Isaías 40
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Isaías 40:31
Wiersbe: As the remnant in Babylon looked back, they saw failure and sin, and they needed encouragement… The Jews were few in number, only a remnant, and facing a long and difficult journey. The victories of Assyria, Babylon, and Persia made it look as though the false gods of the Gentiles were stronger than the God of Israel, but Isaiah reminded the people of the greatness of Jehovah. When you behold the greatness of God, then you will see everything else in life in its proper perspective… Someone has defined "circumstances" as "those nasty things you see when you get your eyes off of God." If you look at God through your circumstances, He will seem small and very far away, but if by faith you look at your circumstances through God, He will draw very near and reveal His greatness to you. The circumstances within us (Is 40:27, 28, 29, 30, 31). Instead of praising the Lord, the nation was complaining to Him that He acted as though He did not know their situation or have any concern for their problems (Is 40:27; 49:14). Instead of seeing the open door, the Jews saw only the long road before them, and they complained that they did not have strength for the journey. God was asking them to do the impossible The prophet plainly presents the pattern for a life of power. We must receive His gift of strength and power, supernatural gifts which He continually, graciously gives, but only to those who recognize and acknowledge their personal need. The Hebrew word for weary means faint, exhausted, especially emotionally and spiritually, a need met only by Jesus Who speaks a word of encouragement to the weary soul (Is 50:4) THE CONTRAST… "YET" Yet - Hint: Whenever you encounter a term of contrast like "but" or "yet", use that as an opportunity to pause and ponder the text (query the text using the 5W/H'S). This exercise will will force you to examine the preceding context and slow you down giving you time to meditate on the text and allowing your Teacher, the Holy Spirit, time to illuminate the passage. While this discipline takes some practice, as you become more skilled, you will be amazed at how much your understanding and retention of the Scripture will improve. Too often we get in a hurry reading the Word, trying to make certain that we read our chapters for the day in our through the Bible in a year program. But because we are forced to read so fast, at times we remember very little of what we read by the end of the day. One verse "swallowed" and "digested" is far better than several chapters read hastily! See Related Resource: inductive Bible study. Now back to Isaiah 40:31 - Using "yet" Isaiah is presenting a contrast between the "youths… and vigorous young men" in the preceding context (Is 40:30) and men and women who wait on Jehovah. The former live in their natural strength in contrast to the "waiters" who live in God's sufficient supernatural strength. This begs the question beloved -- In whose strength are you living the Christian life - yours or His? If you are living the Christian life like the youths and young men (and are tired and worn out), then this verse is for you! Ed Young observes that… The contrast (yet) is between the youths and the waiters upon the Lord, those who fully believe in God’s power to deliver, and manifest their confidence in Him by patiently waiting for Him to bring His promise to fulfillment. During the Old Testament dispensation this designation would apply to those who longed for the fulfillment of the promises and in patience waited for them (cf. Luke 2:25, 38) (Ed: I.e, the believing remnant). Nevertheless, what the prophet sets forth is also a general truth, applying to the strength that comes to those who at any time wait in patience for God’s purposes to be carried out. (Young, Ed: The Book of Isaiah - 3 Volume Commentary. Eerdmans Pub. 1992-hardcopy) Keil and Delitzsch explain even young men in the early bloom of their morning of life, succumb to the effects of the loss of sustenance or over-exertion and any outward obstacle is sufficient to cause them to fall. "Even though this may happen, it is different with those who wait for Jehovah," i.e., those who believe in Him; for the Old Testament applies to faith a number of synonyms denoting trust, hope, and longing, and thus describes it according to its inmost nature, as fiducia and as hope, directed to the manifestation and completion of that which is hoped for.
