The LORD has Comforted His People 1.[v.8-12] His Covenant People: “I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people” A.[v.8-9a] Comfort through Freedom: “saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’ to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear’ B.[v.9b-12] Comfort through Provision and Providence: “they shall not hunger or thirst… for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. And I will make all my mountains a road, and my highways shall be raised up” 2.[v.13-14] His Doubting People: “The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me” 3.[v.15-18] His Beloved People: “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” The LORD has Comforted His People (ISAIAH 49:8-18) Pause & Reflect
8 Thus says the Lord: “In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages, 9 saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’ to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’ They shall feed along the ways; on all bare heights shall be their pasture; 10 they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. 11 And I will make all my mountains a road, and my highways shall be raised up. 12 Behold, these shall come from afar, and behold, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene.”
13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. 14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.”
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. 16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. 17 Your builders make haste; your destroyers and those who laid you waste go out from you. 18 Lift up your eyes around and see; they all gather, they come to you. As I live, declares the Lord, you shall put them all on as an ornament; you shall bind them on as a bride does.
Even 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. (Psalm 23:4) This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. (Psalm 119:50) 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 affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3-7) Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:32-33) Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13) Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10) The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:18-19) The central truth of this word was – We are a people of the LORD’s covenant – not of our changing circumstances. When we look to God’s unbreakable unchanging covenant promise of Jesus Christ and what He did to achieve our comfort, we too can be comforted as Jesus was to finish the will of the LORD as servants of the LORD. Although we are prone to doubt, God rescues us from our confusion by showing us the palms of His engraved hands with our name – the nail-scared hands of Jesus as a reminder that our names are forever in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 3:5; 21:27; Luke 10:20) and He is forever with us. His compassion and comfort cannot compare with the attention of a mother nursing her child. Son/daughter of God, the LORD has comforted you! Wear the ornament of His comfort daily. Lift up your eyes, sing for joy, because your mountain is becoming a highway into His comfort! He has not forsaken you, nor forgotten you! – *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this? Holy Spirit Moment Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18) …do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)
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