Finding Strength and Hope in God's Promises

 

Summary

In this afternoon gathering, I shared insights from my latest book, "Strength for the Weary," which draws from the second half of the book of Isaiah. This section of Isaiah is particularly poignant for those experiencing difficult seasons in life, offering comfort and reassurance of God's enduring promises. Isaiah, a prophet living in tumultuous times, speaks to a covenant people who feel abandoned by God amidst their trials. His message is one of hope, reminding us that God's promises remain steadfast even when circumstances seem bleak.

Isaiah's prophecies, written 700 years before Christ, include the Servant Songs, which foretell the coming of Jesus as the Messiah and deliverer. These songs are central to understanding Jesus' mission and identity, as He often referenced them in His teachings. Isaiah's vision extends beyond his immediate context, looking forward to a new heavens and a new earth, a promise of ultimate restoration and renewal.

In our own lives, we may find ourselves weary, questioning God's presence and promises. Whether due to personal struggles, family issues, or the overwhelming negativity in the world, it's easy to feel dejected. Yet, Isaiah's message is a reminder that God is faithful, and His promises are unchanging. We are encouraged to trust in Him, even in the darkest moments, knowing that He is with us and will never forsake us.

The book "Strength for the Weary" aims to provide reassurance and strength to those who feel tired and burdened. It serves as a reminder that God's promises are yes and amen in Jesus Christ, and that we can trust Him even when the path is unclear. Just as Isaiah looked forward to a future of hope and restoration, we too can hold onto the promise of a new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells and God's promises are fulfilled.

Key Takeaways:

1. God's Promises Amidst Trials: Isaiah's message speaks to those who feel abandoned by God during difficult times, reminding us that His promises remain steadfast even when circumstances seem bleak. We are encouraged to trust in God's faithfulness and His unchanging nature. [08:44]

2. The Servant Songs and Jesus' Mission: The Servant Songs in Isaiah foretell the coming of Jesus as the Messiah and deliverer. These songs are central to understanding Jesus' mission and identity, as He often referenced them in His teachings, highlighting His role as a servant who came to give His life as a ransom for many. [12:57]

3. Hope in a New Heavens and New Earth: Isaiah's vision extends beyond his immediate context, looking forward to a new heavens and a new earth. This promise of ultimate restoration and renewal offers hope and assurance that God's plan is for a future where righteousness dwells. [14:57]

4. Trusting God in Darkness: In moments of great pain and difficulty, we are reminded to trust in God's presence, even when we cannot feel it. Just as Isaiah's audience was encouraged to hold onto God's promises, we too can find comfort in knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us. [26:07]

5. Strength for the Weary: The book "Strength for the Weary" aims to provide reassurance and strength to those who feel tired and burdened. It serves as a reminder that God's promises are yes and amen in Jesus Christ, and that we can trust Him even when the path is unclear. [24:50]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:24] - Introduction and Humor
- [01:20] - Writing and Publishing
- [02:22] - Conviction to Write
- [03:00] - Preaching Through Isaiah
- [04:29] - Choosing Texts from Isaiah
- [05:23] - Key Texts and Themes
- [06:18] - Historical Context of Isaiah
- [07:34] - Future Prophecies and Babylon
- [08:44] - Feeling Abandoned by God
- [10:51] - The Question of "Why?"
- [12:11] - The Servant Songs
- [14:57] - New Heavens and New Earth
- [16:53] - Personal Reflections and R.C. Sproul
- [18:46] - Animals in Heaven
- [20:53] - Imagery of the Sea
- [21:27] - Fulfillment of God's Promises
- [23:28] - Trusting God's Promises
- [24:50] - Purpose of the Book
- [26:07] - Trusting God in Darkness
- [27:00] - Conclusion and Book Promotion

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Strength for the Weary

Bible Reading:
1. Isaiah 40:29-31 - "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength."
2. Isaiah 53:4-5 - "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."
3. Isaiah 65:17 - "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind."

Observation Questions:
1. What are some of the key themes found in the second half of Isaiah, as discussed in the sermon? [03:00]
2. How does Isaiah describe the role and mission of the Servant in the Servant Songs? [12:11]
3. What future vision does Isaiah provide in chapters 65 and 66, and how is it significant? [14:57]
4. How does the sermon describe the emotional state of the people Isaiah was addressing, and what was their main concern? [08:44]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the promise of a new heavens and a new earth provide hope and assurance to believers today? [14:57]
2. In what ways do the Servant Songs shape our understanding of Jesus' mission and identity? [12:57]
3. How can Isaiah's message of God's faithfulness amidst trials be applied to personal struggles today? [08:44]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the nature of God's promises, even when circumstances seem bleak? [23:28]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt weary or burdened. How did you find strength, and what role did your faith play in that process? [24:50]
2. How can you remind yourself of God's promises during difficult times, especially when you feel abandoned or forgotten? [08:44]
3. The sermon mentions trusting God in darkness. What practical steps can you take to trust God more when you cannot feel His presence? [26:07]
4. How can the vision of a new heavens and a new earth influence your daily life and decisions? [14:57]
5. Identify a specific promise of God that you find reassuring. How can you hold onto this promise in your current life situation? [23:28]
6. How can you use the message of the Servant Songs to share the hope of Jesus with someone who is struggling? [12:57]
7. What is one action you can take this week to provide comfort or support to someone who is feeling weary or burdened? [24:50]

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting God's Promises in Trials
In times of hardship, it can feel as though God has abandoned us, but Isaiah's message reminds us that God's promises remain steadfast even when circumstances seem bleak. Isaiah spoke to a people who felt forsaken, yet he assured them of God's unchanging nature and faithfulness. This assurance is crucial for us today as we navigate personal struggles, family issues, or the overwhelming negativity in the world. We are encouraged to trust in God's faithfulness, knowing that He is with us and will never forsake us. [08:44]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: Think of a current trial you are facing. How can you actively remind yourself of God's promises and faithfulness in this situation today?


