{"id":1601,"date":"2016-12-18T19:17:33","date_gmt":"2016-12-18T19:17:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gchristopherscruggs.com\/?p=1601"},"modified":"2016-12-18T19:17:33","modified_gmt":"2016-12-18T19:17:33","slug":"longing-for-comfort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gchristopherscruggs.com\/?p=1601","title":{"rendered":"Longing for Comfort"},"content":{"rendered":"

The word \u201ccomfort\u201d is an interesting word in the English language. Here in the South, we talk and about \u201ccomfort food,\u201d by which we mean food that fills you up and makes an empty stomach feel full. \"imgres-2\"<\/a>Comfort food has plenty of carbo\u2019s, starches, protein, and especially bacon grease (an essential element in all comfort food). In the intelligence world, they speak of giving \u201ccomfort to the enemy.\u201d Comforting the enemy means betraying your country and helping someone else. If we have enough money and a nice house and plenty of food we talk about \u201cliving comfortably,\u201d by which we mean our needs are met. When we comfort a child we hold them in our arms and speak softly with love and encouragement.<\/p>\n

The root of this word \u201ccomfort\u201d are two Latin words meaning \u201cwith\u201d and \u201cto strengthen.\u201d\u00a0[1]<\/a>\u00a0The \u201cfort\u201d part of comfort is the same word from which we get our English word \u201cfort\u201d or “fortress.” A fortress is of course a safe place. Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as the \u201cComforter.\u201d The Greek word being used there has a similar connotation. It means \u201chelper\u201d or \u201cadvocate,\u201d because an advocate is someone who helps another person through legal proceedings. When we are in legal trouble, it is comforting to know we have a capable attorney to help us. To comfort is come beside another human being and supply a strength that, for the moment, they need.<\/p>\n

The God of All Comfort.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"images-1\"<\/a>The book of Isaiah<\/span> falls into two general parts. Chapters 1-39 are chapters of judgement, as the prophet warns the nations, and especially Judah, of coming judgment. It often makes hard reading because of the constant disclosure of sin and coming suffering. Chapter 40 begins a second section. [2]<\/a> This section begins with a message of comfort encouragement and assures the Jewish people that God is a God of Compassion who will save his people from their sins and national humiliation. It is in this section that many of the famous Messianic passages and disclosure of the Messiah as the Suffering Servant of Israel are found. In other words, the book of Isaiah<\/u> begins with judgement and ends with forgiveness, restoration, and new hope. It ends with the hope that God will create a new heaven and new earth in which the problems of our world are absent (Isaiah 66:22).<\/p>\n

Here are some famous \u00a0words of comfort we find in Isaiah chapter 40:<\/p>\n

Comfort, comfort<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>my people,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>says your God.<\/strong> Speak tenderly\u00a0to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service\u00a0has been completed,\u00a0that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the\u00a0Lord\u2019s hand double\u00a0for all her sins. A voice of one calling: \u201cIn the wilderness prepare\u00a0the way\u00a0for the\u00a0Lord; make straight\u00a0in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill\u00a0made low the rough ground shall become level,\u00a0the rugged places a plain. And the glory\u00a0of the\u00a0Lord\u00a0will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the\u00a0Lord\u00a0has spoken.\u201d A voice says, \u201cCry out.\u201d And I said, \u201cWhat shall I cry?\u201d \u201cAll people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers\u00a0and the flowers fall, because the breath\u00a0of the\u00a0Lord\u00a0blows\u00a0on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers\u00a0fall, but the word\u00a0of our God endures\u00a0forever.\u201d You who bring good news\u00a0to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, \u201cHere is your God!\u201d See, the Sovereign\u00a0Lord\u00a0comes\u00a0with power, and he rules\u00a0with a mighty arm<\/strong> (Isaiah 40:1-10).<\/p>\n

Prayer: God of Comfort, come by the power of the Holy Spirit, your great comforter, to convict us, convert us, and make us wholly yours. Amen<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The Comfort of Good News.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I’m sure we’ve all had this kind of experience: We are worried about something. We fear something bad is going to happen. Then, we get a letter or phone call or a visit from a friend. They bring good news. Suddenly, our worries are gone. I remember worrying about business problems. I remember being afraid of our family’s financial future. Then, one day an envelope and arrived at the office. It contained a check! Good news! Good news is comforting. It’s comforting in all the ways I mentioned earlier. Good news takes the gnawing fear from our stomachs. It fills us up. Good news reminds us that were not alone. We have friends and allies. Good news reminds us that we have some protection and things are not going to be as bad as we feared. It reminds us that God has not forgotten about us.<\/p>\n

Of course, the very most important good news is the Good News of the Gospel. The Good News of the Gospel is that God himself \u00a0acted in the life, death, and resurrection to save his people from their sin and brokenness. When Paul and the apostles speak of \u00a0Good News they are always speaking of the good news that God, in the life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as provided for our salvation and eternal life.<\/p>\n

The book of Isaiah<\/u> contained \u00a0Good News for the people of his day and for the people of our day. Isaiah<\/u> doesn’t deny the reality of sin and judgment. Isaiah<\/u> doesn’t deny that God’s people \u00a0suffer \u00a0consequences from sin. However, Isaiah<\/u> is clear: In the end, God is going to remove sin, end suffering, restore his people, and bring the time of peace and plenty. Isaiah 40 is comfort food for the soul!<\/p>\n

\"imgres-3\"<\/a>Isaiah<\/span> promises us four forms of comfort in Chapter 40 of the book:<\/p>\n