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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Isaiah Chapter 40 - comfort my people - put strength into my people - fortress them - speak gently and tenderly. Move like a bulldozer and prepare the way – John the Baptist.
Cry out about how temporary things are in this world. No matter how serious they appear - all this is temporary - even 70 years as exiles - as prisoners in a foreign land. But the Word of God stands for ever.
Isaiah tells the people that God is going to lead His people like a shepherd leading lambs - tenderly and gently.
Isaiah - you and the people need to be strong - and I your God am strong and gentle.
Zion - Jerusalem - Judah - are all mentioned in verse 9 - not the West Bank.
There is quite a lot in these opening verses as Isaiah encourages the people to get a big view of God - all the millions and millions of miles is the distance between His thumb and little finger. And the nations are like a drop in the bucket - but His precious people are carried close to His heart. Know that today – wherever you are – whatever your circumstances.
Verse 16 - if you chopped down all the trees in Lebanon - the great mighty cedars of Lebanon - and placed all the carcases upon the altar - and made that immense offering and sacrifice - that would not be adequate for our God!
But one drop of the blood of Jesus is worth more than anything else in the whole world - it is more precious and valuable than any other substance - and when you are cleansed in the blood of Jesus, you are rich. You may not have a lot of money, but you are rich - because your sins have been forgiven - and the blessing of God is falling upon your life.
Verse 18 . To whom then will you compare God? Do you want to compare Him with somebody? Do you want to make an image - an idol - and worship that?
Could you make one big enough? And will the idol be able to do for you what Jesus can do for you? By having an idol, you are really cutting God down to size! Can you find a craftsman that will make an idol for you that will not topple?
Isaiah is actually cutting quite deep here - because 50 years ago these people had had idols all over Israel - and they toppled - and the people toppled too. Today, many people will look to almost anything except God. Isaiah’s message is so relevant in 2025.
Verse 21 . Do you not know? Don't you remember being taught? Have you never heard? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth - and its people are like grasshoppers. (People who believed in Creation were recently accused - that the Bible taught that the earth was flat - from the places where it speaks about the four quarters - here we see in Isaiah that that is just not so.)
God brings princes to naught - and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
Do you ever wonder why some verses are not so well known - do you ever hear these read at some great state occasion? Many would just not like these verses!
God brings some people down to size - and raises up others - like Isaiah - Peter James and John - Paul and Timothy.
He brings down and raises up - this is wonderful.
Verse 25 - Who is HE like? Lift up your eyes and look up. Now the Babylonians worshipped the moon - and there is a moon atop every mosque!
Isaiah is saying - our God created all that.
Verse 27 . They had complained - and grumbled - but they never ceased to believe in God. They just said - "He's not interested in us - He's forgotten about us - and He cannot do anything to help us."
The Lord is everlasting - and He never grows tired or weary.
Isaiah goes on to say two things to the people - Faint not - and Fear not.
To the Jews God is saying - Remember My Power. To the Babylonians He is saying - Remember what I can do. God never gets tired, and it is as if the Bible has to keep telling us that. Our problems do tend to increase when we become tired and weary or get down.
Even young people get tired - but those who hope in the Lord – those who have that assurance which only Jesus Christ can give - they will renew their strength - and they will soar like eagles. They will run - and then the climax - they will walk!
Soar (fly) - run – walk. We would put it the other way round - but God is looking for people who will be faithfully walking with Him - faithfully serving in the fellowship of the Church of Jesus Christ - after 40,50, 60 years - that's what counts.
We would all like to mount up with wings like eagles, but as someone has said, “It’s hard to soar with the eagles when you are surrounded by turkeys.” Actually, that is just a cop out.
When God shows up it doesn’t matter who is around you. How does Isaiah describe GOD? He portrays almighty God with such amazing characteristics – and we need to remember that. He comes with power and rules – and He leads!
We need to remember what will happen to those who hope in the Lord! He renews them – and they soar and run and walk! Experience God’s immense strength – and forgiveness – and peace – and power.
“Lord God Almighty – enable us to take in and embrace all that Isaiah is proclaiming in these few sentences. We bow with thanksgiving that the truth about our God is revealed for all to read. We thank You that You are a God who calls and chooses and forgives and equips. Thank You for the power of the Holy Spirit – for the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit. We praise You and worship You, in Jesus’ name”. Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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