The Hebrews were weary and wondering if God saw their plight and cared. They were fatigued. They were being taken over by the Assyrians and were facing the might of Babylon. The weariness of Israel was expressed by their despair. In the midst of their plight they began to doubt whether the Lord really saw their predicament. Hence they were saying “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my just claim is passed over by my God” Does God see? Does God care? We can all identify with the Israelites. We all get weary at times and need to be revived. When we begin to ask “Does God really care about me?” it is a sure sign of spiritual fatigue.

The Lord’s answer to Israel’s spiritual fatigue was to reassure them that he is a God who “neither faints nor is weary” (v.28). This is what Israel must understand. This is what every Christian must understand. The Lord never wearies. He is the everlasting God, the creator of all things (v.38). When we feel on the verge of collapse remember our Lord never collapses.

The Lord gives power to the weak, and to those without might he increases strength (v.29). Israel might be under pressure from foreign empires but in her weakness she would be given strength. God’s people then and now will not collapse because the Lord gives strength to his people. When we are weak then we are strong for the Lord comes to us and renews us.

As fatigued people wait upon the Lord they shall renew their strength. This is the promise of Scripture. Israel would mount up with wings like eagles (v.31). This is a triumphant message. Revived people shall mount up as eagles. They shall reach high. The prophet does not say revived people shall flutter like sparrows or fly like sea gulls. He says they shall mount up with wings like eagles, that is, they shall soar. Eagles do not fly; they soar. When the Lord revives weary souls they rise above all circumstances like an eagle soaring above all other flying creatures. Revived people reach heights they have not reached before. They are no longer fluttering sparrows; they are soaring eagles.

The reviving strength God gives is not a natural strength. The prophet makes a contrast between God’s strength and the natural strength of man. Natural strength has limitations. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall (v. 30). We look to young men as a picture of natural strength. But young men fall. Natural strength wanes. God’s strength, and God’s strength alone will uphold and revive the weary soul. God’s grace, not human ability or will-power is the means of revival.

By means of divine strength revived souls shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint (v.31). How precious is the reviving power of God. Israel is promised such renewal. If she but waits upon the Lord she shall be divinely revived. We also, when wearied, if we but wait upon the Lord, shall be revived. The waiting soul is not a withering soul.

Reviving power is none other than the life of God in his people. God himself indwells them and revives them as no one else could do. The apostles demonstrated the indwelling power of God. Peter had moments of weakness but when revived he served the Lord Jesus until his dying day. John served out his days in exile strong in faith. Paul could speak of finishing his course. All these men lasted the distance. Thomas, according to tradition, ventured to India and possibly even China with the gospel, serving the Lord Jesus to the very end. All these men had their moments of weariness and fatigued but when revived could continue to the end of their days serving Jesus. They did not grow weary even in old age.

The reviving power in weary souls is the life of God himself. He resides in his people through the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ came to take up residence in redeemed lives. If we abide in Christ and Christ abides in us we shall bear fruit. The lesson from Isaiah 40:27-31 is weary souls are revived by the life of Christ in them. How we should thank God for such a great gospel. A gospel that not only saves us from sin but also empowers us to live triumphantly. Christ abides in us and by his very life we shall be revived even when we feel exhausted. Let us wait upon him and be renewed by him.

- Summary of Sermon by Pastor David Yan