I, even I, am He who comforts you. (Is. 51:12)
“Comfort, yes, comfort My people! Says your God. Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.” (Isaiah 40:1-2)
Comfort is the Hebrew word nacham, Strong's #5162. According to the Hayford Bible handbook, it means “to comfort, console, extend compassion, sigh with one who is grieving” or “to repent.” It goes on to note, “Nacham originally may have meant 'to breathe intensely because of deep emotion.' In some references, the word is translated “repent,” the idea being that regret causes deep sighing. In its sense of comfort, nacham does not describe casual sympathy, but rather deep empathy. It is like 'weeping with those who weep,' or actually 'sighing with those who sigh.' [1]
God provides us with His comfort, consoling us in our pain and troubles with a deep empathy. Isaiah 66:12-13 says, “For thus says the Lord: 'Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; On her sides shall you be carried, and be dandled on her knees. As on whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
And God is pictured as our comforter in Psalm 23:4. It says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
A shepherd's staff and rod speaks of bringing comfort by guidance, keeping the sheep from wondering off into harms way, and rescuing them from the enemies mouth. One commentary notes, “the Lord, our Protector, can lead us through these dark and difficult valleys to eternal life with Him. There is no need to fear death’s power (1 Cor. 15:25–27). You are with me: The Good Shepherd is with us even in what seem the most difficult and troubling situations. Your rod and Your staff: Ancient shepherds used the rod and staff to rescue, protect, and guide the sheep. Thus, they become symbols of the Good Shepherd’s loving care over His flock. The sheep are not alone, their Shepherd is standing over them, guiding them into safety—just as the Lord stands over us and protects us.” [2]
Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.”
According to the Vine's complete expository dictionary, the word comfort is connected with “change of the heart or disposition, a change of mind, a change of purpose, or an emphasis upon the change of one’s conduct.” [3]
God not only provides us comfort by empathizing with our difficulties and weaknesses, consoling us in our pain, and carrying us through difficult times, He also provides us with comfort by leading us out of sin.
Isaiah 51:3 says, “For the Lord will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; Joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.”
One commentary notes about this verse, “He will make them fruitful, and so give them cause to rejoice; her wildernesses shall put on a new face, and look pleasant as Eden, and abound in all good fruits, as the garden of the Lord. Note, It is the greatest comfort of the church to be made serviceable to the glory of God, and to be as his garden in which he delights.... With the fruits of righteousness, joy and gladness shall be found therein; for the more holiness men have, and the more good they do, the more gladness they have.” [4]
In this way, God's comfort does not make us 'comfortable' in our sin. Rather, He empathizes with us, has compassion on us, and comforts our waste places, leading us us out of barrenness into fruitfulness.
It is His redemption -His paying the price and delivering us from being slaves to sin- that brings us comfort. Isaiah 52:9 says, “Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem! For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem.”
When our lives our filled with sin, we have no peace or rest. Our lives our filled with want. As we try to fill our empty and barren places, contentment seems elusive and just out of our reach. Lives of barrenness are full of discord, strife and unrest.
David cries out in Psalm 25:11,16, “For Your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, fir it is great... Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted.”
However, as we look to Him, He as our Good Shepherd that leads us out of places of want and barrenness. Instead He makes us to like down in green pastures and leads us beside the still waters. He restores our soul. He does this by leading us in paths of righteousness for His name sake (Psalm 23:1-3)
It is in the path of righteousness that we find peace. The Lord says in Isaiah 48:18, “If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”
It is our heritage as children of promise that we would be comforted and given peace. Isaiah 54:10-17 says, “'For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall my covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord, who has mercy on you. 'O you afflicted on, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake. Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,' says the Lord.”
As children of promise, our righteousness comes from Him and not by our own self efforts. We are unable to follow His commands in our own strength. So He has given us the Holy Spirit as a gift to lead us into all righteousness.
Jesus says in John 16:13, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
And Romans 8:11 says, “But if the spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
The Holy Spirit is also called our comforter. John: 14:16: says, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.”
