27th year of King Hezekiah’s reign) Date Written - c. 700 BC/AM 3300 1 5 Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment. The promise of Medo-Persia’s second 2 Who raised up the 6 righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. P ruler (Cyrus) to prosper (Fulfilled - Ezra 1:1 - 536 BC)

3 6 He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet. P 4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD , 7 THE FIRST, AND WITH THE LAST ; I am he. 5 The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came. 6 They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. 7 So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. 8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, 8 Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham 9 my friend. 9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

1. Isa 48:14 2. Psa 102:25 & Isa 42:5 & Rev 4:8-11 & Jn 1:3 & Colo 1:16-17 & Heb 1:2,10 & Gen 1:2 & Job 26:13 & 33:4 and Psa 104:30 3. Isa 26:8 & 30:18 & Lam 3:25-26 & Jms 1:6-8 4. Psa 103:5 5. Hab 2:20 & Rev 8:1 6. or, “the man who would do right by Israel; King Cyrus of Persia” Fulfilled - Ezra 1:1 (Cyrus Prospers) 7. Rev 21:5-6 8. Gen 25:22-23 & Rom 9:10-16 9. II Chro 20:7 & Jms 2:23

40:31 This word ( wait ) is the Hebrew word “qoey” and refers to a “ waiter/waitress. ” God’s people who simply go about their business “ waiting ” on God (serving Him), despite their troubles and trials in life, will learn to be strong for God. His promise to us: Wait on me (serve My interest) and I’ll work through you. Gary Thomas in Authentic Faith notes: Waiting, for the believer, is not the futile and desperate act of those who have no other options, but rather a confident trust that eventually God will set things right. 1 THE ADAGE IS TRUE: We learn to wait on God by “waiting” on God (Psa 27:14) 41:1 In this chapter the “ islands ,” i.e., Gentile nations upon every continent (continents being large islands) are depicted as standing before the presence of the Lord. They are summoned before Him to answer three questions: 1. Who can predict the destiny of a man before he is born ? (vs 2-3,25 & 45:1-4) Hint: Only someone who can predict the future (Isa 46:9-10) 2. What is the name of the One who can predict the destiny of a man before he is born ? (vs 4) Hint: He is the Eternal One ( THE FIRST AND THE LAST – Psa 90:2 , Hab 1:12 , Mic 5:2/Jn 12:34a and Heb 9:14b ) 3. Which of the gods can predict the future ( shew us what shall happen – vs 22) or explain the past ( shew the former things – vs 22)? (vs 21-23) Hint: None of them (vs 24) NOTE – Only the real God can predict the future with 100% accuracy. Question: What nations did God say would be the major players in the end times? Answer: Israel, Russia (Gog – Ezk 38:1-4/ Rev 6:3-4 ), Iran (Persia – Ezk 38:5), Libya (Ezk 38:5), Europe (Gomer – Ezk 38:5), Middle East (Sheba and Dedan – Ezk 38:13), Spain (Tarshish – Ezk 38:13), and China (kings of the east – Rev 16:12). It looks like God is about to keep His Word again. 41:2 The LORD, THE FIRST, AND THE LAST (vs 4) is the One who is sovereign ( gave the nations ) over all history ( Isa 46:10 ).

1 Thomas, Gary, Authentic Faith , Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 2002. Print.