Walk Together Children, Don't You Get Weary

27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

James Weldon Johnson is most well known as the man who penned the song which has come to be called The Black National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing. In 1925 he and his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson published a two volume hymnal titled, The Books of the American Negro Spirituals. And in his introduction, James included and original poem titled, “O Black and Unknown Bards.” It was a tribute to the unknown composers of the Negro Spirituals. The first stanza of the poem says,

You sang not deeds of heroes or kings;

O black and unknown bards of long ago,

How came your lips to touch the sacred fire?

No chant of bloody war, no exulting paean

How, in your darkness, did you come to know

Of arms won triumphs; but your humble strings

You touched in chord with music empyrean.

The power and beauty of the minstrel’s lyre?

You sang far better than you knew; the songs

Who first from midst of his bonds lifted his eyes?

Who first from out of the still watch, lone and long,

That for your listners’ hungry heart sufficed

Still live – but more than this to you belongs:

Feeling the ancient faith of prophets rise

You sang a race from wood and stone to Christ.

Within his dark-kept soul, burst into song?

In the poem he asks the question “How?” The question is not how could they sing any song. It’s no surprise that music, rhythm and song were an integral part of the life of the Black experiene in America. There was surely a connection between their rhythms and those found on the African continent. And it’s no surprise that non-Christians can make good sounding, toe-tapping, rhythmic music.

In James Weldon Johnson’s poem above he asks the question “How?” The question is not how could they sing any song. It’s no surprise that music, rhythm and song were an integral part of the life of the slave in America. There was surely a connection between their rhythms and those found on the African continent. And it’s no surprise that non-Christians can make good sounding, toe-tapping, rhythmic music. As Reggie Kidd notes, the phenomenon of song began outside of the covenantal line with Jubal, a son of Cain ().

The question is, “How could they sing the Spirituals?” The music that Johnson is paying tribute to is redeemed music. How is it possible that out of such darkness sprang such beauty? For most African slaves in America there was no triumph in this world. How then could there be any songs of victory? In his tribute Johnson says that, “[the singer’s] spirit must have nightly floated free, though still about his hands he felt chains.” How did they sing “better than they knew”?

One of those songs, that I believe arises out of Scripture passages like the one before us this morning is, “Walk Together Children, Don’t You Get Weary.”

The lyrics go like this:

Walk together children

Don’t you get weary

Walk together children

Don’t you get weary

Oh, talk together children

Don’t you get weary

There’s a great camp meeting in the Promised Land

Sing together children

Don’t you get weary

Sing together children

Don’t you get weary

Oh, shout together children

Don’t you get weary

There’s a great camp meeting in the Promised Land

Gonna mourn and never tire

Mourn and never tire

There’s a great camp meeting in the Promised Land

This is a community song. Although they did strive for freedom from bondage, the clarion call was that they were to walk together, sing together, shout together, and all the while not grow weary. Even though they had to mourn, they encouraged each other to not grow weary in their mourning. This is because they looked to the hereafter and understood that “there’s a great camp meeting in the Promised Land.”

The song is a collective call to hope in the midst of suffering, joy in the midst of sorry, and the strength to endure through the struggle. And this is the same call we find the Lord giving his people in . We’re going to talk about these three things this morning: The Complaint, The Confession, and the Comfort.

Although they did strive for freedom from bondage, the clarion call was that they were to walk together, sing together, shout together, and all the while not grow weary. Even though they had to mourn, they encouraged each other to not grow weary in their mourning. This is because they looked to the hereafter and understood that “there’s a great camp meeting in the Promised Land.”

The Complaint

is a popular chapter in the Bible. The NT quotes v. 3 in reference to John the Baptist.

Isaiah 40:3 ESV

3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

JOHN1

Verse 6 and 8 are quoted by the apostle Peter in

1 Peter 1:24–25 ESV

24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

1PE1.

1 Peter 1:24 ESV

24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,

The apostle Paul references v. 13 in when he asks,

Romans 11:34 ESV

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

Indeed this chapter is a turning point in the prophet’s book. The theme of God’s judgment is prevalent in the first 39 chapters. And the turning point comes in v. 1 with the words,

Indeed this chapter is a turning point in the prophet’s book. The theme of God’s judgment is prevalent in the first 39 chapters

Isaiah 40:1 ESV

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

This word of comfort is necessary because of the people’s situation. Their rebellion and unbelief has resulted in judgement, and they issue a complaint to God. Their complaint is that the Lord does not see them nor does he care about them. We find out about their complaint through the Lord’s response in v. 27,

Why do you say Jacob, And why do you speak Israel,

And why do you speak Israel,

“My way is hidden from the Lord, And from my God, my justice is overlooked?”

And from my God, my justice is overlooked?”

