Interpretation of Isaiah 40:31
“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” NIV
_________________________________________
Natural Unit: Isaiah 40:1-31
Next Larger Unit: Isaiah 40:1 -66:24
_________________________
Historical Background/Facts/Notes:
Isaiah – Longest book in the bible next to Psalms and Jeremiah.
Prophet Isaiah is said to be the greatest prophet in history. He is a contemporary of:
Micah – in Judah
Amos, Josea, Jonah – in Israel
The book of Isaiah is like a bible in miniature, containing:
66 chapters = 66 books in the bible
first 39 chapters = the Old Testament
Last 27 chapters = the New Testament
Like the OT, the first 39 chapters of Isaiah is focusing on God’s judgment against the sin of people. On the other hand, like the NT, the last 27 chapters of the book of Isaiah focuses on God’s grace, giving the Lord’s comforting words to the hurting people of Judah as well as Israel.
Dead Sea Scrolls – 1947-1956
- Contain 19 copies of complete manuscripts of Isaiah
- Those found were 1000 years older than the existing copies the time before the dead sea scrolls were discovered.
Traditional Records say that Isaiah died under Kind Manasseh, who sawed his body in half.
__________________________________________
Passages Before: God is proclaiming, through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah, that He has had enough, and He is bringing judgment to the wickedness of the people.
Passages After: Isaiah 40 down to 66 focus on God’s giving of comforting words to the hurting people, after God has given His judgment to the nation. His words mirror the unending grace He is giving to people.
CIT: GOD RENEWS OUR STRENGTH AFTER ENDURING THE SUFFERINGS.
Keywords: Growth, Maturity, Eagle (and its aging process)
_____________________
Detailed Interpretation
Growth means being like gold that needs to undergo extreme pressure to attain purity, turning like steel that needs to be beaten hardly to gain strength, and sitting like diamonds on the rough, waiting for hundreds of years before finally shining with crystals.
We all need to be in pressure and be beaten. We often have to wait and be still because God is just around, checking if we are trusting in Him for whatever circumstance we are in.
Wait in God. Hope in God. Isaiah 40:31 is about God’s promise to us if we will learn how to put our total trust in Him, once we are trapped in a life-and-death situation in life.
In the 31st verse of Isaiah 40, one important creature that God has made was mentioned- the eagle. Indeed, all of us can be compared to an eagle, especially when it undergoes its aging process.
Fact about the Eagle’s Metamorphosis
At a Certain point in an eagle’s life, it suffers a different method of aging. After a long time of successful flights on hunting preys and viewing every beautiful thing from above, it loses capabilities and beauty.
In this aging process, the eagle stays on the rocks, beating its beak and talon on the rough surface to break them. It endures the pain in plucking all its feathers. During the process. The eagle is almost defenceless. You cannot see a wild and brace hunter in its condition. Many eagles die at this point in their life. Nonetheless, the eagle who overcomes all these sufferings and pain, will get its feathers growing abundantly again, having its beak and talons sharper and stronger than ever. Later, the eagle who was once defenceless, ugly, and almost having no life at all, weary.. BUT persevering.. is spreading its beautiful wings, ready to soar on high again.
ISAIAH 40:31 is part of God’s comforting words to the people of Judah, who has undergone tragedies as consequences to her sins. After the sufferings, God has given them the second chance to live again. God’s amazing grace is everlasting!
Oftentimes, we transform like eagles, only if we endure and understand that God has designed such “aging process” to teach us something.
I would like to relate the inspiring truth with what God has said with His comforting words through the prophet Isaiah. Line by line..
(Let us call these E4 – E for Eagle)
_____________________________________________
“But Those Who Hope In The Lord Will Renew Their Strength..”
We are ENERGIZED. God wants us to pause for a while and learn from His instructions and later, get recharged by His power. Sometimes, we put too much energy out of our own strategies and plans, without consulting God, hence, we are often left out. Wait on God. Trust in God. Hope in God.
“..They will Soar on Wings Like Eagles..”
We experience EXCEPTIONAL FLYING. If we only allow God to take in control of the process, He will show us the beauty of the result. He will let us see His “long-range viewpoint”, “bird’s eye view” so to speak. He will also let us feel the freedom like how an eagle flies. He will also let us learn to see things beautifully from above.
“.. They will Run and Not Grow Weary..”
We get more ENDURANCE. Does the eagle run? Perhaps during the defenceless-stage, when it cannot fly, it will surely run when a predator shows off on the rocks to harm it. When it runs, it will really cost the eagle a quite ‘good dose’ of endurance. When you think you can’t, you really can’t. But if you say “yes! I will run even if it seems impossible to escape”, you will indeed overcome. God is the source of our strength, even in the most impossible time.
“..They will Walk and Not Become Weary..”
We gain ENDLESS JOY. As we witness God’s work in our lives, we will see ourselves, constantly walking in step with Him. In this, we don’t feel tired bored, and bothered. We won’t notice how long and tiring it has been. We will just feel the contentment and unexplainable joy. How happy an eagle is, when it sees itself walk, run, and fly as it reminisces its awful experience on the rocks, beating its beak and talon, while plucking all the feathers out. It is finished. The eagle is free!
Conclusion:
As We TRUST IN GOD’s WAY, We:
- are Energized
- experience Exceptional Flying
- get more Endurance
- gain Endless Joy
Last words:
God came on earth to give everything He can. And until now, He is still at work in us. Let’s submit to Him. Jesus said, “I’ve come that you might have life..”
Let’s hold on to His promise, He surely won’t break it.
Life means constant problem solving. We should courageously solve the problems, with the right attitude, like the persevering eagle that has beaten its beak and talon, and plucked its feathers out.
As we grow enduring the different problems and challenges in life, trust in God, Hope in God.
So, when you get caught up by “the Aging Process”
Stand firm.
Gain life.
Break your talon.
Pluck your feathers out.
And you will see,
The beautiful creature
That God has designed
In your life long before you were born.
You are special to Him.
Trust in Him.
Because He knows what He is doing.
Prepared by Lanilane Ocbina
Glory to God!
