Comfort is Coming
December 9, Second Monday of Advent
Light first (Hope) and second (Peace) purple candles
During the Christmas season of 1993 a group of contemporary christian artists brought a new modern interpretation to Handel’s Messiah.
Including Sandi Patty, Steve Green and Larnelle Harris, christian singers and musicians came together to record and perform The New Young Messiah. I remember Dale and I being so excited about this new version of the holiday classic pece. We bought tickets for the performance in Atlanta and invited our parents to join us.
After the Overture, Wayne Watson took the stage to sing Comfort Ye, and brought Isaiah 40;1-3 to life. As you engage with today's reading, you might enjoy listening to the New Young Messiah’s rendition: Comfort Ye My People
Read Isaiah 40:1-8
Before we get into the comfort and peace that these first eight verses promise, we need to clearly understand why God’s people needed comforting. Let me give you a quick history lesson - I promise it will be quick! Remember wicked King Ahaz, who was introduced in yesterday’s devotion? Ahaz was followed by his son, Hezekiah, who relied on the LORD God of Israel, unlike any of the kings before or after him. From the chronicles of the kings of Israel and Judah, (2 Kings 18-20) we learn that the LORD God was with him and wherever King Hezekiah went, he prospered. He refused to pay tribute to Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, even knowing Sennacherib had just captured the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Instead of buckling under Sennacherib’s threats, Hezekiah went to the temple and prayed for God to save, which He did. God promises to defend Jerusalem, assuring Hezekiah, “I will defend this city and rescue it for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.” (2 Kings 19:22-24)The LORD even gave Hezekiah the idea to install a water system in the city of Jerusalem, making it possible for the city to withstand the Assyrian siege.
The Assyrians limp back home, Jerusalem is saved, all is well, right? Hezekiah is killing this job as king! He is humble and depends on God and rejoices in God’s provision and protection. And then, out of nowhere Hezekiah becomes terminally ill. Have you ever experienced an illness that zaps all of your strength? Perhaps you or someone dear to you has suffered through cancer treatments that leave you without hair, unable to keep food down. It is hard to trust the Lord’s good plans when we are in significant pain. God tells Isaiah that Hezekiah will not recover from this dreadful disease, but Hezekiah refuses to accept the death sentence; instead he pleads with the LORD, his God, the One with Whom he has a relationship. The LORD in His kindness grants Hezekiah fifteen more years, but not before word gets out to Judah’s enemy nations that the good king of Judah is terribly sick.
Get Well Soon
The king of Babylon sent “get well” letters and gifts to Hezekiah, which apparently caused him to feel seen and known, even respected by another leader and peer, because before he knew it, Hezekiah was showing the Babylonian messengers all of the treasuries of the kingdom. The prophet Isaiah catches wind of it and describes Hezekiah’s acts as folly, short-sighted, even arrogant and boastful. He prophesies that Hezekiah’s descendants will be taken away to serve the king of Babylon! Hezekiah’s response proves Isaiah’s characterization of Hezekiah, “Okay, as long as there’s peace and security for the next fifteen years of my life!” How did Hezekiah get to this place of only caring that he would be spared humiliation and captivity? Suffering pain can do things to a person, but the suffering Hezekiah experienced in his body would not compare to the devastation the Babylonians would mete out on his descendants, the city and the temple.
Comfort is Coming
Isaiah 40 is full of encouragement of what is to come after the Babylonian captivity, but is much more than God’s people returning to Jerusalem. God provides a comforting promise of hope for His broken world - Messiah is coming! Even the word choices of these first eight verses communicate loving tenderness, “speak tenderly” “cry to her (Jerusalem)” indicating that the warring is over, her sin is pardoned - erased, forgotten - and she has received a double portion of forgiveness from the LORD’s hand. Double portion speaks of the inheritance of the firstborn son, who would receive a double inheritance of his siblings and leadership of the family would be passed onto him. Later, Isaiah would prophesy, “Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor.” (Is. 61:7)
Christ’s atoning sacrifice is worth infinitely more than a double portion…what a comfort!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Reflect on Father God as your comfort, in affliction, in suffering, even when our sin has necessary consequences that inflict grief.
Sing both verses of Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus:
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Pray for God to identify those suffering around you, who would benefit from the comfort you have received from God through Christ.