Smith's Bible dictionary notes that Comforter is the name given by Christ to the Holy Spirit. It notes, “The original word is Paraclete, and means first Advocate, a defender, helper, strengthener, as well as comforter.” [5]
Comforter is the Greek word paraklesis, Strong's #3874. It is “A calling alongside to help, to comfort, to give consolation or encouragement. The paraclete is a strengthening presence, one who upholds those appealing for assistance.” [6]
Paul proclaims in Philippians 4:12-13, “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, the word paraklesis means advocate and intercessor.[7] Romans 8:26-27 notes, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
The anointing of the Holy Spirit upon His servants has the power to bring comfort to God's people. Isaiah 61:1-3 says, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.'
This anointing from the Holy Spirit was upon Jesus as He proclaimed in Luke 4:21 and He said (referring to Isaiah 61:1), “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus also gave this same anointing to those He sent to laborers in His harvest. He told seventy of His disciples in Luke 10:2,9 “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way;...And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'”
The anointing of the Holy Spirit was on each of the apostles. Acts 5:12 says, “And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people.”
The Strong's Exhaustive Concordance notes the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus to be with the apostles after He ascended to the Father [and all who call upon His name], “to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom.” [8]
“Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake in the consolation.”
Comfort here is parakaleo, Strong's #3870 which means to call to one’s side, exhort, entreat, instruct, admonish, beseech, console, encourage and/or strengthen. [9]
God made it evident to Paul that He was along side of him in his tribulations, strengthening and encouraging Paul. Because of the comfort he received from God in his trouble, Paul felt consoled and in turn, was able to provide consolation to others who suffered, coming along side of them and encouraging them.
One commentary notes about passing on this comfort, “There is a practical lesson in this verse for us all. We should remember when we are comforted that we should seek to pass on this comfort to others. We should not avoid the sick room or the house of death, but rather fly to the side of any who are in need of our encouragement. We are not comforted to be comfortable but to be comforters.” [10]
Ask God to give thee skill
In comforts’ art;
That thou mayst consecrated be
And set apart
Into a life of sympathy.
For heavy is the weight of ill
In every heart;
And comforters are needed much
Of Christlike touch.
—A. E. Hamilton [11]
Paul says in Romans 12:15 says we are to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. We are to extend God's mercy and compassion to those who are suffering, being with them in it.
Comforting others is not just about alleviation of grief and encouraging others to press on. It also means to strengthen and build others up.
Isaiah goes on to prophesy in 61:4-6, “And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of foreigner shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, they shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast."
Commentary notes, “Promises are here made to the Jews now returned out of captivity, and settled again in their own land, which are to be extended to the gospel church, and all believers, who through grace are delivered out of spiritual thraldom; for they are capable of being spiritually applied... An unsanctified soul is like a city that is broken down and has no walls, like a house in ruins; but by the power of Christ’s gospel and grace it is repaired, it is put in order again, and fitted to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. And they shall do this, those that are released out of captivity; for we are brought out of the house of bondage that we may serve God, both in building up ourselves to his glory and in helping to build up his church on earth.” [12]
Comforting also means exhorting, admonishing and instructing others. Just as we are comforted by being led out of sin and into righteousness, so we are to comfort others the same way. We are to encourage them along the path of righteousness, knowing that this is the direction that will bring them true peace. To admonish and exhort someone means to reprove them gently and earnestly, strongly urging them to do what is right.
Sometimes when I am speaking to someone in tremendous pain and difficulty, perhaps even thinking of ending their life, I can feel very timid about exhorting and admonishing them. However in most cases, coming along side of them and walking with them out of places of hopelessness to places of hope, changing the way they are thinking. is exactly what they need. Making someone feel comfortable and good about their sin never helps bring them true peace and comfort. Isaiah 42:3 says about the Lord's Servant, “A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench.”
If we are speaking the truth in love with the motive to help another person get set free and delivered so they can experience true peace, we can look to Jesus for the words and trust the Holy Spirit that a 'bruised reed He will not break' and a 'smoking flax He will not quench.'
Just as we are given comfort as children of promise, through His Holy Spirit, God has given us the ability to comfort others through the power of His Holy Spirit residing inside of us.
We are given the Spirit's help to know how to comfort those in need. Isaiah 50:4 proclaims, “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.”
