GOD’S HAND OF COMFORT

“SPEAK COMFORT to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the LORD’S HAND double for all her sins” – Isaiah 40:2

The redeemed can rest assured in the efficacy of GOD’S HAND of COMFORT: “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. “SPEAK COMFORT to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the LORD’S HAND double for all her sins” (Isa.40: 1-2). The Israelites – God’s chosen people – had been living in exile in Babylon for 70 years Their nation had been destroyed, the Temple in ruins, reduced to a heap of rubble. All that was left was a small number of survivors in a far-away land, who were trying desperately to hold on to their memories of their God and His Word. It was in that hopeless situation that God spoke!

In stressing the Word of Forgiveness to Israel, Isaiah projected in time to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. He was told to announce to the disobedient nation that the basis for their forgiveness had already been accomplished. He spoke to the heart of Jerusalem – “tenderly” – that her hard service had been completed; her sin paid for. The phrase, “double for all her sins,” does not mean that God had punished the nation twice what their sins required. Rather, this described an Eastern custom. If someone owed a debt he could not pay, his creditor would write the amount of the debt on paper and nail it to the front door of the debtor’s house for passers-by to see. If someone paid the debt for him, then the creditor would double the paper over and nail it to the door to testify that the debt had been fully paid.

Israel’s announcement was that her debt had been fully paid, in the death and resurrection of her Messiah! But God’s Hand of Comfort is not only demonstrated through the forgiveness of sins, but also through the declaration of God’s Word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. God’s anointed servants use Hid declared Word to bring comfort to His people: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because He has ANOINTED Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to COMFORT those who mourn” (Isa.61: 1-2). JESUS read this very scripture in the synagogue service in Nazareth (Lk.4:18-19).

God comforts His people by pardoning our sins and redeeming us: “Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem! For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem” (Isa.52:9). The comforting Word of Forgiveness and Reconciliation is directed to everyone who feels burdened by blunders, errors and sins, things done wrong, or the hurt caused others. In Christ, our iniquity is pardoned. We have received from the LORD’S HAND the doubling of comfort for all our sins!

JESUS introduced the Holy Spirit as our Comforter: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another COMFORTER, that he may abide with you forever” (Jh.14:16, kjv). Our Comforter is our Advocate, Counsellor, Helper, Guide, Partner, Strengthener, and Teacher. Biblical Comfort transcends mere relaxation, ease, or provision of an emotional lift. In comforting us His people, God takes away all sorrow, pain, and despair, by dealing with the root causes of our troubles, and thereby enables and empower us to comfort others (2Cor.1: 3-4).

God’s strong, ruling Arm is also His gentle, feeding, comforting, caring, and carrying Shepherd’s Hand: “Behold, the Lord God shall come with a STRONG HAND, and HIS ARM shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young” (vv.10-11).