  There are some
words that are very pleasing
to our ears. Words like
"soft," "gentle," "kind," and
"gracious" are just a few.
These words are attractive
because they usually convey
ideas of things that
please us. Another such
word that falls into this category
is "comfort". Comfort
is something that is attractive
to us all. Makers of
beds, cars, and reclining
chairs often appeal to our
desire to be comfortable.
We like our homes
to be comfortable. We have
our favorite flannel shirt,
sweatshirt or jacket that we
refuse to part with because
it feels so comfortable. We
like to feel comfortable with
our jobs. We seek it out
when we look for a new
church.
God, through the prophet
Isaiah uses this approach in
dealing with the people of
Judah, the southern kingdom
of Israel. In chapter
forty, verse one, we read,
"Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God. Speak
tenderly to Jerusalem."
When Isaiah spoke
these words Israel wasn't
ready to listen to Isaiah,
God, or anyone else. For the
most part, they had turned
away from God and rejected
his prophets. As a result,
the Lord sent the
Babylonians army to
destroy the city of
Jerusalem and carry them
off to Babylonian where
they remained for the next
seventy years.
Not until this took
place was Israel be ready to
listen to God. Only then,
would they repent and turn
to God for forgiveness. That
was when the nation of
Israel needed comfort.
That's when these words of
Isaiah would be taken to
heart.
What is so amazing
is that God gave them
these words of comfort
long before they were
ready to listen and appreciate
them. Only when they
had nowhere else to turn
would they repent and turn
back to God.
As you read Isaiah
you find God assuring
Israel that their captivity
would not last. God told
them, years before it would
take place, that Cyrus (an
unknown and unborn at
this point in history) would
make a proclamation
allowing Israel to return to
Jerusalem.
More importantly
he assured them that he still
loved them and their sins
were forgiven. He assured
them he would not forget
the promise of a Savior
which he had made to
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
To do this, he would
change the course of history
and set the stage for the
birth and ministry of Jesus.
Any study of the
Old Testament brings
home a number of truths
about our Lord. One is certainly
that God punishes
sin and punishes those who
do not repent. Yet, we also
see a loving and forgiving
God who comes again and
again with the message that
he has taken away our sins
through Jesus Christ. He
assures us that he is always
faithful to his promises and
ready to assure us of forgiveness.
What a comfort
that is to us sinners. God
keeps his Word and he
loves us. What can be more
comforting than that? |
