Today’s selected passage continues in the Old Testament prophetic book of Isaiah, and more specifically, is found in the first twelve verses of the forty-first chapter. Pause for a brief moment and consider just the first verse of this chapter and the words contained therein: “Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment” (Isaiah 41:1). LET THE PEOPLE RENEW THEIR STRENGTH! Consider these particular words in light of how the previous chapter concludes—with a great and precious promise to those who wait upon the Lord. “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 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” (Isaiah 40:28-31). It’s truly remarkable how in the final verse of the fortieth chapter the prophet Isaiah speaks of those who wait upon the Lord renewing their strength, and in the first verse of the very next chapter we read words which call “the people to renew their strength.” As I sit here and consider these two verses, I can’t help but wonder if there is a difference between “strength” in and of itself, and “renewed strength.” I can’t help but think if there is an initial endowment of strength which is received by the saints of God, but also an additional and subsequent renewal of strength. If there is such a thing as a renewing of strength—a reality that is clearly set forth in Scripture—then what causes this need for renewed strength? How does one experience and received this renewed strength within their lives? What exactly happens in the life of an individual who finds themselves in the place where they need their strength to be renewed? What’s more, is that when speaking of strength within our lives, very rarely do we consider and think about strength as something which needs to be renewed. Within two verses in two different chapters the prophet Isaiah speaks of this renewal of strength which can be experienced by the people of God. Let me ask you a question right now—or rather a series of questions. Are you currently at a point in your spiritual life where you feel as though you have little if any strength left? Are you presently in a place where you feel like the strength you once enjoyed has somehow seeped from your life? Have you found yourself examining your life and wondering where the strength you once had has gone? Have you been surprised recently by your apparent lack of strength to endure the various conflicts, struggles and trials you are facing? I am reminded of the words of the prophet Isaiah in the very next chapter when he prophecies concerning the servant of the Lord—“mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.” In the third verse of this passage we read these incredible words spoken by the prophet Isaiah—“A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for His law” (Isaiah 42:3-4). These words bring to mind the words which Jesus spoke—words which are recorded at the end of the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). When Jesus spoke these words to His audience it is clear that there were those who gathered themselves unto him did indeed labor, yet were heavy laden. There were those who gathered themselves unto this Teacher to listen to His words, yet found themselves in a tremendous place of weariness. Such individuals had undoubtedly spent all their days toiling and laboring—only to find themselves experiencing the waning of their strength. Such individuals have become completely encumbered and weighed down by the cares and burdens of the world, which are designed to be oppressive task masters imposing a great weight and pressure upon their shoulders. Jesus knew full well that there were those in this audience whose knees were bending and buckling, whose backs were bending and bowing, and whose hands were hanging down because of the tremendous weight that was upon their shoulders.

 BRUISED REEDS AND SMOKING FLAXES! The words of the prophet Isaiah concerning bruised reeds and smoking flaxes are incredibly pertinent and relevant concerning the lives of countless men and women in this generation. BRUISED AND SMOKING! The prophet Isaiah reveals concerning the servant whom the Lord would choose that He would not break that which was broken, and he would not quench that which was smoking. Please don’t miss the incredible significance and importance of these words, for they provide us with a powerful word of encouragement in these Last Days. The prophet Isaiah declares of the servant of the Lord that He would not break that which had been bruised—a wonderful reality which many desperately need to hear in these Last Days. How many men and women among us in these Last Days have been so utterly bruised by the situations and circumstances they have faced? How many men and women in this generation are just like the man whom Jesus spoke of when revealing who indeed was our neighbor. “And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come against, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves” (Luke 10:30-36). This man was on a rather simple journey from Jerusalem to Jericho, yet while he was making this journey he fell among thieves, which not only stripped him, but also wounded him, thus leaving him half dead. This man was left naked, wounded, bruised, scarred and half dead on the side of the road, and was even looked over by a priest and a Levite as they passed by on the other side. It wasn’t until a Samaritan came upon him that this man experienced his wounds being bound as the Samaritan poured oil and wine upon his body. Moreover, the Samaritan brought this man to an inn, took care of him, and then offered to pay for his continued care until he fully recovered.

