Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye My People!

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Isaiah 40:1

There are some very serious news events to share and that was my intention for this post.  However, as I sit here at the keyboard I feel the need to share a message of strength from the word as the world around us seems to be reeling in confusion.  The Holy Spirit then confirmed this with a couple of discussions with some who are under tremendous pressure to the place they do not think they can go on.  This must be what Isaiah was sensing when he wrote the 40th chapter of his book.

The world then was just as chaotic.  The Assyrians had recently crushed the Kingdom of Israel and Samaria.  Judah's leaders had looked to Egypt for assistance and made a covenant that was referred to as a covenant with death.  They did not trust the Lord and the nation was in need of renewal and revival. Nations were rising and falling like dominoes.  Sin seemed to be overtaking righteousness.  Idols were praised throughout the land and the true servants of God, the remnant of the faithful who had lost respect for the religious, the political, and the economic leaders of their nation were pressured, fearful, and left wondering what the day would bring.  Does it sound familiar?

God saw the worried hearts of His faithful children.  He wanted nothing more than for them to wait for His help and cast their cares on Him.  The Lord commanded Isaiah to comfort his people.  There are two types of comfort.  There is the comfort we get that soothes the soul and settles our tossed emotions.  On the other hand, there is comfort that imparts vitality and strength to one who is ailing.  God had both on His mind; Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.  God's comfort starts with salvation.  Isaiah then discusses God and the grace that brings salvation in verses 1 to 11.  God spared no expense in the sacrifice of Christ for our sin, so do you think he will not equally care for us who call to him for help today?  His grace is sufficient!

From there Isaiah was inspired to write about God who is able to perform that which he purposes in verses 12-26.  His message--calm down and stand strong!  YHWH can!  He is the Creator of all there is.  His power is unmatched and unparalleled.  He carefully created the world for man.  He measured the heavens with a span (the distance from thumb to the little fingertip with an outstretched hand--we serve a mighty BIG GOD!).  He measured the oceans and weighed the earth.  He did this all by His own knowledge and had/has no counselor.  He sees the nations as but a drop in a bucket.  The people are but fine dust on a scale.  He is most worthy of praise and all of the cows and trees of Lebanon--or all the earth for that matter-- are not enough to give Him His due.  The tribes of the earth are as nothing to Him.  He makes kings and leaders to rise and he makes them to fail.  He reigns above all the heavens and the earth.  He is so powerful, high, and mighty that the heavens are like a camper's tent pitched alone in the desert.  He created the multiple billions of stars and leads them as one leads a parade.  He knows them all by name!  Who is like GOD ALMIGHTY?  He is able!  God can!  Baruch HaShem Achim ve Achayot B'Mashiach!  (Bless His name brothers and sisters in Messiah!)

Isaiah closes this masterful chapter with the reminder that this power is behind you!  He reminds us in verses 27-31 that God is on our side and His divine enabling is there for you!  Our God never tires, never faints, never fears, never fails, and never worries.  He is not wringing His hands in concern and trying to outwit His enemies.  He has already won!  His understanding of all that has been, is, or will be is perfect. He who dwells in the realm of eternity past, present, and future already knows the outcome. He sees His many enemies' futile and vain attempts to cast off His sovereign rule and He laughs.  He sees the vanity of the rulers of the world in rising against His glory.  He sees all that is happening everywhere and nothing escapes His sight.  God gives of His omnipotent power to you to sustain you in the best and worst of times.  The people of the world may tire and fall down but God's children who wait and call upon Him will mount up--and soon!

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:29-31

I'll share some news and events tomorrow.  Today, rest in Him and draw from His strength.