Isaías 40:31
Wiersbe comments that in the midst of our trials and difficult circumstances… God knows how we feel and what we fear, and He is adequate to meet our every need. We can never obey God in our own strength, but we can always trust Him to provide the strength we need (Php 4:13-note). If we trust ourselves, we will faint and fall; but if we wait on the Lord by faith, we will receive strength for the journey. The word “wait” does not suggest that we sit around and do nothing. It means “to hope,” to look to God for all that we need (Is 26:3; 30:15). This involves meditating on His character and His promises, praying, and seeking to glorify Him. (Wiersbe, W: Be Comforted). David McCasland asks… Is there an obstacle between you and something that is rightfully yours? You believe it's God's will, but the method of obtaining it and the timing don't seem right. Think long and pray hard before taking a bad path toward a good goal. Waiting for God to act is the best opportunity for the right things to happen His way. O God, make me one of those rarest of souls Who willingly wait for Thy time; My impatient will must be lost in Thine own, And Thy will forever be mine. —Bowser As discussed at the outset of this note, clearly patiently waiting for Jehovah reflects an attitude of trusting and hoping in Him. John
Isaías 40:31
Wiersbe: In Psalm 25 David points out that we can experience God's guidance if we meet certain spiritual conditions. The first is confidence. We give evidence of our confidence in God through worship. We need to pray so that we might have our hearts right with Him. Waiting is another evidence (Ps 25:3, 5, 21). Every time I've rushed ahead, I've gotten into trouble. (Warren Wiersbe. Prayer, Praise and Promises). Wait for (qavah = Imperative mood = not a suggestion, a command, because this is ever our need!) the LORD; Be strong (Lxx = andrizo = behave like a man! Act like a man! Present imperative = make this your continual practice), and let your heart take courage (be of good courage; Lxx = krataioo = present imperative = make this your lifestyle! Same verb used in Eph 3:16 [note] where Paul prays for the Spirit to be the saint's Source of strengthening!). Yes, wait for (qavah = imperative) the LORD (Jehovah). (Psalm 27:14 - Psalm of David) ESV Study Bible note: To wait for the LORD is to look to Him with dependence and trust, not passivity. This is what enables one to be strong and courageous. (cp Dt 31:6) Wiersbe: The evidences of faith are rather obvious. First, we seek the Lord. "When You said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'Your face, Lord, I will seek"' (Ps 27:8). Do you want to build your faith and be able to walk by faith and war by faith? Then seek the Lord. Second, call on the Lord. "Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies" (Ps 27:11). That's prayer. Third, do the hardest thing of all--wait on the Lord. "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart" (Ps 27:14). Believing is seeing. Trust the Lord today. One of the most difficult aspects of the Christian life is waiting on God. It is especially difficult in the midst of trials. But that is when He builds your faith. Don't faint under your circumstances. Wait on the Lord, and He will strengthen you. (Warren Wiersbe. Prayer, Praise and Promises).
Isaías 40:31
Wiersbe writes that… The word "renew" means "to exchange," as taking off old clothing and putting on new. We exchange our weakness for His power (2Co 12:1-10, see especially 2Co 12:9-note, 2Co 12:10-note). As we wait before Him, God enables us to soar when there is a crisis, to run when the challenges are many, and to walk faithfully in the day-by-day demands of life. (Be Comforted) Speak, Lord, in the stillness While I wait on Thee; Hushed my heart to listen In expectancy. —Grimes Strength (03581) (koah/koach) means power, capacity or ability and thus speaks of power in the sense of the inherent potential to perform some function. Koah is the capacity to act and be able to produce. The Lord’s right hand is magnificent in strength (koah). The Lxx translates koah with the Greek noun ischus [word study], which describes the capability to function effectively. Beloved, is this not continually our great need? How else can we live a supernatural life unless we live it with supernatural strength, God's strength? What kind of strength exchange does Isaiah refer to? Another use of koah in this same chapter helps us understand the strength exchange… Isaiah 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power (koah; Lxx = ischus [word study] = conveys the sense of endowed power or ability), not one of them is missing. Koah - 118v in OT - Ge 4:12; 31:6; 49:3; Ex 9:16; 15:6; 32:11; Lv 26:20; Nu 14:13, 17; Dt. 4:37; 8:17, 18; 9:29; Jos. 14:11; 17:17; Jdg 6:14; 16:5f, 9, 15, 17, 19, 30; 1Sa 2:9; 28:20, 22; 30:4; 1Ki. 19:8; 2Ki. 