Comfort And Compassion For The Afflicted
My grandson recently turned a year old. And during this past year I have been graced to see and participate in his growth and development up close on nearly a daily basis. One thing that has been reaffirmed for me during this time, is that a mother’s (and grandmother’s) love is a very special thing. Their love sacrifices, gives joy, tends to the hurts, provides comfort for and never gives up on their children. That demonstration of love makes all the difference for children. In Isaiah 49:1-13, God shows us where the source of a mother’s love comes from. He demonstrated his love and compassion for Israel in His promised redemption of them. And His inclusiveness of Gentiles in His plan of reconciliation demonstrated that He not only intended comfort for Israel, but all people. His prophetic word through Isaiah let Israel know that He would not abandon them and He would redeem them from their desolate places. And not only Israel, but this scripture foretold His plans for Gentiles to receive a light in dark places and be reconciled back into a relationship with Him through Jesus. I pray this week, that God would bless you with comfort and compassion in you in your afflictions, and with the assurance that He has not abandoned you in your desolate places…He is your help!
Listen to me, you islands;
hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born the LORD called me;
from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.
He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.
He said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendor. ”
But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand,
and my reward is with my God.”
And now the LORD says—
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel to himself,
for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD
and my God has been my strength —
he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” (Isa. 49:1-6) This prophetic word from God was intended to provide comfort and assurances for Israel’s redemption despite the captivity they would endure and their being scattered among other nations. It also provided hope and comfort for Gentiles, that God had a plan to have covenant relationship with them also.
Jesus begins this scripture by calling all people to listen to Him, even those in the remotest parts of the inhabited world (islands). In these verses, Jesus laid out His mission and established His authority for the mission (“before I was born the LORD called me”). Jesus’ words had power (“mouth like a sharpened sword”) and He came to serve the Father by redeeming Israel and bringing them back to Him. In addition, Jesus’ mission extended beyond the restoration of Israel. His mission encompassed being a light in the world for Gentiles as well, to also guide them out of darkness and into salvation.
This is what the LORD says—
the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel —
to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation,
to the servant of rulers:
“Kings will see you and stand up,
princes will see and bow down,
because of the LORD, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
Restoration of Israel
This is what the LORD says:
“In the time of my favor I will answer you,
and in the day of salvation I will help you;
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people,
to restore the land
and to reassign its desolate inheritances,
to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’
and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’
“They will feed beside the roads
and find pasture on every barren hill.
They will neither hunger nor thirst,
nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them.
He who has compassion on them will guide them
and lead them beside springs of water. (Isa. 49:7-10) The Father addressed the possible mistaken perception that Jesus’ mission to redeem Israel would be in vain. He foretold that Jesus would be despised and rejected by Israel and others. But far from Jesus’ efforts being in vain, kings and princes would come to a place where they would have to bow down to Him. Jesus would be the embodiment and reaffirmation of God’s covenant with Israel and He would also be a covenant for Gentiles. Israel was promised restoration and an end to their desolation (feeling of despair and abandonment). Through Jesus, all the captives would be set free and His light would come to guide people out of darkness and into restoration.
I will turn all my mountains into roads,
and my highways will be raised up.
See, they will come from afar —
some from the north, some from the west,
some from the region of Aswan.”
Shout for joy, you heavens;
rejoice, you earth;
burst into song, you mountains!
For the LORD comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. (Isa. 49:11-13) God makes clear that nothing would stand in the way of Jesus achieving His mission. No matter how large the impediments might look (mountains), God would turn them from impediments into roads to facilitate people being reconciled back to Him. And people would come from every corner…no matter how far they were away from Him. Finally, the prophet Isaiah ends with an exhortation to nature (heavens, earth, mountains) to shout for joy and burst into song, in praise of the comfort and compassion that God has for all those who need His help (the afflicted).
This prophetic word in the book of Isaiah was purposed by God to let Israel and Gentiles alike know that He would not abandon them in their physical and spiritual captivity, nor in the darkness of their afflictions. This scripture served as notice that He loves all of His children and cares for them deeply. No matter where you may find yourself physically, mentally or spiritually, God wants you to know that He has sent Jesus to redeem you (buy you back from whatever is imprisoning you) and reconcile you back to Him as a member of His family. Just to know how much He cared for them, was important to Israel’s hope and outlook. Just to know how much He cares for us, should also give us hope and an assurance that He is with us, even when we can’t feel His presence. In a sinful world, we will experience our share of afflictions, but take heart. Our God has promised us that He will not turn away from us. He will call us to Him… and He will provide comfort and compassion for everyone who is afflicted and that will come back to Him.
Blessings,
Rev. Glenn
