By Tanja
In the book of Isaiah, we find that Israel had gone into exile and had to be away from their homeland for many years. Just when they were about to return home, the Lord was beginning to tell them to have some hope. Their time was up, they didn’t have to be in Babylon anymore; their sin was paid for (Isaiah 40:2), and it was time to lift their eyes. They felt that God had abandoned them and left them in misery. It had been 150 years since they were exiled to Babylon, and they had no word of the Lord given to them.[1] “Judah groaned and cried out, as if to an empty sky. There was “none to comfort,” no protector, no one to intervene, no one powerful enough to make a positive difference.”[2] The book of Lamentations records that Israel had many tears, felt abandoned, and discomforted while in exile. Did God care anymore? Was she left all alone?
Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.
To be alone, to cry tears of hopelessness and to feel that God has abandoned you calls for great comfort. Comfort was precisely what God wanted to give to Israel, and tell her that He would comfort her.
God started to tell Israel, ‘Lift up your eyes’ and ‘See that I will give you hope’.
Just like Psalms 121:1-2
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Isaiah 40 begins with this soothing word, “comfort”. Finally, God would wipe her tears away and speak many words that uplift her spirits. They were not words that would distress, redirect or correct, but words that would promise hope for the future.
The Cries in the Night
Sometimes, our cries might be too deep to bear, or a period in our life has lasted too long. At times, it might have felt like you hadn’t heard the voice of the Lord for a long time, or maybe you thought God had left you. Crying tears and all alone: Will God say: “Look up and lift up your eyes, your hope comes from me?” Yes, He will. He never has left, even when you feel that way. Even if you walk through the valley of the shadows of death, the Psalms tell us, “do not fear.” If you have cried out for God’s comfort for your situation, I know He has heard your cry and prayers. For He is the God who comforted Israel and He is the God who comforts you.
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” Isaiah 40:1
Republished with permission from Blogs.crossmap.com, featuring inspiring Bible verses about Comfort.