This is a collective “my.” It’s the people of Israel as whole. Our way is hidden from the Lord. The way is the course of life. Our hard and difficult road is hidden from Him. Not only that, but our justice is being passed over. We are suffering and the Lord is paying no regard. There is a sense of despair and sadness in the complaint. We’re troubled on every side. Our situation is dire. And Lord you don’t even seem to see it! You don’t seem to care that we’re being unjustly treated!

Now, listen. Underlying this complaint is the reality and the confession that God is sovereign and all powerful. They’re crying out because he’s their God, and they know that he have the power to effect the change in the situation. He has the power to right the wrong. If they didn’t believe that he was able, then it would be a waste of time to cry out to him.

What they’re saying is this, “Our complaint is that you can do it, but you haven’t. And this puts us in more despair.”

Do you realize that complaining to God is actually a prominent occurrence in the Bible?

Psalm 13:1–2 ESV

1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Psalm 27:9 ESV

9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!

Psalm 42:9 ESV

9 I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

JER

Jeremiah 20:7 ESV

7 O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me.

Here is the regular feature of complaint when you find it in Scripture. We are suffering, or I am suffering in an unjust situation, and Lord you don’t seem to care! How are we going to survive in the middle of oppression and injustice if you’re not for us? If you’re not on our side, how are we going to make it? As one commentator puts it,

The Prophecy of Isaiah The Incomparable God of Israel: The Creator

The first question is theological, touching the nature of God (‘He cannot see it’), whereas the second is experimental, touching the experience of people (‘My prayers are never answered’).

Let me ask you a question. What do you do in the face of ongoing injustice and oppression? How do you respond to the never ending reality of suffering and sorrow? Whether it is the racial injustice that is still plagues this nation, or the oppression experienced by the most vulnerable in other parts of the world, passages like this give us the freedom to bring our complaint before God. We instinctively know that God is good and just. So it’s actually better to bring our complaint to him instead of becoming despondent about the suffering, or ignoring the suffering.

The Confession

Because notice that it’s the Lord asking the questions. Why do you keep saying that I can’t see what’s going on? And why do you keep saying that I don’t care? The message from the Lord is, ‘Don’t only use your personal experience as the basis for understanding what I see, what I know, and how I act.”

His response to their complaint is to remind them of their confession. It comes to them in the form of two more questions in v. 28. Have you not known? Have you not heard? These are rhetorical questions. This is the Lord using some slang. “You already know.” “Why are you acting like you don’t know what it is?”

In the middle of this situation, when you are full of complaint because of the injustice, you need to remember what you already know about me, and what you’ve already learned. You aren’t a people without a history. You know what I’ve done for Israel.

Remember the confession. The Lord is the everlasting God. The Lord is the God of eternity. He has no beginning and he has no ending. He is the Creator of the ends of the earth. Everything that exists exists because he created it. And because he is eternal, he’s not like you.

His way can be hidden from you but your way cannot be hidden from Him. Your situation is not hidden from Him because He created everything and everyone. There is nothing that He doesn’t know or see. He is omni-everything; omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, omni-benevolent, omni-just, and every other good thing.

Not only that, but He never gets tired or weary. The creation continues.The sun keeps shining. The planets and stars continue to follow the course He has set for them. He’s not like us. He doesn’t need sleep. He doesn’t get exhausted. He has no need to take a break from His work. He’s not so tired from helping Joe out that He needs to take a load off before He comes to see about you. That’s not what God is like.

His understanding is unsearchable. There is no searching to His understanding. You can’t comprehend what He knows. There is no limit to the depth, breadth and width of what He understands. You can’t even scratch the surface. This is God. This is what He is like.

Listen, if you have come to God through the only possible way, and that is faith in Jesus Christ, the reality of his sovereignty and power is a cause for rejoicing in thanks and praise. Even in the face of injustice, we don’t have to worry that we serve some impotent god. We don’t have to worry that we serve some god that has to consult someone else before he can effect change. Just like the people of Israel who received this text were a people with a history, who knew what the Lord had done for them, Christians are people with a history.

Christians are people with a personal history. To be a Christian means to be able to testify that God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. It’s to be able to confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord (). But Christians are people with a corporate history as well. We understand that the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ is the event that changed the world. It was God’s declaration to the world that he was committed not just to changing individual lives, but to taking back the whole world for himself. And that means Christians understand that justice delayed does not necessarily mean justice denied.

You and I need the eyes of faith to see that. These are the eyes that caused a community of oppressed people to sing, Walk together children, talk together children, sing together children, shout together children, don’t you get weary!

The Comfort

You see, they understood the comfort that comes from grasping the last part of our text.

v. 29

“Giving strength to the weary, and to the powerless, he increases power.”

Isaiah 40:29 ESV

29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

“Giving strength to the weary, and to the powerless, he increases power.”