 The reason I mention the account of this parable spoken by Jesus is because it bears a tremendous semblance to what the prophet Isaiah writes in the forty-second chapter of the book which bears his name. The prophet Isaiah reveals that the Servant of the Lord would not break that which was bruised, but would instead restore it and cause it to recover. I can’t help but wonder how many men and women right now feel very much like a bruised reed as they are completely covered with wounds, bruises, scars and sores. I am reminded of the words which the prophet spoke concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the opening chapter of this prophetic book—“The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment” (Isaiah 1:6). What I find to be so incredibly wonderful about the language contained within this prophetic book is that despite the head sickness, despite the faintness of heart, the Lord of hosts would not allow Jerusalem and Judah to remain in that place. Jerusalem and Judah were both themselves a bruised reed in the earth which was covered with bruises, wounds and sores which had not been closed or bound up. Undoubtedly the man who fell among thieves on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho had a number of wounds, bruises and sores upon his body, yet a Samaritan came along that same way and bound up his wounds. This Samaritan was unwilling to allow this man to remain half dead and covered with wounds, bruises and sores. Moreover, the Lord of hosts was unwilling to allow Jerusalem and Judah to remain covered with wounds, bruises and sores which weren’t closed up or bound. The Lord of hosts would not and could not break the bruised reed which was Jerusalem, nor could He break the bruised reed which was Judah. Despite their being covered with wounds, bruises and sores, and their strength undoubtedly gone, the Lord would not cause them to perish as a result of their condition. Being completely covered with wounds, bruises and sores, there is not a doubt in my mind that their strength was virtually gone, as they faced a great struggle before them. The prophet Isaiah clearly proclaims of the Servant of the Lord that a bruised reed He would not break and a smoking flax He would not quench. I can’t help but be reminded of the words which Jesus spoke to the church of Philadelphia as recorded in the book of the Revelation—“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; FOR THOU HAST A LITTLE STRENGTH, AND HAS KEPT MY WORD, AND HAST NOT DENIED MY NAME” (Revelation 3:8-9).

 It’s worth noting that Jesus spoke of this church in Philadelphia as having little strength, yet in the midst of their having a little strength, there were two distinct realities that surrounded this church. If you study the words of Jesus you will note that despite this church having only a little strength, they have kept His Word; despite their having only a little strength, they have not denied His name. I find it to be incredibly significant that Jesus spoke concerning their lack of strength, yet even in the midst of their lack of strength, they retained their obedience to the Word of God, and they did not deny His name. This is important for us to recognize and understand, for there is a growing tendency when our strength begins to wane to forfeit our obedience to the Word of God. There is the temptation when our strength is only but a little to begin to sacrifice our response to the word of God. Moreover, there is the temptation to even deny the name of our Master in the wake of waning strength. There is a certain vulnerability that ensues when our strength begins to wane, and we are undoubtedly more susceptible to the threats, attacks and tactics of the enemy. I can’t help but be reminded of Sampson when he revealed to Delilah the secret of his strength—a revelation that would ultimately lead to Delilah’s betrayal, and the cutting of his hair. After Delilah had lulled Sampson to sleep on her lap, she proceeded to take a razor to his head and cut off all his hair. Once all his hair had been cut off Delilah aroused him from his sleep with a threat from the Philistines. Sampson awoke from his slumber and thought that he could engage the Philistines as he had done so many times. Sampson, however, did not recognize that the Spirit of God had departed from him and with this departure the complete depleting of his strength. Sampson thought he could engage the enemy just as he had done previously, however, he didn’t realize that he had become just like every other man and was now vulnerable to the enemy he once so vehemently opposed. I find it absolutely wonderful that when speaking to the church in Philadelphia Jesus acknowledged their little strength, yet He didn’t condemn them for having such little strength. Instead of condemning their seeming lack of strength He acknowledged that they had kept His word, and that they had not denied His name.

