Isaiah 40:31 "But 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."
I can't seem to leave this verse of Scripture. As I was doing my personal
devotion yesterday afternoon, I began to think about this word,
"wait". What does God mean when He tells us to wait? I
confessed that I am impatient at times and it can be difficult waiting on
something to happen. Usually I am all ready for the event to take place and I
have readied myself for it to happen. Is that what God is speaking about? It
might be. But I feel there is something much more than that involved when God
tells us to wait.
What does the word "wait" mean? In the Old Testament, I see that
often the armies would "lie in wait" for the enemy to approach. They
were armed and ready for the battle to begin. They waited until the time was
right for them to launch the attack. In other places, I see the word being used
for those who served others. When we go out to eat, we have waiters who serve
our meals to us. They "wait" on us. Job made this statement: "If
a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait,
till my change come." (Job 14:14) The time had not yet arrived, but
it was certainly going to happen. These are examples, but what is the meaning
of the word? I stopped a long time ago trying to pronounce the Greek and Hebrew
words, but this "wait" carries the meaning of binding together to
wait expectantly for that which is promised. Let's think about that and
put the meaning in this Scripture. "They that wait upon the LORD (are
bound together with Him) shall renew their strength (as they expectantly wait
for the promise). This waiting is not something dependent upon our own
strength; rather, we are bound with our God by His grace and mercy. He gives us
strength day by day to endure every situation and circumstance as we "wait
for our change" to come. I believe the New Testament verse that is in
accord with today's verse is found in Matthew 11:28-30. In those verses, Jesus
says that we are to "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me."
We are bound with the risen Lord Jesus Christ. His strength is that which
enables us to wait expectantly for the promise.