Divine Comfort!

Divine Comfort!

"As a mother comforts her child - so will I comfort you, and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem" (Isaiah 66:13).

The condescending love of God to sinners is most astonishing. Though He is the High and Lofty One - yet He knows, pities, and cares for us - sinful, frail, dying men and women.

Human language is insufficient to express the heights and depths of Divine compassion. Though the most striking metaphors have been adopted by the sacred writers, they do but imperfectly express it. 

OBSERVE

1. Believers are frequently placed in circumstances in which they need the comfort of their Divine Parent. Yes, from the birth of their spiritual life, to its consummation in glory - they are never without need of Divine Comfort. They are called "babes in Christ," and that term is indicative of what they need. Babes are weak and helpless. Even as a child comes into the world, naked, helpless, and crying - so the sinner when he is born again, is naked, wretched, and mourns for sin, cries out in distress for mercy. They therefore need the arm of Omnipotence to uphold and defend them, and Infinite Love to nourish and sustain them. They are ignorant, and require to be taught of God, by His Spirit, in His school. They are liable to error. Sometimes deceived by the crafty - they go astray - they decline in spirituality, and are occasionally in spiritual darkness. They need comfort. They are subject to spiritual conflicts, arising from the flesh, and satan, and the world with its allurements, its smiles, and frowns, its cares and anxieties. They have conflict from wicked, persecuting men. They have conflict from afflictions, bereavements, and death. They need comfort.

2. God is the source of comfort to His people. "As a mother comforts her child - so will I comfort you." He is called "The Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles." (2 Cor. 1:3-4. Also, "God, who comforts the downcast" (2 Cor. 7:6). God has provided: A comforting atonement. This is a comfortable and safe refuge - a hiding place. He is a comforting advocate.  He makes intercession for us. He is a comforting Spirit, to enlighten, quicken, guide, witness, sanctify, and seal.  His comforting presence, "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5). 

His comforting Hope of Glory. "In my Father's house, an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - reserved in heaven for you" (1Peter 1:4). God's comfort is superior to all human comfort. 

3. That Divine Comfort is most endearing and effective. "As a mother comforts her child - so will I comfort you". This is a beautiful and striking comparison. No other relationship can so expressively represent the parental kindness of God, as an affectionate mother caring for her beloved child. God will comfort His people with all the affection and solicitude of a mother. A mother watches over and defends her child. So does our heavenly Father. A mother cares for and provides. And my God will meet all you needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

God will comfort His people with all the patience and forbearance of a mother. "For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust" "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness" (Psalm 103:14; 103:8).

God will comfort His people with all the forgiveness and consolation of a mother. He will instruct and correct as a mother would. God comforts with constancy. "Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end!" (John 13:1).

4. That this comfort is specially imparted in the house of God. It is the place appointed for His people to wait for and receive comfort. It is the place where He delights to dwell and meet His people. It is there where the Holy Spirit is poured out to comfort. Praise, prayer, study of God's Word there also yields comfort.

Application

Are we the children of God? Have we sensible tokens of His comfort? How terrible must be God's frown!

~William Nicholson~

(The End)