“They who wait for the Lord (hope in the Lord) will gain new strength (will renew their strength); they will mount up with wings (sprout wings) like eagles (soar as with eagles wings), they will run and not get tired (not grow weary), they will walk and not become weary (walk and not grow faint).”Isaiah 40:31 (Combined New American Standard Bible and The New American Bible, and Amplified Version)
Below are some QUOTED INSIGHTS from my Bible research as I explored the above verse in various commentaries.
“[Shall renew their strength] The Hebrew word commonly means to change, to alter; and then to revive, to renew, to cause to flourish again, as, e.g., a tree that has decayed and fallen down (see
Isa 9:10; and Job 14:7 – 9. Check out this excellent
comparison). Here it is evidently used in the sense of renewing, or
causing to revive; to increase, and to restore that which is decayed. It
means that the people of God who trust in him shall become strong in
faith; able to contend with their spiritual foes, to gain the victory
over their sins, and to discharge aright the duties, and to meet aright the trials of life. God
gives them strength, if they seek him in the way of his appointment—a
promise which has been verified in the experience of his people in every
age [and at every season of human life].
“[They shall mount up with wings as eagles]
One translation is 'They shall put forth fresh feathers like the
moulting eagle;' and in the note on this passage, 'It has been a common
and popular opinion that the eagle lives and retains his vigor to a
great age; and that, beyond the common lot of other birds, he molts in his old age, and renews his feathers, and with them his youth.'
The passage in Ps. 103:5, 'So that thy youth is renewed like the eagles,' refers to this fact. This was a common and popular understanding among the ancient biblical writers. The opinion was, that at stated times late in its life the eagle plunged itself into the sea and cast off its old feathers, and that new feathers started forth, and that thus it lived vigorously often to the hundredth year. In accordance with this opinion, the Septuagint renders this passage, 'They shall put forth fresh feathers [pterofueesousin] like eagles.' Vulgate, Assument pennas sicut aquiloe.
The passage in Ps. 103:5, 'So that thy youth is renewed like the eagles,' refers to this fact. This was a common and popular understanding among the ancient biblical writers. The opinion was, that at stated times late in its life the eagle plunged itself into the sea and cast off its old feathers, and that new feathers started forth, and that thus it lived vigorously often to the hundredth year. In accordance with this opinion, the Septuagint renders this passage, 'They shall put forth fresh feathers [pterofueesousin] like eagles.' Vulgate, Assument pennas sicut aquiloe.
“The
literal meaning of the Hebrew is, 'they shall ascend on wings as
eagles,' or 'they shall lift up the wings as eagles;' and the image is
derived from the fact that the eagle rises on the strongest, most
vigorous wings of any bird, and ascends apparently further toward the
sun. The figure, therefore, denotes strength and vigor of purpose;
strong and manly piety; an elevation above the world; communion with God, and a nearness to his throne—as the eagle ascends toward the sun.
“[They shall run and not be weary] This passage, also, is but another mode of expressing the same idea—that they who trust in God would be vigorous, elevated, unwearied; that he would sustain and uphold them; and that in his service they would never faint. This was at first designed to be applied to the Jews in captivity in Babylon to induce them to put their trust in God. But it is as true now as it was at that time. It has been found in the experience of thousands and tens of thousands, that by waiting on the Lord the heart has been invigorated; the faith has been confirmed; and the affections have been raised above the world. Strength has been given to bear trial without complaining, to engage in arduous duty without fainting, to pursue the perilous and toilsome journey of life without exhaustion, and to rise above the world in hope and peace on the bed of death.(From Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)
“[They shall run and not be weary] This passage, also, is but another mode of expressing the same idea—that they who trust in God would be vigorous, elevated, unwearied; that he would sustain and uphold them; and that in his service they would never faint. This was at first designed to be applied to the Jews in captivity in Babylon to induce them to put their trust in God. But it is as true now as it was at that time. It has been found in the experience of thousands and tens of thousands, that by waiting on the Lord the heart has been invigorated; the faith has been confirmed; and the affections have been raised above the world. Strength has been given to bear trial without complaining, to engage in arduous duty without fainting, to pursue the perilous and toilsome journey of life without exhaustion, and to rise above the world in hope and peace on the bed of death.(From Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)
Leona’s comment: The Scriptures emphasize the need for deliberate detachment from sin and negative lifestyle (molting our tired, worn, old feathers) and greater attachment to
God’s eternal truths and a holy lifestyle (renewing our spiritual
strength.) Many biblical passages affirm the need for this double-edged
action: “Put off the old man, put on the new nature; put aside the works
of darkness, walk in the light, etc.” Practical lists of the “put offs”
and “put ons” (attachments and detachments) are given to us so
we are not left in doubt of what God wants us to do.
But the rewards are wonderful: Youth renewed! Soaring closer to God! New strength and vigor for the rest of the way flourishing in the toilsome journey of life!
No comments:
Post a Comment