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

If David Letterman were a Christian, this chapter would easily be in the Top Ten Chapters of Scripture by virtually anyone’s account.  I’m speaking of Isaiah 40.  Not only does it begin the second major portion of the book, thus called by some “the Great Divide,” it also contains one of the most sweeping descriptions of the majesty, glory and power of God anywhere.  And it is from this chapter we find our focus.  As in most instances, the context adds incredible punch to the point.  First the point: God is the One that gives power.  Now to the punch.

Isaiah begins this chapter predicting some of that which John the Baptist would say (vs. 3-5).  Then the beginning of the contrast between temporary life on earth (vs. 6-8a) and the permanence of the Lord and his Word (v. 8b).  Then in verse 10 he tells us, “See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm,” identified earlier as Christ, “rules for him.”  Notice that when the Lord comes, he comes with power.  Then after describing his gentle care for his flock (v. 11), Isaiah begins an assault on our frailty and “dustworthiness” that rivals the questions God leveled at Job in chapters 38-41 of that book — grand, all-encompassing questions that freeze us in our finiteness.  “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?  Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighted the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?  Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counselor?  Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way?  Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?” (vs. 12-14).  And that’s just the beginning!  The automatic reply: “Surely the nations are like a drop in the bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust…Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing” (vs. 15, 17).

Further, “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth…He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in” (v. 22).  Let’s consider this just for a moment to get the magnitude.  Know what it takes for man to live in outer space “above the circle of the earth”?  Multiple millions of dollars worth of equipment to provide the proper environment so he doesn’t die, not to mention millions more just to get him there.  God doesn’t just live above the earth, he is enthroned there!  He belongs there; beyond the heavens is his natural abode.  He’s in a whole different realm far more glorious and majestic than anything we can even imagine.  It is where we will be someday soon.

No wonder Isaiah tells us to “lift your eyes and look to the heavens: who created all these?  He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.  Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing” (v. 29).  Got stars?  Got enough stars?  Estimates say there are 100,000 million stars in our Milky Way Galaxy, and ours is an average size galaxy.  Other estimates are that there are 200 billion galaxies!  And yet with that many stars, God says he knows every one by name.  All the names on our planet wouldn’t come close to that!  And yet it is his power that keeps them moving, running and burning bright.  What kind of power is that?!  Incredible, indescribable, unfathomable power…not something you can wrap your mind around or get a handle on, let alone try to control.

Jumping quickly to Acts 1:8, we read, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  See the link between power and witnesses, which, in the Greek, gives us our English word martyrs.  To be a witness means certain death — to our selfishness, our earthly vision, our sinful past and our old way of living.  To make that break, to carry on as God’s people requires power — unshakeable, reliable and steady supernatural power.  We all know how strong tendencies run and how much creatures of habit we are.  Old ways die hard, and it takes strong power not of this world to reclaim, restore and renew us.  And the same power that keeps the entire universe running, that “raised [Christ] from the dead and seated him at [God’s] right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:20) is ours.  He has given it to us for his glory and honor.

How much does your life today honor him by exercising his power for his purposes?