Comfort (Isaiah 40)

“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God (Isaiah 40:1 NIV).

It is a classic Advent verse. These words were first uttered by an ancient prophet in the sixth century before Christ. Throughout the 2 1/2 millenia since, faithful people of God have drawn strength from this passage. Handel‘s famous masterpiece (intriguingly written in only 24 days!), ‘The Messiah’, opens with this verse. And now, in 2021, I was trying to put together a simple advent devotion for a few ladies based on this verse.

Isaiah chapter 40 clearly looked ahead to the Messiah‘s birth. Open your Bible, whether in print form or digital form, and check that what I am saying is right.

Songs

As I jotted notes in preparation for the devotion, it was easy to pick a couple of songs. We started with an old Christmas hymn, “Comfort, comfort my people”, which, as it turned out, nobody knew. I thought the ladies would like an older carol … though a song written in 1671 was possibly a bit too old. We finished by watching a recording of the first section of the Messiah. That was my opening and ending done.

But then I found myself stuck in my preparation. I just wasn’t feeling godly. Does that shock you?

Sad 😢

Life is not fair. Just over 26 years ago, a dear friend and I were in language school together. Finally, after years of preparation, we had truly embarked on our cross-cultural careers. Five years later she developed cancer. She overcame it for a time but it returned again and again. (I have my own cancer story, but unlike my friend, I remain in full remission and expect to stay that way, God willing.)

A day before I prepared this devotion, my friend finally lost her cancer battle — though gained wholeness in heaven. Oh sure, it’s good for her, but what’s of her family? What of her friends? What of her ministry, cut so short and interrupted so often?

I dare not question our Creator, but the fact is —- life is not fair. My heart breaks for her family members for whom the loss is particularly acute. And I, too, am sad.

“Comfort, comfort, my people”?

Original recipients

When Isaiah first spoke those words, his listeners were in a difficult place. Their very existence was in question. Invaders approached from the Far East, threats were imminent from the south west, some of their own had been dragged off into captivity — life just seemed hopeless.

“Comfort, comfort my people, said the Lord.”

Now when I think of comfort, I think of ‘comfortable’. I think of a soft but supportive chair, a well-fitting pair of old jeans, or a hot drink on a cool day. But the English word ‘comfort’ originally came from two Latin words, ‘com’ meaning with, and ‘fort’, meaning strong. I wonder if perhaps this old English meaning – ‘with strength’ – is more appropriate here, as in, ‘Be strong, my people’?

Delving into the original Hebrew of the word translated ‘comfort’ in this passage is not much help. The word, נַחֲמ֖וּ (na·ḥă·mū), has a wide range of meanings, of which ‘to console’ is just one. ‘To avenge’ is another, and as one reads through chapter 40, it becomes evident that there is an element of this too, for God’s people will be avenged.

Context

There is a clear break between the first 39 chapters of Isaiah and the second part, beginning with this chapter. Looking ahead over chapter 40, I found several magnificent passages that I love to meditate on, but which I had not realised came in the context of a call to comfort for those in the thick of tough times.

Pull out your Bible or open your Bible app and turn to Isaiah 40. You will see what I mean.

There are verses which clearly point to John the Baptist. These are immediately followed by a section on how short and temporary our lives are, and how weak and frail we are. In contrast, the writer points out that God’s Word endures forever. I think of my friend and her grieving family. Yes our lives are short and tenuous.

Then in a sudden turn, the sovereign Lord breaks into humanity’s miserable existence with power and judgement, with rewards and punishments. This section is immediately followed by a picture of a gentle and good Shepherd who gathers the week and carries them close to his heart. My friend will be rewarded, for she lived well for the One who saved her, short though her life was. Her words and social media posts spoke of her sense of being held near to the heart of her gentle and good Shepherd.

But it still seems so unfair….

God’s greatness, his wisdom, his knowledge, his enormity – these are all referred to in this passage. The machinations of the nations are nothing to God. Again, there are verses here that are ideal for meditating on, but which I had not perceived previously as coming in the context of a call for comfort.

A challenge

The chapter ends with a challenge. Look at verse 27.

Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”?

This challenge is followed by one of my all-time favourite passages about soaring on wings like eagles. I doubt the people of the day felt like they were soaring on wings like eagles. To be honest, I’m not sure that I’m soaring on wings like eagles just now either. But perhaps that is the point.

When life seems dark, when injustice prevails, when viruses create havoc and communities are divided, we can hope. That’s what Christmas is about – hope. As Isaiah prophesied, light was breaking into darkness. As we hope, we can know God‘s comfort.

We might not be comfortable. Not yet. But we can be comforted.

A painting

I gave the ladies in the group a copy of this picture to meditate on as part of the devotion. I found it helpful to see the turmoil and blackness of those clouds surrounding the city and yet, even as the storm clouds roiled, light was breaking in. I imagined soaring on wings above it all — on wings like eagles. I wondered about the white gap in the clouds, and whether I could see stylised birds in the picture or if it was just my imagination.

By the way, in the spirit of giving credit where credit is due, let me state that I am indebted to last year’s Biola Advent project for pointing me to this painting and for giving me a starting point as I prepared the devotion for the ladies last week. As I explained earlier, I was feeling a bit stuck at the time and just not ‘in the mood’. See what go me out of a rut here – https://ccca.biola.edu/advent/2020/#day-nov-29 – and check out this year’s Advent Project too. I am finding it helpful.

Hope

These magnificent promises of hope throughout Isaiah 40 do not obliterate our current suffering or discomfort. But they do turn our eyes to God and, as such, give us strength to endure.

My friend’s suffering is now over and she knows experientially the reality of that for which we still hope. I imagine that she is even ‘comfortable’ in whatever state she is right now. My finite mind is too limited to grasp her reality, but I know that it is good.

We are not Jews and Isaiah did not specifically address us in his prophecy so long ago. Yet through the Advent of the Messiah that first Christmas, we too can be incorporated into God’s people and we too can have hope.

Life may not be easy. It is certainly not fair. Our days on earth are as short and flimsy as fluff from a dandelion in the grand scheme of things. Yet in Jesus, there is hope.

And so, ‘in the right mood’ or not as I prepared this devotion, my focus on the Good Shepherd who carries the weak near his heart, the Judge who rewards and punishes, the One who holds eternity in his hands, was restored.

Though still sad, I was indeed comforted. He does not lift us up on wings like eagles to remove us from difficulties, but he carries us through them as we hope in him.

A Christmas blessing

Regardless of your life circumstances right now, if you are one of God’s people, Isaiah 40 is relevant for you.

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1 NIV)

May the comfort of Christmas be yours. May you rise up on wings like eagles even as you hope in our LORD. For he is faithful.