And Isaiah 59:21 says, “'As for Me,' says the Lord, 'this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants,' says the Lord, 'from this time and forevermore.'”
Sometimes it is easy to think that we will help others when we finally 'get there.' However, we are always a work in progress. God uses imperfect clay vessels to display His glory. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he [the Lord] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”
Paul didn't wait until he was feeling strong or out of his tribulation to bring comfort to others. It was in the midst of his sufferings and weaknesses that he comforted those around him as he received the consolations of Christ. In fact, he even took on suffering and affliction for the benefit and consolation of those he ministered to (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).
And Isaiah comforted the very people who afflicted him and caused him to suffer. In Isaiah 50:6, he wrote, “I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.”
Lord, there are so many hearts who are weighed down with burdens, troubles and worries. I think of the young boy I saw today who already had kidney transplant surgery and cancer treatment and was back for more. We long to those who bring true comfort to those in need. Would You grant us Your power to bring comfort? Would you grant us, according to the riches of Your glory, to be strengthened with might through our Spirit in the inner man, that not only would we be rooted and grounded in your love, but that we would also be able to help others comprehend the width and length and depth and height of Your love -comforting them with Your love.
“Speak- say the words that no one else will ever say. Love- love like the world we know is over in a day. I'm gonna show you a love in every language, I'm gonna speak with the words that need no form, I'm gonna give you what you never had before” sings
Father, I feel very far from Your peace or comfort in my own life. But when I think of all you have done for me, I hardly have room to complain. You have given me so much. Please heal the young boy I saw today who has suffered so greatly. Forgive me for my sin and rebellion in my heart. Strengthen me to follow You and lead me in your ways.
1, 5. Hayford, J. W., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Hayford's Bible handbook. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
2. Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1997). The Nelson study Bible : New King James Version. Includes index. (Ps 23:4). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
3 Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W. (1996). Vine's complete expository dictionary of Old and New Testament words (1:201). Nashville: T. Nelson.
4, 12. Henry, M. (1996, c1991). Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume. Peabody: Hendrickson.
5. Smith, W. (1997). Smith's Bible dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
6-7, 8-9. Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the text of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurrence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) . Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.
10, 11. MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (2 Co 1:4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Comfort is the Hebrew word nacham, Strong's #5162. According to the Hayford Bible handbook, it means “to comfort, console, extend compassion, sigh with one who is grieving” or “to repent.” It goes on to note, “Nacham originally may have meant 'to breathe intensely because of deep emotion.' In some references, the word is translated “repent,” the idea being that regret causes deep sighing. In its sense of comfort, nacham does not describe casual sympathy, but rather deep empathy. It is like 'weeping with those who weep,' or actually 'sighing with those who sigh.' [1]
God provides us with His comfort, consoling us in our pain and troubles with a deep empathy. Isaiah 66:12-13 says, “For thus says the Lord: 'Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; On her sides shall you be carried, and be dandled on her knees. As on whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
And God is pictured as our comforter in Psalm 23:4. It says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
A shepherd's staff and rod speaks of bringing comfort by guidance, keeping the sheep from wondering off into harms way, and rescuing them from the enemies mouth. One commentary notes, “the Lord, our Protector, can lead us through these dark and difficult valleys to eternal life with Him. There is no need to fear death’s power (1 Cor. 15:25–27). You are with me: The Good Shepherd is with us even in what seem the most difficult and troubling situations. Your rod and Your staff: Ancient shepherds used the rod and staff to rescue, protect, and guide the sheep. Thus, they become symbols of the Good Shepherd’s loving care over His flock. The sheep are not alone, their Shepherd is standing over them, guiding them into safety—just as the Lord stands over us and protects us.” [2]
Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.”
According to the Vine's complete expository dictionary, the word comfort is connected with “change of the heart or disposition, a change of mind, a change of purpose, or an emphasis upon the change of one’s conduct.” [3]
God not only provides us comfort by empathizing with our difficulties and weaknesses, consoling us in our pain, and carrying us through difficult times, He also provides us with comfort by leading us out of sin.
Isaiah 51:3 says, “For the Lord will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; Joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.”