This is a parallel verse. Both halves say the same thing. Progressive parallelism with an increase in intensity. He’s making this thing happen. The sufferings, issues and trials of life help us to realize that we are not in control. He doesn’t grow weary. He isn’t lacking in any power. He has no need of rest. But He’s merciful and gracious and will give strength to His weary children.

Are you lacking power this morning? He’ll cause the might of His children to increase. A number of years ago Gatorade had a commercial that showed athletes in need of power, pushing and pushing themselves to the limit. As they sweated and perspired you noticed that it’s not regular sweat coming out of them, but it’s Gatorade. And then the announcer asks the question, “Is it in you?” Gatorade’s all right if you want to shoot some hoops. But when life is weighing you down, you need to ask the question, “Is He in you?” You need to ask this because He gives strength to the weary, and power to the powerless. Notice something. It doesn’t say that He gives strength to those who are already strong. It doesn’t say that He gives power to those who are already powerful, but He gives it to those who are lacking in strength and power. This is the comfort.

“God helps those who help themselves.” That’s not the testimony of the Bible. God helps those who recognize that they can’t help themselves. When we recognize our need & powerlessness over the situation…God steps in. He steps in with comfort and peace. It is only those who feel and admit their weakness who can benefit from, receive or make use of this giving.

The issues of this life will be there until Jesus Christ returns to right every wrong. We live through the ups and downs of life. Job said in 7:1,

Job 7:1–3 ESV

1 “Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand? 2 Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hired hand who looks for his wages, 3 so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.

Job 7:1 ESV

1 “Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand?

Job 7:1–2 ESV

1 “Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand? 2 Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hired hand who looks for his wages,

Job 14:1–2 ESV

1 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. 2 He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.

“Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand? Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hired hand who looks for his wages, so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.” In 14:1 he said, “Man who is born of a woman is few of days, and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.” Job was well acquainted with suffering, pain, and struggle. He knew full well and good that his strength was not adequate.But he was also well acquainted with the God who is able to give strength to those who are weary. He was well acquainted with the God who is able to give power to those who are weak. That’s why in the midst his desperate condition He was able to say, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before Him.” ()

In 14:1 he said, “Man who is born of a woman is few of days, and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.” Job was well acquainted with suffering, pain, and struggle. He knew full well and good that his strength was not adequate.But he was also well acquainted with the God who is able to give strength to those who are weary. He was well acquainted with the God who is able to give power to those who are weak. That’s why in the midst his desperate condition He was able to say, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before Him.” ()

Job 14:1 ESV

1 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” ( ESV)

Job was well acquainted with suffering, pain, and struggle. He knew full well and good that his strength was not adequate. But he was also well acquainted with the God who is able to give strength to those who are weary. He was well acquainted with the God who is able to give power to those who are weak. That’s why in the midst his desperate condition He was able to say, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before Him.” ()

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 ESV

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 ESV

This continual need to realize that our own strength is inadequate to deal with the problems of this life is the testimony that runs through the Bible.

Isaiah 40:30 ESV

30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;

They will become tired and faint. Young men will surely stumble. Even the strongest and most choice in the society grow weary and fall. Even those you would expect to be able to endure cannot escape being worn out by this life. Youth and vigor are not enough. Nothing but the strength that God provides His children is enough to enable you to endure. What does it take?

The point is that our own strength is inadequate.v. 30Youths will grow weary. They will become tired and faint.Young men will surely stumble.Even the strongest and most choice in the society grow weary and fall. Even those you would expect to be able to endure cannot escape being worn out by this life. Youth and vigor are not enough.Nothing but the strength that God provides His children is enough to enable you to endure.What does it take?v. 31In contrast to the youth and young men, those who wait on the Lord, those who trust in His promises, those who lean on Him for strength won’t become tired. They won’t faint. They are able to endure the difficult times with expectation that He will keep them in the midst of the suffering. He will keep them in the midst of the trials and the testing. The verb for “receive anew” has the sense of replacing and exchanging. If you are one who waits on the Lord, then you will receive new strength. But it’s not just reviving your old, inadequate strength. It’s an exchange. God says that He will throw away that useless strength that you have, and He’ll replace it with His strength. Remember from verse 28? He doesn’t grow weary. He doesn’t faint. He doesn’t get tired. Do you need a strength exchange? God says that He’ll replace your strength with His. It’s the only thing that will do. Anything else is an impostor. Anyone else who promises you strength is lying. Your money is lying. Your house is lying. Your car is lying. Your institutions of higher learning are lying. They can’t provide strength when you’re weary. They can’t provide comfort from the storms of life. They aren’t able, because they’re creations just like you are. They’ll fail you. They’ll wear out.