It is absolutely imperative that we pay close attention to this, for there is a certain resilience that must be found deep within our spirits as we seek a renewed strength. It’s worth noting that the prophet Isaiah spoke those who renew their strength as doing so by waiting upon the Lord. Those whom the prophet Isaiah spoke of were undoubtedly those whose strength was beginning to wane, those who had but a little strength, and those who felt as though they had absolutely no strength left. The prophet Isaiah boldly and emphatically declared that those who waited upon the Lord would indeed renew their strength. The prophet Isaiah didn’t just declare that they would renew their strength, but also that would mount up with wings as eagles. Those who waited upon the Lord would run and not grow weary, and would be able to walk and not faint. When you feel as though you have little if any strength, the last thing you feel like you can do is run. When you are living with very little strength you may feel as though you can’t even run at all—regardless of the distance. I am not an avid runner, but I do enjoy running, and I know what it’s like to run and to grow weary while in the middle of the run. The prophet Isaiah declared that those who waited upon the Lord would renew their strength, and with that renewed strength they would be able to run again, and would be able to walk again. YOU CAN RUN AGAIN! YOU CAN WALK AGAIN! I believe with all my heart that there are a number of men and women right now who desperately need to hear this word—the word that they can run again, the word that they can walk again. There are men and women who have lost their ability to run and their ability to walk because they have very little if any strength. There are men and women who have forgotten what it’s like to run because all they have known is depleted strength. They understand the words of the apostle Paul concerning running the race, yet they feel as though they do not have the strength, nor the ability to run. I can’t help but think of the words of the prophet Jeremiah which are recorded in the twelfth chapter of the book bearing his name—“IF thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5). In this passage Jeremiah speaks of running with the footmen and grown weary, and growing weary in the land of peace, and I know there are men and women right now who are experiencing this within their lives. There are men who have grown weary running with men, not knowing that they have been called to run with horses.

DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO CONTEND WITH HORSES? DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO RUN WITH THE HORSES? There are men and women who right now have grown so used to and accustomed to running with men, and in the process have grown tired and weary. Such individuals don’t even know that they have been called to run with the horses—run like they have never run before. The prophet Isaiah clearly proclaimed that those who waited upon the Lord would renew their strength, and it would be in that renewed strength that they would once more be able to run without growing weary. It would be in and from that renewed strength that they would be able to walk once more, and do so without fainting. ARE YOU TIRED OF RUNNING AND FAINTING? ARE YOU TIRED OF WALKING AND GROWING WEARY? If you are willing to answer these questions truthfully and honestly, and are willing to wait on the Lord in the midst of your fainting and weariness, you will very well experience the renewing of your strength. I remember what it was like the very first time I started running after being unable to do so for a long time. I remember what it was like to run and barely even run a mile without growing and becoming winded in the process. I remember what it was like as I began to build up my endurance while running until I was able to run anywhere from five to seven miles in a single outing. I know there are men and women who right now are absolutely and incredibly frustrated at their continued weariness in the midst of their running. Such men and women absolutely hate being unable to run without growing tired and weary in the process. Such men and women have stopped running altogether because they have grown so disheartened and discouraged at their lack of strength and endurance. What about you? Does this describe you? Are you one who has grown discouraged and disheartened because of your seeming lack of strength and endurance? I read the words of the prophet Isaiah and I can’t help but find a powerful word of hope and encouragement for all who have grown tired and weary. I believe with everything in me that the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is declaring to people in this generation that they can run once again. I believe the Spirit is speaking to men and women in this generation and hour whom the Spirit of God is declaring that they can walk again. Do you know that you have been destined to mount up with wings as eagles and soar? You were meant to soar high above the clouds and the storm that rages around you, thus enabling you to look down upon your storm. Dear brother, dear sister—you are being called in this hour to run once more; you are being called to walk once more; you are being called to mount up with eagle’s wings once more.

If you continue reading this passage in the forty-first chapter, you will uncover something else truly remarkable concerning that one whom the Lord had chosen. “Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to His foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? He gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet. Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he” (Isaiah 41:2-4). The prophet is very clear concerning this righteous man whom the Lord of hosts had raised up—one whom the Lord raised up from the east, calling him to his foot, and giving the nations before him. When I read these words I can’t help but see the tremendous connection to the inheritance that is presented before the saints of God—an inheritance of the nations, an inheritance ruling over kings, an inheritance where the enemies are as dust before their sword, and as enemies are as stubble before his bow. There is a tremendous inheritance that is before the saints of God—an inheritance where their enemies and adversaries are given before them, and kings are subdued before them. Remember the words recorded in the second chapter of the book of the Psalms—words which the apostle Peter attributes to David in the sermon on the Day of Pentecost. “Ask of me and I shall give the nations as thine inheritance. WHEN NATIONS BECOME YOUR INHERITANCE, ENEMIES ARE SUBDUED BEFORE YOU, AND YOU MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES! It is the Lord of hosts who enables us to run without growing weary and to walk without fainting. It is the Lord of hosts who enables us to mount up with wings as eagles. It is the Lord of hosts who gives power to the fain, and to those that have no might He increases their strength. The prophet Isaiah didn’t just declare that those who wait on the Lord would mount up with wings as eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not faint. The prophet Isaiah also emphatically declared that the Lord gives power to the faint, and increases in strength those who have no might. How absolutely wonderful it is to consider that it is the Lord who increases our strength, and it is the Lord who renews our strength, and it is the Lord who does so as we wait on Him.