17:36; 19:3; 1Chr 26:8; 29:2, 12, 14; 2Chr 2:6; 13:20; 14:11; 20:6, 12; 22:9; 25:8; 26:13; Ezra 2:69; 10:13; Neh 1:10; 4:10; Job 6:11, 12, 22; 9:4, 19; 23:6; 24:22; 26:2, 12; 30:2, 18; 31:39; 36:5, 19, 22; 37:23; 39:11, 21; 40:16; Ps 22:15; 29:4; 31:10; 33:16; 38:10; 65:6; 71:9; 102:23; 103:20; 111:6; 147:5; Pr 5:10; 14:4; 20:29; 24:5, 10; Eccl 4:1; 9:10; Is 10:13; 37:3; 40:9, 26, 29, 31; 41:1; 44:12; 49:4; 50:2; 63:1; Je 10:12; 27:5; 32:17; 48:45; 51:15; La 1:6, 14; Da 8:6, 7, 22, 24; 10:8, 16, 17; 11:6, 15, 25; Ho 7:9; Amos 2:14; Mic 3:8; Nah. 1:3; 2:1; Hab 1:11; Zech 4:6 The NIDOTTE writes that koah… has different meanings, depending on the context, but its primary meaning is strength, power, and it often occurs in close association with other words belonging to the same semantic realm. God equips people with the strength required for certain tasks. Empowered by Yahweh, Gideon was instructed to go in his might and deliver Israel from the Midianites (Jdg 6:14). Acting on instructions from the Philistines, Delilah sought to cajole Samson into disclosing the secret of his great strength and the way in which he could be overpowered (Jdg 16:5, 6, 9, 15, 17, 19). Eventually captured by the Philistines, Samson, having prayed to be empowered one last time, grasped the two middle pillars bearing the weight of the building in which the Philistines were celebrating and bowed with all his might, causing the structure to collapse and crush all those within (Jdg 16:30). In the strength of the food miraculously provided in the wilderness, the frightened, weak, and despairing Elijah was re-empowered and was able to walk forty days and forty nights (a conventional round number, which is also used of the duration of Moses’ sojourn on Mount Sinai [Ex 24:18; 34:28]) to Mount Horeb (1Ki 19:8). The prophet Micah was empowered by Yahweh to proclaim God’s judgment on Israel (Mic 3:8). In the overwhelming majority of occurrences (of koah), the reference is either to the power of God or to the strength he gives to human beings. With God are knowledge, power, and glory. God’s power is incomparable. Unlike human strength, which is barely existent and which is shattered by the experience of inadequacy, real power is demonstrated through God’s koah - By it God created the earth, destroys the enemy, and empowers frail humans with enduring strength. The hope of humankind lies in the combination of God’s power and mercy. It is appropriate that worshipers should respond to God with thanksgiving “according to the greatness of his power and the fulness of his wonders” (TDOT 7:128). The Theological Lexicon of the OT writes that… the chief meaning… may best be defined as “vital power” (the dead are described in Job 3:17 as “bereft of power”). Thus koah means the human capacity to reproduce (Ge 49:3) and the farmland’s capacity to yield produce (Ge 4:12; Job 31:39), as well as food’s capacity to nourish (1Sa 28:22; 1Ki 19:8); ordinarily, however, it refers to the physical power of an animal (Job 39:11; Pr 14:4) or a person (of the human hand, Job 30:2; of the arm, Is 44:12; in general, Jdg 16:6, 7, 8; 1Sa 28:20; 30:4; Is 44:12, etc.; of a people, Josh 17:17). Mental power is also often intended (Ge 31:6; Isa 40:31; 49:4; Ps 31:11), so that koah (often in conjunction with “to retain”) can develop the meaning “competence, suitability, capability” in later literature (Chron, Dan). One’s power is concretely manifested in one’s material wealth (Job 6:22; Pr 5:10; Ezra 2:69; of the people’s military and economic reserves, Hos 7:9). A W Pink exhorts us declaring that… It is vitally essential to remember that we need to have our strength and courage renewed daily. Be strong in the Lord: seek His strength at the beginning of each day—"those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31). God does not impart strength to us wholesale: He will not give me strength on Monday morning to last through the week. No, there has to be the renewing of our strength, and that strength has to be drawn from the Lord by the actings of faith, appropriating from His "fullness." The enemies we have to contend with cannot be overcome by human wisdom and might. Unless we go forth to the conflict continually looking to Christ for all needed supplies of grace, deriving all our vitality from Him, we are sure to be defeated. (THE CHRISTIANS ARMOR) John
Isaías 40:31
