Everlasting God

Introduction

While reading the commentary (World Biblical Commentary) about this passage, it mentioned that the same way school children are reminded from their previously learned lesson, so too was Israel being reminded of truths they already had been taught previously and were often reminded of. It is about keeping a solid foundation in these lessons. Today will be different in that I will go verse by verse remembering those foundational lessons from the Everlasting God. First I will read the passage and then talk about it verse by verse. Listen to Isaiah 40:21-31

Isaiah 40:21–31 NRSV

21 Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; 23 who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. 24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. 25 To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. 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 strengthens the powerless. 30 Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; 31 but those 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.

Verse by Verse

In the very beginning verse 21 starts us off with the looking back on what we have been taught, remembering what are those solid foundational lessons we were taught even as children? The Israelites were told to recite the Scriptures, to commit them to memory, to remember the mighty acts of God. To live as God’s chosen people. God is the one whom they have learned about, been taught about from even early childhood. God is the one you have heard stories about. God is the one perhaps your grandparents and or parents or friends taught you about. Maybe you learned a song like Jesus loves me that told you who God is and that core principle that God loves you. Verse 21 asks the question, what have you been taught, what have you learned, what do you remember about God?

Verse 22 starts us off with a reminder of who God is. God is above the earth, not some created being, God is the one who rules over the earth. We are like tiny insects in comparison to God. God is the creator, the one who not only rules over the earth but the one who created the heavens and the earth. God is not some created being but the Creator of heaven and earth and all that is contained in this. Principle 1: God is the creator and above the heavens and the earth.

Verse 23 is the reminder of who really is in control, who really rules over the earth. Often times we get confused about rulers and the limits of sometimes perceived power over the world. God who created the heavens and the earth rules over all. Just like verse 22 compared humans to tiny insects in comparison to God, so too are human rulers in comparison to God. It is God who rules over all of the human rulers we have and in God’s hands are their kingdoms. In other words, God can replace them. God can raise up rulers and can bring down low rulers. Any perceived power is subject to God’s will. Principle 2: God is the Lord over all creation.

Verse 24 takes verse 23 further. This verse asks us to look at any given ruler, any given human kingdom. Do they last? Do they continue on forever? Are they brief in comparison to the Lord’s rule? While it may appear they rule over all, while it may appear they have power over the earth, how long does it really last? They are all temporary. The worst of rulers and the best of rulers on earth, are brief at best. Principle 3: None but the Lord’s rule lasts.

Verse 25 turns direction on us. The previous verses compared humanity to God with God being way above all, humanity being tiny and brief in their time and ability to rule. But this verse asks the question, if God is above all and rules over all, what is there in creation to compare God to? Nothing. There is nothing in creation which God can be compared to as in God is just like x or y is what God is like. God is holy like nothing else in all creation. Principle 4: God is God alone and nothing in creation can be compared to God.

Verse 26 continues that thought of who is God. While recognizing nothing in creation is sufficient to try and describe what God is like, there are others ways where we can attempt to learn about God by examining the working grace of God. First, God is above so we can’t look at earthly things to say God is like this created thing. No, lift your eyes above all creation to see God as creator, the source of life itself. God is the one who put the breath of life in us. God is the one who knows each one of us by name. God is the only whose mind is beyond limitations. God is the one who knows every being in creation by name. God knows you intimately, everything there is to know about who you are and what you are becoming. None slip through without God knowing them. God is the creator so it is impossible to exist, it is impossible to have life, it is impossible that anything happens without God’s knowledge. Principle 5: God knows all and is intimately aware of everything about you.

Verse 27 expands on verse 26 by asking the question why do you say God is ignorant of or ignoring your life and hardships? If God is all knowing, how could God not know about your life? How could God not know about your struggles? Here God accuses of being ignorant of God’s capacity to know each person’s life and their mountains and valleys they walk through. In the valleys of life, sometimes it is tempting to think God is ignoring our struggles but truth is, God is fully aware of them. Principle 6: God knows about each and every single one of our struggles and triumphs in life.

Verse 28 is the pinnacle here where the statement is made remembering who exactly God is. If we forget the Lord is created, the one who knows all about creation, and is intimately aware of each and every detail of every day of our life, this is something wholly different than anything in all of creation. This is the everlasting God! God does not wear out. God does not grow tired. God does not have any limits to understanding. Principle 7: God is the everlasting God whose thoughts and ways are being our ability to comprehend

Verse 29 speaks to how God turns the tables. God takes the weak and faint and gives them strength. God reinforces those who are powerless against forces in this world. God is not bound by limits of humanity and the systems put in place by human rulers and societies. It is within God’s capabilities to turn things upside down, to turn the tables on any situation or circumstances. Principle 8: God is the life changer for the weak and downtrodden.

Verse 30-31 really go together. Things that seem like they have control or abilities can lose them. Things that seem hopeless and impossible can be made possible. God is the one who rules over the heavens and earth and all things are in his hands God can strengthen the weak. God can weaken the strong. Principle 9: God is the God of the impossible!

Today is about remembering who God is. It is about bringing back to mind what sets God apart from anything in creation. It is about the strength and knowledge of God and the lack of real strength and power on our own. Go back this week and reread this passage and remind yourself daily who God is.