"He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."
Isaiah 40:29
“He giveth power to the faint;”
One of the weaknesses in man is that we grow tired. If you have labored all day physically, you may know the feeling of exhaustion that can come from hard work. This Hebrew word for “faint” is only used four times in the Old Testament. In Judges 8:15, it speaks of “weary,” hungry men. In 2 Samuel 16:2, it speaks of men who are “faint” and need for bread, fruit, and wine in the wilderness to renew their strength. Isaiah 50:4 tells that the LORD knows how to communicate with them who are “weary” when they awaken in the morning. And then we find it here in our verse for today.
I dare say that we all know what it is to feel faint, either from hunger, thirst, or even getting up from an awkward night’s sleep still feeling fatigued. Even worse, in times when our souls are out of sorts with the Lord, and our spirits have grown faint, and nothing seems right. In any case, the Lord is the answer to our weariness.
Think about this, the One who never faints gives power to those who are fainting. God is the only one who can help.
“Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding” (Isaiah 40:28).
David said,
“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13).
“And to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”
Have you been there, just no power to go on? Be encouraged!
“…and to the incapable He giveth strength in abundance.” [1]
The Apostle Paul knew he was weak, he asked God to remove his infirmity, and yet God did not. Paul gave in to the Lord’s plan for him and said this,
“And 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. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
“Notice who God gives power to: the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Those who are proud and confident in their own wisdom and strength will receive no strength from God” [2](Guzik).
We humbly go to God and ask Him for strength. He gladly gives us what we need.
Dear Lord, thank you for the strength you give to me to go on in my life and faithfully serve you!
[1] Keil & Delitzsch, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
[2]Guzik, David, David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.