RENEWED STRENGTH! INCREASED STRENGTH! This passage speaks a great deal of strength, and how the Lord not only offers to renew our strength, but He also increases our strength. Are you in need of such an encounter within your life right now? Do you feel as though you have little strength? Do you feel as though you have no might? The Lord promises to increase you in strength, and promises to renew your strength as you wait on Him. Youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall, yet those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. The Lord promises to increase in strength those who have no might, and promises to renew the strength of those who wait on Him. THE GREAT JOY OF LITTLE STRENGTH! In all reality, if you find yourself in that place where you have little strength as the church of Philadelphia did, there are three distinct things you must make absolutely certain you do. When you find yourself with little if any strength, you must deliberately purpose to keep the word of Christ within your heart. If you find yourself with little if any strength, you must deliberately purpose to never deny the name of Jesus the Christ, and hold firmly to that name. When you find yourself with little strength, you must intentionally wait on the Lord for Him to renew and increase your strength. Your days of running and growing weary have come to an end! Your days of walking and not fainting are coming to an end. The time to mount up with wings as eagles has come! The time to run without growing weary has come. The time to walk and not faint has come. It is the Lord of hosts who renews your strength. It is the Lord of hosts who increases your strength and gives power to the faint. It is the Lord who causes you to contend with horses and engage the Jordan in flood season when it overflows its banks. “And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; and as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (FOR JORDAN OVERFLOWETH ALL HIS BANKS ALL THE TIME OF HARVEST,) that the waters which came down from above stood and rose upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan” (Joshua 2:14-16). It’s worth noting that when the children of Israel crossed over the Jordan River into the land of their inheritance, they did so during the time of harvest when the river overflows its banks. The Lord of hosts caused the children of Israel to pass through the waters of the Jordan at that time when it was undoubtedly the most treacherous time to do so. This is incredibly significant, for the Lord has called us to contend and run with horses, and to contend in the swelling of the Jordan.

I absolutely love how this particular passage concludes—especially you consider the connection between Jacob the people, and Jacob the man. In the eighth verse we read “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend” (Isaiah 41:8). One thing we learn from the account of Jacob is that when he wrestled with the angel at the Jabok River, the angel touched the hollow of his thigh and changed his name. When Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, he was told “for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, hast prevailed” (Genesis 32:28). What the angel was essentially saying was that Jacob had contended with both men and God and had prevailed. In the book of Genesis we find that Jacob the man contended with men and with God and prevailed. In verses eleven and twelve of the forty-first chapter of the book of Isaiah the prophet declares concerning Jacob that “all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought” (Isaiah 41:11-12). ALL THEY THAT WERE INCENSED AGAINST THEE! THEY THAT STRIVE WITH THEE! THEY THAT WAR AGAINST THEE! In these final two verses we do not find Jacob contending with men, but we find men striving with Jacob—we find men being incense with Jacob and warring against him. It’s worth noting and pointing out that the Lord declared that all those that were incensed against Jacob would be ashamed and confounded. All those that strove with Jacob would perish, and those which warred against Jacob would be as nothing. The Lord promised to deliver Jacob out of the hand of all those that strove against him, and all those that sought to war against him. The Lord of hosts emphatically declared through the prophet Isaiah concerning Jacob that He would deliver them from those which warred against him, and those that contended with him. How absolutely marvelous it is that the Lord was going to deliver Jacob from those that were incensed against him, those that strove with him, those that contended with him, and those that warred against him. It is true that the Lord can and will increase strength and renew strength, and it is also true that the Lord can actively engage those which strive and contend with you and prevail. What a wonderful place it is to be completely delivered and set free from all those that contended and strove with you, and all those which warred against you. I would urge you to remember these words in this generation: YOU CAN RUN AGAIN! YOU CAN WALK AGAIN! YOU CAN FIGHT AGAIN! STRENGTH IS COMING! WAIT ON THE LORD! KEEP HIS WORD! DO NOT DENY HIS NAME! The Lord can and will cause you to run and not grow weary and walk and not faint—the question is whether or not you will wait on Him.