Devotion 1.30.24

Isaiah 40

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.

Marathon season is upon us in Texas. The great race is occurring monthly in the big cities here in Texas, starting with the White Rock in Dallas, going to Houston, then the Austin marathon. Many runners run marathons in spite of the number of miles that discourages most folks (26.2). They run them to accomplish something: check of an item on a bucket list; move to the next level of achievement; advance to the greatest of all marathons (Boston) by qualifying using time from a race here (skilled and advanced runners); and, fill in the blank (you name a reason I haven't).

The race marks a season of preparation. You don't wake up the morning of a marathon and say, "I think I'll run 26 miles today." You set it as a goal months in advance, develop a training plan, and then execute until the big day. There are highs and lows, ups and downs, hills and valleys where you question your drive, your ability, your commitment, your plan, and ultimately why you got yourself into this situation to begin with.

Then there is, in the aftermath of the event, a period known as recovery. 

How do you bounce back after running for three or more hours over terrain in elements you may not have been able to prepare for, such as weather or even in perfect weather? Believe it or not, you have to build that into your plan as well.

Life is a marathon is a metaphor we use considerably in our writings and speaking. Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 9 in fact, the Epistle reading for this week coincidentally. What connection does this have in today's reading? Israel has been beaten down by outside forces (Assyria and Babylon) as a result of ignoring and failing to worship God. God is a restorative God though, so after the failure to hear His Word and live it, judgement by Isaiah ensued. After judgement, Isaiah promises a restorative period for the remnant of His people, a new reign in the form of a king unlike the world has ever seen, a Messiah. 

Starting in chapter 40, the servant's work will be described. Christ restores us.  Life as a marathon will beat even youth down, but those who wait for the Lord will have their strength renewed. We shall run and not be weary as a result of His restoration, walk and not faint. That's a promise fulfilled by God the Father in this passage by sending His Son Jesus Christ. We are restored in the eyes of God and walk with Him in His light.

Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.