Isaiah 40:31 ESV

31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

What does it take?v. 31In contrast to the youth and young men, those who wait on the Lord, those who trust in His promises, those who lean on Him for strength won’t become tired. They won’t faint. They are able to endure the difficult times with expectation that He will keep them in the midst of the suffering. He will keep them in the midst of the trials and the testing. The verb for “receive anew” has the sense of replacing and exchanging. If you are one who waits on the Lord, then you will receive new strength. But it’s not just reviving your old, inadequate strength. It’s an exchange. God says that He will throw away that useless strength that you have, and He’ll replace it with His strength. Remember from verse 28? He doesn’t grow weary. He doesn’t faint. He doesn’t get tired. Do you need a strength exchange? God says that He’ll replace your strength with His. It’s the only thing that will do. Anything else is an impostor. Anyone else who promises you strength is lying. Your money is lying. Your house is lying. Your car is lying. Your institutions of higher learning are lying. They can’t provide strength when you’re weary. They can’t provide comfort from the storms of life. They aren’t able, because they’re creations just like you are. They’ll fail you. They’ll wear out.

In contrast to the youth and young men, those who wait on the Lord, those who trust in His promises, those who lean on Him for strength won’t become tired. They won’t faint. They are able to endure the difficult times with expectation that He will keep them in the midst of the suffering. He will keep them in the midst of the trials and the testing. The verb for “receive anew” has the sense of replacing and exchanging. If you are one who waits on the Lord, then you will receive new strength. But it’s not just reviving your old, inadequate strength. It’s an exchange. God says that He will throw away that useless strength that you have, and He’ll replace it with His strength. Remember from verse 28? He doesn’t grow weary. He doesn’t faint. He doesn’t get tired. Do you need a strength exchange? God says that He’ll replace your strength with His. It’s the only thing that will do. Anything else is an impostor. Anyone else who promises you strength is lying. Your money is lying. Your house is lying. Your car is lying. Your institutions of higher learning are lying. They can’t provide strength when you’re weary. They can’t provide comfort from the storms of life. They aren’t able, because they’re creations just like you are. They’ll fail you. They’ll wear out.

The promise is those who hope in the Lord keep on receiving new strength. But it’s not just reviving your old, inadequate strength. It’s an exchange. God says that He will throw away that useless strength that you have, and He’ll replace it with His strength. Remember from verse 28? He doesn’t grow weary. He doesn’t faint. He doesn’t get tired. Do you need a strength exchange? God says that He’ll replace your strength with His. It’s the only thing that will do. Anything else is an impostor. Anyone else who promises you strength is lying. Your money is lying. Your house is lying. Your car is lying. Your institutions of higher learning are lying. They can’t provide strength when you’re weary. They can’t provide comfort from the storms of life. They aren’t able, because they’re creations just like you are. They’ll fail you. They’ll wear out.

You want the strength to endure all of the trials of life? Then run to the foot of the cross.

God graciously makes his vitality available to the failing of the earth. But does the receiving depend on any particular condition? Only one, and it is specified here: waiting on the Lord...To wait on him is to admit that we have no other help, either in ourselves or in another...By the same token, to wait on him is to declare our confidence that he will eventually act on our behalf. So, waiting on the Lord is not merely killing time, but it is a life of confident expectation. They will stretch out their wings as the eagles… The eagle’s ascension into the sky seems effortless. The eagle is able to soar high above the earth without threat or concern that it will fall to the earth. Far from being crushed to earth by their own helplessness, those who depend on God through Christ can stretch their wings in the effortless way of eagles and sail off in the wind.

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

For those who are in Christ, God has provided an avenue to His throne. Because the Christian is covered in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, God will incline His ears to your prayers even when it seems like he’s silent. Understand that God hears you and that he answers. The answer to our cries for justice, however, may not come in the form or manner that we expect. That’s because our understanding is limited, but his understanding is unsearchable. What do we do?

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” ( ESV)

For those who are in Christ, God has provided an avenue to His throne.Because the Christian is covered in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, God will incline His ears to your prayers.They understood that God heard them. Not only that, they understood that God would answer them. If He is a God who is silent, who doesn’t commune with His people, there would be no reason to talk to Him. It’s not always the answer we want.Sometimes you must go through alone.Therefore, never stop beating at the gate of heaven, pleading to God from your heart. He hears, and He will answer.

Walk together children, don’t you get weary.

Talk together children, don’t you get weary,

Sing together children, don’t you get weary,

Shout together children, don’t you get weary.

There’s a great camp meeting in the promised land!

They understood that God heard them. Not only that, they understood that God would answer them. If He is a God who is silent, who doesn’t commune with His people, there would be no reason to talk to Him. It’s not always the answer we want. Sometimes you must go through alone. Therefore, never stop beating at the gate of heaven, pleading to God from your heart. He hears, and He will answer.

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