Wiersbe summarizes the Isaiah 40:25-31 observing that "You may be weak like grass (Is 40:6, 7, 8), sheep (Is 40:11), dust (Is 40:15), grasshoppers (Is 40:22), and even worms (Is 41:14); but if you trust the power of God, you can be like an eagle, a runner, and a patient pilgrim (Is 40:28, 29, 30, 31). In the emergencies of life, God helps you soar; in the daily routine of life, He helps you patiently walk. Both are the working of His mighty power (Ep 3:20,21). John Angell James writes "How full of encouragement is the language of the prophet Isaiah, "But those who hope in the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31 This beautiful passage contains a promise of continued supplies of grace and strength to all who really desire to serve the Lord with integrity and simplicity. In the image of the eagle, the prophet alludes to the strength of wing and of vision possessed by this noble bird—whereby it ascends to a lofty height, untired and undazzled—soaring even above the fogs and mists of the lower regions of the air, mounting above the very clouds, undeterred by the lightning, and floating in the pure azure above! Thus shall all who hope in the Lord rise higher and higher, upon the mighty wings of strong devotion, and with the unblinking eye of faith—into the regions of heavenly mindedness; and shall approach nearer and nearer to God—the sun of our spiritual day. "They will run" in the heavenly race, for the crown of immortal glory, "and not grow weary." Their strength, instead of being exhausted, shall, contrary to what occurs in bodily effort—be increased by exertion. No length nor greatness of labor shall be too much for them. God shall pour into their souls, fresh energy for every fresh effort. "They will walk and not be faint." Their pilgrimage may be arduous; the road may be long and rugged; often up steep ascents, and down into deep and rocky crags, where every step is a labor—but they shall not lose heart or hope; they shall not swoon, nor halt, nor turn back—but go forwards, sustained by a power greater than their own! LIKE AN EAGLE - I was watching an eagle in flight when for no apparent reason it began spiraling upward. With its powerful wings, the great bird soared ever higher, dissolved into a tiny dot, and then disappeared. Its flight reminded me of Isaiah's uplifting words: "Even the youths all faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those ho wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles" (Isa 40:30-31). GOD GIVES STRENGTH IN PROPORTION TO THE STRAIN. SUPERNATURAL RUNNING They will run and not get tired: Isaiah 40 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries O God, make me one of those rarest souls Who willingly wait for Thy time; My impatient will must be lost in Thine own, And Thy will forever be mine. --Bowser Related Resource: Metaphor of the Athlete in Scripture They will run (07323) (rus) means to hasten, move very quickly or to run. To make haste by running. The Septuagint translates rus with the Greek verb trecho which describes rapid linear movement in the literal sense. In context Isaiah is referring to running in a figurative sense using a metaphor taken from runners in a race, who exert themselves, who strive hard and who spend their strength performing or attaining some goal. This same picture occurs in Greek writings, where it denotes a willingness to brave extreme peril, which in turn requires the exertion of all one's efforts to overcome. Paul used the figure of a runner in a race to describe his own ministry, his great desire in Acts 20:24 being to finish his course (Gk = dromos = race course, a stadium) with joy, a goal he was enabled to achieve as he testifies in the last words of his last letter (2Ti 4:7-note,2Ti 4:8-note), because he ran not in his natural, innate power but in complete dependence upon God's sufficient supply of supernatural strength (eg, 1Co 1:18, 15:10, 2Co 12:9- note, 2Co 12:10-note). Other allusions to the metaphor of running are found in Ga 2:2; Php 2:16-note; Php 3:12, 13-note, Php 3:14-note and Hebrews 12:1-note. The point is that the race each of us has been called to run requires supernatural strength if it is to be run with joy in a way that brings glory to our Father and attains to the goal He has set before each of us to be more like His Son. Beloved the greatest "Runner" to ever run the race of life is Jesus Christ and He has given us His example to follow (1Pe 2:21-note, Jn 13:15, 1Co 11:1), even to the point of emptying Himself of His intrinsic omnipotence and relying upon the empowerment of the Holy Spirit… Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jerry Hullinger discusses spiritual running in his article on the Historical Background of Paul's Athletic Allusions… One of the apostle Paul’s favorite methods for applying and illustrating Christian responsibility was through the use of athletic metaphors. For example he used words for “running” and the “race” on numerous occasions (Acts 13:25; 20:24; Ro 9:16; 1Co 9:24; Gal. 2:2; 5:7; Php 2:16; 2Th 3:1; 2Ti 4:7). The History of the Games - The Olympic Games - The chief athletic contest in Greece was the Olympic games. Founded in 776 B.C., these games were held every four years. In 472 B.C. the Olympics were extended to five days. The first day was occupied with sacrifices to the gods and the taking of oaths by the