PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Isaiah 39-40
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.” (Isaiah 40:11)
In ch.39 Hezekiah is showing off his greatness; in ch.40 God reveals his greatness.
God is greater than anything and anyone, the Creator of the ends of the earth (40:28).
When God appears, the valleys and high places will be level to make way.
The sovereign Lord will come with power… holding little lambs close to his heart.
This juxtaposition seems bizarre when you think of how the world thinks of greatness.
But this is exactly Isaiah’s point: God is great in a holy different way.
God does not flex muscles, hold military parades or showcase riches.
In Jesus’s day, the people were waiting for a mighty warrior – they saw Jesus.
In Jesus Isaiah’s words come true, “Here is your God…” (Isaiah 40:9).
A humble shepherd holding lambs, comforting the sorrowful, strengthening the weak.
I love this picture of God in Isaiah, and clearly revealed in Jesus.
It goes against how we normally think of God, and yet this is how God shows up.
God is a gracious, compassionate, forgiving God, who wants to hold and help us!
This is how we receive our strength, and this is how we share God’s strength!
PRAYER
Lord, help me to see your strength revealed in humility, compassion and grace. Hold me close to your heart, and help me do the same for others.
Wow, Hezekiah really said “its all good, if its my descendants that will bear it, then I should be good for a while.”
Th Lord humbles pride. Hezekiah was showing off – sometimes we do the same – we may brag. Forgive me Lord my absolute stupidity. Without your blessing – I am nothing. All that I have is not mine – it is a trust – enable me to be generous – not because I’m better – but because it is the way of service and genuine love for neighbour and therefore also for you. Israel lost it’s way and put their trust in other nations – I too can lose my way and trust my own devices – but that is putting hope in wrong place. Lord let me put my hope in you: “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”