The Immanence of God
After depicting of God is transcendent who surpass or
excel or move beyond the reach or grasp of something now Isaiah also in the
same passage depicts His immanence. Isaiah stresses God’s presences and
activity within nature and history as well as sustains human every moment. The
prophet reproves the people of God, who are now supposed to depend on Him. That
God is not only great and holy but He wants His people to know his presence
among them.
“He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He
increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly,
Yet those who wait for
the LORD Will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like
eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”
(Isa 40:29-31, NAS)
In his commentary on this verses Ridderboss wrote,
“Isaiah now offers his counter case by reminding the greatness of God and then
posit His grand statement: The Lord, the God of Israel, is the everlasting God,
Creator of the ends of the earth (and all that lies in between – the earth,
therefore). It is proof that they have ‘earthly though of the heavenly majestic
of God”. [1] In
addition SDA Bible commentary stated, “God involved in human life and is at
work within human being individuals. This immanence is attributed to the
character of God. The
God who faints not imparts strength to fainting hearts. Whatever man’s needs
may be, God is able to supply them all. Those who in meekness and lowliness of
spirit realize their own frailties and shortcomings are the most certain of
having their needs supplied. God’s ear is always attuned to the cry of those
who feel themselves insufficient for the tasks at hand and who desire the help
of Heaven. It is in the weakness of humanity that God’s strength is made
perfect (2 Cor. 12:9). This fact has been proved in the lives of countless
thousands.”[2]
Since
this is one of God’s attributes; and his people, therefore, should put
their trust in him, and look to him for aid. The design of this verse is to
give consolation to the afflicted and downtrodden people in Babylon, by recalling
to their minds the truth that it was one of the characteristics of God that he
ministered strength to those who were conscious of their own feebleness, and
who looked to him for support. It is a truth, however, as applicable to us as
to this truth inestimably precious to those who feel that they are weak and
feeble, and who look to God for aid. [3] Furthermore according to
Gill’s Exposition, the phrase, but they
that wait upon the Lord, means that as the children of God human can wait
for His help like children to his parent. “As the children to their parents, to do them
honor, to obey their commands, and receive food and blessings from them; as
servants on their masters, to know their pleasure, do their work, and have
their wages; as clients on their patrons, to have advice of them, put their
cause into their hands, and know how it goes; and as beggars at the door, who
knock and wait, tell their case and wait, meet with repulses, yet keep their
place, and continue waiting: such an act supposes a knowledge and reverence of
God, confidence in him, attendance on him, not with the body only, in public
and private, but with the soul also, and with some degree of constancy, and
with patience and quietness: the Lord is to be waited upon for the manifestations
of himself, who sometimes hides himself, but is to be waited for, since he has
his set time to show himself again, and his presence is worth waiting for; also
for the performance of his promises” [4]
He will help the willing, will help those who, in a humble
dependence upon him, help themselves, and will do well for those who do their
best, Isaiah 40:30,31. Those who trust to their own sufficiency, and are so
confident of it that they neither exert themselves to the utmost nor seek unto
God for his grace, are the youth and the young men, who are
strong, but are apt to think themselves stronger than they are. The prophet
Isaiah asserted that those that wait on the Lord, who make conscience of
their duty to him, and by faith rely upon him and commit themselves to his
guidance, shall find that God will not fail them. So the offer of God is
available. They have been faced with God, ‘Behold your God’. He is there ready
to reveal Himself, to come among men in His glory. He will give them the
strength needed to participate. And the offer is to all both near and far.
[1]Ridderbos J., Bible
Student’s Commentary, (Grand Rapids,MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1985),
350.
[2]Nichol, Francis D., The
Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary vol. 4, (Washington, D.C.: Review
and Herald Publishing Association, 1978), 86.
[3]Alber Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament: Isaiah, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book
House, 1979), 3:86
[4]John Gill, Gill’s Commentary, vol. 3 Psalm 23 to Isaiah
(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1980), 910
No comments:
Post a Comment