Isaiah 41:10 Be Not Dismayed

Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 

The LORD assures His servant, Isaiah, with these repeated words of encouragement. Notice the LORD speaking in the first person, “I”. Five times the LORD speaks of His personal intervention to strengthen His servant.

The LORD says He will strengthen, help, and uphold by His authority so His servant must not become discouraged. In denouncing the sins of Israel, Isaiah directly points out the hypocrisy of Israel – Isaiah 5:20 (KJV)  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 

The nation has departed from the LORD but for a very small remnant – Isaiah 1:9 (KJV)  Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. 

Finally, Isaiah was being sawn asunder in dark persecutions that came upon him. Our Lord gave these words of encouragement – Matthew 5:10-12 (KJV)  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Amen.