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.
He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
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. (from Isaiah 40)
This was part of the first lesson at morning service. In the sermon, the priest brought up that one of his colleagues in the area thought it sounded like the prayer in Monty Python’s “Holy Grail”–”O God, you are a very huge God…” Maybe a little bit.
God is everlasting, Creator of the ends of the earth. God does not faint or grow weary. God’s understanding is unsearchable.
We, on the other hand, are pretty finite and our creations are pretty limited. Our understanding is not only searchable, it is fairly lame. And we grow weary. Sometimes very weary.
I have heard that final verse for decades now, sung it in praise songs, “Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…”
I am beginning to understand the meaning of this verse now that I am no longer a youth and could do quite well on my own energy. Now that I am deep into middle age and know weariness from an insider’s perspective, i understand this scripture better than ever.
Some time in the presence of God, time with the scriptures, a place at the table, singing the Psalms of the faith, has a way of renewing my strength, to be lifted up on the wings of an eagle.
For me, waiting on the Lord means being in regular worship. Hearing the Word proclaimed and celebrating the Eucharist. Waiting on the Lord involves taking time for the Daily Office and spending part of the day in prayer and study.
I know of no better form of rest and renewal than the renewing of heart, mind and body in the presence of God. Not weary this afternoon.