Low Morale to Confidence to Rise Above

Bible Passage: Isaiah 40:1-31

I. Introductory Points

1. Judah was in Babylon
2. Jerusalem, their capital city, was no more a proud city
3. It had become an embattled city that remained in a state of rubbles
4. There was no king, no commercial or political significance to it
5. People probably became skeptical, because their situation was not changing
6. Verse 27 describe their feeling: “The Lord is not aware of what is happening to me, My God is not concerned with my vindication”

(a) Low morale
(b) Lack of confidence, self-respect, and sense of rejection
(c) Skepticism: “The LORD is not aware of what is happening to me”

7. Therefore, the people were in need of comfort and God’s intervention

II. Four lessons from Isaiah 40

1. Israel’s exile was coming to an end, punishment for their sins was over, and they would return to Jerusalem imminently (verse 2)

(a) The heavenly messenger tells the people of Judah to be ready to meet the LORD (verse 3 A voice cries out, “In the wilderness clear a way for the Lord; construct in the desert a road for our God)
(b) John the Baptist uses this verse to introduce his ministry and to announce the coming of the Messiah, Jesus (Mark 1:3)

2. The LORD would soon extend Shepherd care to the weak and neglected (verse 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young)

(a) For a long period, the people of Judah lacked real Shepherd care
(b) They were harassed, ignored, and exploited
(c) The LORD Himself will give them the needed care
(d) That care includes, giving close attention to the weak and young
(e) Gentle dealing with those with special need
(f) Jesus tells “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—-just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15)

3. The LORD is going to revive the weak and fatigued with His strength (verses 29-31-He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy)

(a) The LORD’s strength comes to:

(i) The one who understands the greatness of God and His Word (verses 12-26)
(ii) The one who understands His ability and waits for His time (vv. 12-26)
(iii) This is the definition of- “waiting” on the Lord

4. The benefit of waiting on the LORD (verse 31)

(a) Human weakness will be replaced with God’s strength
(b) It gives power to rise above from one height to the next level

Take Away

Wait on God to receive healing from low morale to confidence to fly high