judges and competitors. The second morning began with the naming of the competitors by the herald, and was followed by chariot races, horse races, and the pentathlon for men. Contests for boys were held on the third day. On the fourth day the men’s games in foot racing, jumping, wrestling, boxing, and pankration were held. The final day of the games was spent in sacrifices and an evening banquet in which the victors were entertained. (Jerry Hullinger - Historical Background Paul's Athletic Allusions from Bibliotheca Sacra 161:643 July 2004) (Theological Journal Subscription info) (List of 22 journals - 500 yrs of articles searchable by topic or verse! Incredible Online Resource!) The psalmist expresses the figurative sense writing… I shall run the way of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart. (Ps 119:32-note)
Isaías 40:31
Wiersbe - Why did John outrun Peter? (John 20:4) There may have been a physical reason: perhaps John was younger than Peter. But there is also a spiritual lesson here: Peter had not yet reaffirmed his devotion to Christ, and therefore his "spiritual energy" was low. Isaiah 40:31 says that those who wait on the Lord "shall run and not be weary," but Peter had rushed ahead of the Lord and disobeyed Him. Peter's sin affected his feet (John 20:4), his eyes (John 21:7), his lips (He denied the Lord), even his body temperature (John 18:18; and see Luke 24:32). Wiersbe commenting on Elijah in 1Kings 18 - What we do with God in private is far more important than what we do for God in public. Our hidden life prepares us for our public life. Unless we are willing to go through such disciplines as the dry brook, the depleted barrel, and the dead boy, we will never have the victories of Mt. Carmel. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength" (Isa. 40:31). To read a portion of the Bible before retiring is fine but not sufficient. Not only should our last conscious thoughts be of the Lord but also our first thoughts. Give God the first part of the day, not the last; the best, not the worst… So- no matter who you are—new Christian, old Christian, pastor or layman—you have little hope of living triumphantly unless you seriously cultivate your quiet time. Isaiah 40:30-31. (How to Begin the Christian Life) Daily Light on the Daily Path - SEPTEMBER 10 - EVENING They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. (Or, change strength.) Isaiah 40:31 When I am weak, then am I strong. — God shall be my strength. — He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. — Let him take hold of my strength. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee. — The arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. — Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. 2Co 12:10. Isa 49:5. 2Co 12:9. Is 27:5. Ps 55:22. Ge 49:24. Ge 32:26. 1Sa 17:45. Ps 35:1,2. John Butler on Isaiah 40:31- Scripture speaks much about waiting on the Lord. Few things are as hard to do as waiting on the Lord. It requires a lot of patience, faith, and submission. But waiting on the Lord has many wonderful compensations. Our verse speaks of four great compensations from waiting on the Lord. They include energy, elevation, enthusiasm, and endurance. Energy. “They shall renew their strength.” You must wait at the gas pump for the gas to fill your car’s gas tank, or you will not go far before your car runs out of energy. Likewise we need to wait spiritually if we want spiritual energy. We need to wait in His Word. Do not be in a hurry to get through your daily Bible reading. The same is true regarding prayer. The hymn says, “Take time to be holy,” and it takes time. Elevation. “They shall mount up with wings as eagles.” Eagles rise above the world with their wings. Spiritually we need to rise about the world’s standards and interests. Waiting on the Lord will give us the wings to do this. It will help us live a higher, more nobler, more godly life. Enthusiasm. “They shall run and not be weary.” Running pictures enthusiasm. And not being weary in running speaks of lasting enthusiasm. We need more of this at church. Some get enthused, but it does not last. Others do not get enthused about the Lord’s work at all. But if these folk would take time and wait in the Word and prayer they would see their spiritual enthusiasm become greatly increased. Endurance. “They shall walk and not faint.” Walking speaks of the normal round of life. It is what we do most. And frankly, it is harder to live for God in the normal routine of life than in any other area. Many folk only get with it spiritually on special days at church. They have not learned to live their faith in the ordinary round of life. But when we wait on the Lord in His Word and prayer, we will gain the endurance to live our faith in the common routine of life without fainting. Our faith will endure the struggles of ordinary living. (Daily