Strengthen them
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. (Isaiah 35: 3, KJV)
Generally Speaking, to Strengthen means to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong, courageous, obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer.
This scripture above refers to those who can scarcely lift their hands, or stand up on their legs, under a sense of sin, in a view of wrath, and immediate ruin and destruction, ready to sink and faint, because of their enemies, or through want of food and earthly things that so they may keep their ground against their enemies; “hands” and “knees” are mentioned particularly, because a man’s strength lies greatly in them; and his weakness is seen by the languor and trembling of them.
We use our hands to work with; those with weak hands are not working for the LORD as they should. We use our knees both to progress with and to pray. Those with feeble knees are not progressing with the LORD and praying as they should.
The sermon is there to make the point that even in a time of chastening from the LORD, we should take strength and courage in the LORD, knowing that it is His Fatherly love and care that has allowed and directed the chastening. It’s time to get strong in the LORD and move on. This also serves as a reminder that there are some among God’s people who indeed have weak hands and feeble knees.
How then do you strengthen your knees?
It is very simple, Talk to your heavenly Father. He strengthens weak knees through the truth of the Scriptures and the power of His presence. You’ll then be able to encourage others.
Some of us are not very strong. We get discouraged easily and frequently feel like throwing in the towel and it seems like we’re living under a cloud of depression, and even though God does frequently bless us, we still tend to stay mostly sad. Others live in a place of one trial and misfortune after another and we’ve had tragedies, upsets, and what some people would call “bad luck” all of our lives.
This is where Jesus comes in. He binds up our broken hearts and strengthens our wounded spirits while bathing, cleaning, healing our wounds, and gently deals with us when we are despondent. He is never hard or lacking in tenderness for us when we are afflicted. He also doesn’t leave us in our weakened and wounded condition. He does so much for us so our lives don’t have to keep being so painful. Hands and knees have plenty to do with our journey in life and also to Heaven.
Conclusively, Jesus gives us life and strength so He can work in us and through us, doing the works of His Father in Heaven. A person can’t properly be called a Christian who does not have it in his or her heart to actively be in God’s service. We are not able to lay hold on the promises if our hands are weak and we can’t lift the brother or sister who has fallen when our hands are weak. We can’t run from temptation if our knees are feeble and we can’t stand firm against the attacks of the enemy with feeble knees. Feeble-kneed people can be recognized by how hard it is for them to drag themselves to church faithfully. Strengthen your knees today and you will do exploits.
Thank you!