One commentary notes about this verse, “He will make them fruitful, and so give them cause to rejoice; her wildernesses shall put on a new face, and look pleasant as Eden, and abound in all good fruits, as the garden of the Lord. Note, It is the greatest comfort of the church to be made serviceable to the glory of God, and to be as his garden in which he delights.... With the fruits of righteousness, joy and gladness shall be found therein; for the more holiness men have, and the more good they do, the more gladness they have.” [4]
In this way, God's comfort does not make us 'comfortable' in our sin. Rather, He empathizes with us, has compassion on us, and comforts our waste places, leading us us out of barrenness into fruitfulness.
It is His redemption -His paying the price and delivering us from being slaves to sin- that brings us comfort. Isaiah 52:9 says, “Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem! For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem.”
When our lives our filled with sin, we have no peace or rest. Our lives our filled with want. As we try to fill our empty and barren places, contentment seems elusive and just out of our reach. Lives of barrenness are full of discord, strife and unrest.
David cries out in Psalm 25:11,16, “For Your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, fir it is great... Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted.”
However, as we look to Him, He as our Good Shepherd that leads us out of places of want and barrenness. Instead He makes us to like down in green pastures and leads us beside the still waters. He restores our soul. He does this by leading us in paths of righteousness for His name sake (Psalm 23:1-3)
It is in the path of righteousness that we find peace. The Lord says in Isaiah 48:18, “If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”
It is our heritage as children of promise that we would be comforted and given peace. Isaiah 54:10-17 says, “'For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall my covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord, who has mercy on you. 'O you afflicted on, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake. Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,' says the Lord.”
As children of promise, our righteousness comes from Him and not by our own self efforts. We are unable to follow His commands in our own strength. So He has given us the Holy Spirit as a gift to lead us into all righteousness.
Jesus says in John 16:13, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
And Romans 8:11 says, “But if the spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
The Holy Spirit is also called our comforter. John: 14:16: says, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.”
Smith's Bible dictionary notes that Comforter is the name given by Christ to the Holy Spirit. It notes, “The original word is Paraclete, and means first Advocate, a defender, helper, strengthener, as well as comforter.” [5]
Comforter is the Greek word paraklesis, Strong's #3874. It is “A calling alongside to help, to comfort, to give consolation or encouragement. The paraclete is a strengthening presence, one who upholds those appealing for assistance.” [6]
Paul proclaims in Philippians 4:12-13, “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, the word paraklesis means advocate and intercessor.[7] Romans 8:26-27 notes, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
The anointing of the Holy Spirit upon His servants has the power to bring comfort to God's people. Isaiah 61:1-3 says, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.'
This anointing from the Holy Spirit was upon Jesus as He proclaimed in Luke 4:21 and He said (referring to Isaiah 61:1), “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus also gave this same anointing to those He sent to laborers in His harvest. He told seventy of His disciples in Luke 10:2,9 “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way;...And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'”
The anointing of the Holy Spirit was on each of the apostles. Acts 5:12 says, “And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people.”
The Strong's Exhaustive Concordance notes the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus to be with the apostles after He ascended to the Father [and all who call upon His name], “to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom.” [8]
“Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake in the consolation.”
Comfort here is parakaleo, Strong's #3870 which means to call to one’s side, exhort, entreat, instruct, admonish, beseech, console, encourage and/or strengthen. [9]
God made it evident to Paul that He was along side of him in his tribulations, strengthening and encouraging Paul. Because of the comfort he received from God in his trouble, Paul felt consoled and in turn, was able to provide consolation to others who suffered, coming along side of them and encouraging them.
One commentary notes about passing on this comfort, “There is a practical lesson in this verse for us all. We should remember when we are comforted that we should seek to pass on this comfort to others. We should not avoid the sick room or the house of death, but rather fly to the side of any who are in need of our encouragement. We are not comforted to be comfortable but to be comforters.” [10]
Ask God to give thee skill
In comforts’ art;
That thou mayst consecrated be
And set apart
Into a life of sympathy.
For heavy is the weight of ill
In every heart;
And comforters are needed much
Of Christlike touch.
—A. E. Hamilton [11]
Paul says in Romans 12:15 says we are to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. We are to extend God's mercy and compassion to those who are suffering, being with them in it.
