One of the messages of Isaiah was that God can be our strength.
He declared, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for
the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation”
(Isaiah 12:2). In particular those who are in need can find strength in Him: “For
thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress,
a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible
ones is as a storm against the wall” (Isaiah 25:4). Isaiah invited us to trust
in Him completely to find that strength: “Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in
the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:4). When we have struggles
we can turn to Him for strength: “In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a
crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, And
for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to
them that turn the battle to the gate” (Isaiah 28:5-6). In the Lord of Hosts we
find strength to fight all our battles. Isaiah testified, “The Lord is exalted;
for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.
And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of
salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure” (Isaiah 33:5-6). As we turn to
the Lord, He will give us judgment and righteousness, wisdom and knowledge,
strength and stability.
Other
passages from the prophet similarly invite us to find strength in Jehovah. I love
these words: “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he
increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young
men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be
weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31). When we feel faint
we can find power in Him; when we feel that we have no might He will increase
our strength. When we wait upon Him He will renew our strength and raise us up
like eagles. We can say with Isaiah, “In the Lord have I righteousness and
strength: even to him shall men come” (Isaiah 45:24). In Him we will have
strength and not in man. As Isaiah contemplated his own calling to be a servant
to the Lord he wrote, “Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious
in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength” (Isaiah 49:5). We may
not be able to accomplish all things we wish, but God will be our strength if
we will serve Him. Isaiah’s words repeated in multiple scriptures invite us to
come to Him for power and salvation: “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O
Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth
there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean” (Isaiah
52:1). In some future day the Lord will return to the earth in great glory, and
these are the words Isaiah suggested would be said at that day as He was seen: “Who
is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is
glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that
speak in righteousness, mighty to save” (Isaiah 63:1). He will travel “in the
greatness of his strength” and we will all bow before Him in that day. And we
can have that great strength today as we put our trust in Him. Just as He gave
strength to Jerusalem and defended it in the days of Isaiah from the Assyrians,
so too will He give us power to face all our foes as we rely on His arm.
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