Day 2: Understanding Jesus' Mission Through the Servant Songs
The Servant Songs in Isaiah are prophetic revelations that foretell the coming of Jesus as the Messiah and deliverer. These songs are central to understanding Jesus' mission and identity, as He often referenced them in His teachings. They highlight His role as a servant who came to give His life as a ransom for many. By studying these songs, we gain a deeper understanding of Jesus' purpose and the fulfillment of God's promises through Him. [12:57]

Isaiah 53:4-5 (ESV): "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."

Reflection: Reflect on how the Servant Songs deepen your understanding of Jesus' mission. How does this understanding impact your relationship with Him today?


Day 3: Hope in the Promise of a New Heavens and New Earth
Isaiah's vision extends beyond his immediate context, looking forward to a new heavens and a new earth. This promise of ultimate restoration and renewal offers hope and assurance that God's plan is for a future where righteousness dwells. In a world filled with uncertainty and chaos, this vision provides a powerful reminder of the hope we have in God's ultimate plan for creation. [14:57]

Isaiah 65:17-18 (ESV): "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness."

Reflection: How does the promise of a new heavens and a new earth influence your perspective on current world events and personal challenges?


Day 4: Trusting God in the Darkness
In moments of great pain and difficulty, we are reminded to trust in God's presence, even when we cannot feel it. Just as Isaiah's audience was encouraged to hold onto God's promises, we too can find comfort in knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us. This trust is not based on our feelings but on the truth of God's Word and His unchanging character. [26:07]

Psalm 139:11-12 (ESV): "If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,' even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust God's presence? How can you begin to rely on His Word rather than your feelings in these areas?


Day 5: Finding Strength for the Weary
The book "Strength for the Weary" aims to provide reassurance and strength to those who feel tired and burdened. It serves as a reminder that God's promises are yes and amen in Jesus Christ, and that we can trust Him even when the path is unclear. Just as Isaiah looked forward to a future of hope and restoration, we too can hold onto the promise of a new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells and God's promises are fulfilled. [24:50]

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you feel weary. How can you intentionally seek God's strength and rest in this area today?

Quotes


And the first twelve chapters are okay because they contain some of the great vision, the "holy, holy, holy" vision. It's got the Christmas, "His name shall be called Immanuel, God with us," and so on. And then you come to chapter 13 and all the way to 37, and it's all judgment on all the surrounding nations. [00:03:14]

And I decided that this time around I would just look at the second half of Isaiah for this reason: that a number of folk in the church on a pastoral level were passing through difficult seasons of their life, and some of them were a little dejected and despondent. And I thought that they need a series, but not six years. [00:04:04]

Isaiah is seven hundred years or so before Jesus, and he's in Jerusalem and he's a prophet, and he's a prophet who moves in exalted circles. He moves in circles where the king is, and he's living in a really, really bad time because in the north the Assyrians have devastated Samaria, and they're threatening to come down to Jerusalem, and they will. [00:06:19]

But 150 years into Isaiah's future is Babylon and that's bad news, because what Assyria failed to do Babylon will do, and folks like Daniel and Ezekiel will be taken into captivity in Babylon and Jerusalem will be wiped out, temple will be destroyed. The judgment of God will come down upon His people. [00:07:34]

There are people like Job maybe in here who have lost a great deal. Your business has crashed. Your marriage has crashed. Your children have rebelled, and who knows where they are. You've lost a daughter, a son. You're on your break between the third and fourth round of chemotherapy, and life is hard and life is difficult, and it's hard to get up in the morning and it's hard to go to bed because you can't sleep. [00:08:50]

The comfort of a God who makes promises and keeps those promises and keeps them even through periods where it looks as though He's forgotten the promise. The second half of Isaiah contains those four servant songs in chapters 42 and 49 and 51 and then 52 and 53. And you've got these four Servant Songs, and they're about Jesus. [00:11:55]

Isaiah is seven hundred years before Jesus, but he's talking about a servant, and this servant who's going to be a deliverer and a Messiah, and He's going to be the restorer of God's people, and He's going to be the One who ensures that God's promise to His people will never be forgotten. [00:12:47]

When you read the Gospels really, really closely, you get to see that Jesus shapes His understanding of His role as mediator after these four Servant Songs. He quotes them a lot. There are bits of them that pop up in statements that He makes over and over, "I came not to be served but to serve and to give My life a ransom for many." [00:13:27]

At the end of the second half of Isaiah, in chapter 65 and 66, Isaiah who is looking to the future, he's looking 150 years into the future to Babylon and then he's looking 700 years into the future, and he's seeing the coming of the servant, and then he looks right into the end. And what does he see? [00:14:44]

And what he sees is a new heavens and a new earth, chapters 65 and 66, a new heavens and a new earth. And it's language that is picked up again by Peter, and it's language that's picked up again by John in the closing chapters of Revelation. It's important to ask the question, and it's even more important to have an answer to the question, "What happens five seconds after you die?" [00:15:00]

So Isaiah looks into the future, and what does he see? He sees Jerusalem restored and a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells and in which the promises of God are fulfilled. So the second half of Isaiah is a bit like the closing of the book of Revelation, strength for the weary. [00:21:24]

I wrote this for those who find themselves in seasons where they just feel tired and weary and need reassurance that God hasn't changed because He doesn't change. I need reassurance that the gospel is the same today as it was yesterday, that the promises of God are yes and amen in Jesus Christ, that I can trust Him when the lights go out, when the floor gives way, and I feel I'm falling. [00:24:50]

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Transcript
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