The True Real Practical Relevant Meaning Of Comfort - And We Each Need A Word Of Comfort

We hear a lot about Iraq these days and much about Baghdad. There is quite a bit about this geographical area in the Bible. Turn with me to one scenario in Isaiah Chapter 40. There are relevant and practical lessons here for each one of us in these present days.

What is the background to Isaiah Chapter 40 and what could it possibly have to say to us today?

The people of Israel have been captives - prisoners - exiles - in Babylon - modern day Iraq - for around 50 years.

They had been disobedient to God - the Father of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. They had been given many opportunities to repent - to turn back to God - to say sorry for the way they had been living. They had refused to hear various preachers and prophets sent by God.

How long would they be prisoners? How long would they have to suffer? They were so sad, they could not sing.

There is a lot of sadness around today, with few signs of victory.

The good news is that God's Anger does not last for ever! God gives His man Isaiah a word to preach - a message to proclaim. It is a word of comfort.

If you need a word of comfort today this word is for you - comfort means to fortress - to strengthen you - the word means "to be with strength" - to make you strong and impregnable like a castle.

God says - Preach to my people - a word of comfort. Tell My People I love them - tell My people - "This is Your God speaking!" O to hear the voice of God - and we hear the voice of God through the Word of God.

Isaiah - comfort My people - comfort My people. Tell my people they have had enough suffering - speak tenderly to my people. Fill them with courage so that they can face what they have to face.

When you comfort someone you do not molly-coddle them. You don't wrap them in cotton wool and keep them from the truth.

Comforting is putting strength into people's hearts, and Jesus Christ teaches us that the Holy Spirit is our Comforter. The Holy Spirit gives strength for today and strength for to-morrow.

To tell people that things are all right when they are not is deceitful misleading and lying. God had punished His people Israel for their sins - but now they were being wronged - they were being persecuted in that land of Babylon - and God will save His People when they are wronged. That is our God. "Our God reigns".

God turns from judgement to mercy - from punishment to pardon - from causing His people suffering to saving them from unjust suffering. Now, that is righteousness - a word we seldom here mentioned today..

Tell my people - speak tenderly to them - let them know that they will soon be going back to Jerusalem.

These are verses to read when you are going through it - when you are being persecuted - when times are difficult. They begin with a whisper and end with a shout.

God is wooing His people - tell her that her hard service is over - it has been completed - her period of suffering and warfare is past. It is the word used for conscription - tell her that she is being demobbed - set free - released from this painful past. She is about to go home - back to Jerusalem. The warfare has stopped - she has paid for her sins - that is past.

Isaiah - cry out - call out to My people - tenderly. "In the desert prepare for the way of the Lord - make a straight smooth road for ME."

Isaiah - be like a prophetic bulldozer - flatten the bumps - fill in the potholes - I am coming through the desert to My people - and men will see the glory of the Lord.

These words were applied to John the Baptist as he prepared the way for the coming of Jesus. When Jesus comes again it will be like a spiritually dry barren wilderness - but everyone will see it - everyone will know that HE has returned - and the glory of the Lord will be revealed.

God says to Isaiah - CRY OUT - but Isaiah is not very sure what to preach. Tell the people that all men are like grass - their fame and glory is very temporary - they are like flowers in the field on a hot summer's day. Suddenly they disappear. Tell My People that the Word of the Lord stands for ever. People come and go - but the word of our Lord stands for ever.

Do you need a word to comfort, strengthen and uphold you today? Then, here it is.

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.

His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.

Sandy Shaw
sandyshaw63@yahoo.com