February 5, 2024
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 40:21-31
Daily Lectionary: Job 2:1-3:10; John 1:19-34
Isaiah 40:28-31:
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.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Isaiah, the Prophet of comfort! Hear the comfort!
The chapter had started with, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins” (Isaiah 40:1).
You live in a world of no comfort, among a people of no comfort. People trying to make sure they say the right things the right ways in order not to be canceled for wrong-speak by the mob; the false confidence at people pointing to others and calling them “haters,” hoping to not be accused of the same themselves; people trying to project legitimacy by the digital life they can display on social media—where’s the comfort, where’s the true confidence in living?
Isaiah proclaims comfort: Iniquities pardoned, sins forgiven, a people made holy for the Lord.
But what of our life in this world? Do you feel comforted? Feel pardoned of all sin? Like you belong to the Lord?
This is why our Lord has Isaiah preach His Word. Even as the Lord has your pastor preach His Word. Because we live in a world of no comfort, and because we live in lives of our own sin, we constantly need to hear the good news. The good news is that the Lord is the Creator, He upholds all things by the word of His power, and He does not grow weary of saving the sinner who is faint, weary, and exhausted.
“Wait for the Lord” is Isaiah’s call to have faith, to hold tight to the promise, to daily hear the Good News of sins-forgiven, and to remember that it is the Lord before whom you stand and who gives you comfort. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
My Maker, hold me in Your hand; O Christ, forgiven let me stand;
Blest Comforter, do not depart; With faith and love enrich my heart.
Lord, bless and keep me as Your own; Lord, look in kindness from Your throne;
Lord, shine unfailing peace on me By grace surrounded; set me free.Amen.
-Pastor Warren Graff is retired from Grace Lutheran Church, Albuquerque.
Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.
The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.