Bible Readings) Butler commenting on waiting in Acts - "But wait for the promise of the Father… the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:4,5). The great blessing of the Holy Spirit would come in Jerusalem. Be in the right place and blessings will come. Also waiting, which is very hard on the flesh, is often a prerequisite to blessing. R A Torrey from his sermon "The Power of Prayer" - But not only will prayer promote as almost nothing else our personal holiness, but prayer will also bring the power of God into our work. We read in Isaiah 40:31 "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 [plod right along day after day, which is far harder than running or flying], and not faint." It is the privilege of every child of God to have the power of God in his service. And the verse just quoted tells us how to obtain it, and that is by "waiting upon the Lord." Sometimes you will hear people stand up in a meeting, not so frequently perhaps in these days as in former days, and say: "I am trying to serve God in my poor, weak way." Well, if you are trying to serve God in your poor, weak way, quit it; your duty is to serve God in His strong, triumphant way. But you say, "I have no natural ability." Then get supernatural ability. The religion of Jesus Christ is a supernatural religion from start to finish, and we should live our lives in supernatural power, the power of God through Jesus Christ, and we should perform our service with supernatural power, the power of God ministered by the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. Illustration of waiting and obtaining Jehovah's strength - Themistocles, who led the Greeks in the famous naval battle of Salamis, for some reason unknown to his troops delayed the engagement. It was expected that he would avail himself of the early morning hours; and when what seemed the golden opportunity had gone in inactivity, there were many who suspected him of being a traitor to his country. But he was waiting for the land breeze, which he knew would begin to blow at nine o'clock in the morning. He proposed to harness the very winds to his war-galleys, and make them waft his boats to sea; and so save the strength of his men for the fighting. Thus, those who would have been only rowers became warriors. Happy is the servant of God who, waiting for power from on high, thus uses in the work of the Lord energies that would otherwise be wasted… (S Zodhiates - A Richer Life For You In Christ - An Exegetical Commentary on First Corinthians One) This, my soul, is the triumph of thy being—to be able to walk with God! Flight belongs to the young soul; it is the romance of religion. To run without weariness belongs to the lofty soul; it is the beauty of religion. But to walk and not faint belongs to the perfect soul; it is the power of religion.Canst thou walk in white through the stained thoroughfares of men? Canst thou touch the vile and polluted ones of earth and retain thy garments pure? Canst thou meet in contact with the sinful and be thyself undefiled? Then thou hast surpassed the flight of the eagle!—George Matheson The eagle that soars in the upper air does not worry itself as to how it is to cross rivers. All creatures that have wings can escape from every snare that is set for them, if only they will fly high enough; and the soul that uses its wings can always find a sure "way to escape" from all that can hurt or trouble it.—Smith NET Bible Note: The metaphor of “running” to the Lord refers to a whole-hearted and unwavering trust in God's protection Eagles do not go in flocks. If you would mount up as an eagle, you must be willing to go alone. - Harry Ironside Virginia Whitman - The cheetah, graceful hunting leopard of Asia, can speed along at 70 miles an hour. A prong-horn antelope can do 60. A bird of India, the swift, has been timed at 200 miles per hour in a dive for prey. An ostrich can outrun the fastest greyhound on record. Race horses attain from 40 to 50 miles an hour. Sluggish man, afoot, is not capable of 25 miles an hour."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 40:31). (Encyclopedia of 15000 Illustrations) An enterprising shop-keeper opened a shop right next to another and handled the same goods. Spurred by the new competition, the old established storekeeper painted a large sign over his shop: "ESTABLISHED FIFTY YEARS. PROVEN MERCHANDISE." The next day his competitor displayed a sign: "ESTABLISHED YESTERDAY, NO OLD STOCK." In the spiritual realm, what counts is a daily anointing with the fresh oil of the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 40:31) (Encyclopedia of 15000 Illustrations) Olympic Motto (Ref) - In English the Olympic motto reads: "Swifter, higher, stronger." Interestingly, the Bible also has an Olympic text. It is Isaiah 40:31—"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."