Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 40

This chapter treats of the comforts of God's people; of the forerunner and coming of the Messiah; of his work, and the dignity of his person; of the folly of making idols, and of the groundless complaints of the church of God. The consolations of God's people, by whom to be administered, and the matter, ground, and reason of them, Isa 40:1,2. John the Baptist, the harbinger of Christ, is described by his work and office, and the effects of it; it issuing in the humiliation of some, and the exaltation of others, and in the revelation of the glory of Christ, Isa 40:3-5, then follows an order to every minister of the Gospel what he should preach and publish; the weakness and insufficiency of men to anything that is spiritually good; their fading and withering goodliness, which is to be ascribed to the blowing of the Spirit of God upon it; and the firmness and constancy of the word of God is declared, Isa 40:6-8, next the apostles of Christ in Jerusalem are particularly exhorted to publish fervently and openly the good tidings of the Gospel; to proclaim the coming of Christ, the manner of it, and the work he came about; and to signify his faithful discharge of his office as a shepherd, Isa 40:9-11, the dignity of whose person is set forth by his almighty power, by his infinite wisdom, and by the greatness of his majesty, in comparison of which all nations and things are as nothing, Isa 40:12-17 and then the vanity of framing any likeness to God, and of forming idols for worship, is observed, Isa 40:18-25, and from the consideration of the divine power in creation and upholding all things, the church of God is encouraged to expect renewed strength and persevering grace, and is blamed for giving way to a distrustful and murmuring spirit, Isa 40:26-31.

Cross References

• 1. S ver 21
• 2. S Deuteronomy 33:27; S Psalms 90:2
• 3. S ver 26
• 4. S Isaiah 37:16
• 5. Isaiah 44:12
• 6. S Psalms 147:5; Romans 11:33
• 7. S Genesis 18:14; S Psalms 68:35; S Psalms 119:28
• 8. Isaiah 50:4; Isaiah 57:19; Jeremiah 31:25
• 9. Isaiah 9:17; Jeremiah 6:11; Jeremiah 9:21
• 10. S Psalms 20:8; Isaiah 5:27
• 11. S Psalms 37:9; Psalms 40:1; S Isaiah 30:18; Luke 18:1
• 12. S 1 Samuel 2:4; S 2 Kings 6:33; S 2 Corinthians 4:16
• 13. S Exodus 19:4; Psalms 103:5
• 14. 2 Corinthians 4:1; Hebrews 12:1-3