Comforting others is not just about alleviation of grief and encouraging others to press on. It also means to strengthen and build others up.
Isaiah goes on to prophesy in 61:4-6, “And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of foreigner shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, they shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast."
Commentary notes, “Promises are here made to the Jews now returned out of captivity, and settled again in their own land, which are to be extended to the gospel church, and all believers, who through grace are delivered out of spiritual thraldom; for they are capable of being spiritually applied... An unsanctified soul is like a city that is broken down and has no walls, like a house in ruins; but by the power of Christ’s gospel and grace it is repaired, it is put in order again, and fitted to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. And they shall do this, those that are released out of captivity; for we are brought out of the house of bondage that we may serve God, both in building up ourselves to his glory and in helping to build up his church on earth.” [12]
Comforting also means exhorting, admonishing and instructing others. Just as we are comforted by being led out of sin and into righteousness, so we are to comfort others the same way. We are to encourage them along the path of righteousness, knowing that this is the direction that will bring them true peace. To admonish and exhort someone means to reprove them gently and earnestly, strongly urging them to do what is right.
Sometimes when I am speaking to someone in tremendous pain and difficulty, perhaps even thinking of ending their life, I can feel very timid about exhorting and admonishing them. However in most cases, coming along side of them and walking with them out of places of hopelessness to places of hope, changing the way they are thinking. is exactly what they need. Making someone feel comfortable and good about their sin never helps bring them true peace and comfort. Isaiah 42:3 says about the Lord's Servant, “A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench.”
If we are speaking the truth in love with the motive to help another person get set free and delivered so they can experience true peace, we can look to Jesus for the words and trust the Holy Spirit that a 'bruised reed He will not break' and a 'smoking flax He will not quench.'
Just as we are given comfort as children of promise, through His Holy Spirit, God has given us the ability to comfort others through the power of His Holy Spirit residing inside of us.
We are given the Spirit's help to know how to comfort those in need. Isaiah 50:4 proclaims, “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.”
And Isaiah 59:21 says, “'As for Me,' says the Lord, 'this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants,' says the Lord, 'from this time and forevermore.'”
Sometimes it is easy to think that we will help others when we finally 'get there.' However, we are always a work in progress. God uses imperfect clay vessels to display His glory. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he [the Lord] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”
Paul didn't wait until he was feeling strong or out of his tribulation to bring comfort to others. It was in the midst of his sufferings and weaknesses that he comforted those around him as he received the consolations of Christ. In fact, he even took on suffering and affliction for the benefit and consolation of those he ministered to (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).
And Isaiah comforted the very people who afflicted him and caused him to suffer. In Isaiah 50:6, he wrote, “I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.”
Lord, there are so many hearts who are weighed down with burdens, troubles and worries. I think of the young boy I saw today who already had kidney transplant surgery and cancer treatment and was back for more. We long to those who bring true comfort to those in need. Would You grant us Your power to bring comfort? Would you grant us, according to the riches of Your glory, to be strengthened with might through our Spirit in the inner man, that not only would we be rooted and grounded in your love, but that we would also be able to help others comprehend the width and length and depth and height of Your love -comforting them with Your love.
“Speak- say the words that no one else will ever say. Love- love like the world we know is over in a day. I'm gonna show you a love in every language, I'm gonna speak with the words that need no form, I'm gonna give you what you never had before” sings
Father, I feel very far from Your peace or comfort in my own life. But when I think of all you have done for me, I hardly have room to complain. You have given me so much. Please heal the young boy I saw today who has suffered so greatly. Forgive me for my sin and rebellion in my heart. Strengthen me to follow You and lead me in your ways.
1, 5. Hayford, J. W., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Hayford's Bible handbook. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
2. Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1997). The Nelson study Bible : New King James Version. Includes index. (Ps 23:4). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
3 Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W. (1996). Vine's complete expository dictionary of Old and New Testament words (1:201). Nashville: T. Nelson.
4, 12. Henry, M. (1996, c1991). Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume. Peabody: Hendrickson.
5. Smith, W. (1997). Smith's Bible dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
6-7, 8-9. Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the text of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurrence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) . Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.
10, 11. MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (2 Co 1:4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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