Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4
Mourning. Who of us hasn't experienced mourning--with the loss of a parent, sibling, child, friend...job...opportunity...home or car...hoped for dream dashed--leaving us devastated.
In the Old Testament comforting those who mourn can be found in Isaiah.
- I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn.... Isaiah 57:18
- Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted. Isaiah 49:13 (NASB)
God is tough on His rebellious people--casting them out of the Promised Land into captivity in Babylon. But He is also compassionate--comforting them. Isaiah wrote to the people of Judah about their exile and then predicted the coming of the Messiah--Jesus Christ our Lord and King.
Can we expect God to show us compassion if we are "afflicted" spiritually or physically--or even politically oppressed? If we are obedient to Him--then it is more likely He will be compassionate to al His followers just as He promised in Isaiah 57 to comfort, heal, restore and lead His people--the righteous ones. As I try to be radically obedient to the Lord I am counting on His mercy and compassion. God comforts His people through His Word and through His people. Have you comforted anyone in God's family lately?
Prayer ~ Lord God, Thank You for Your promise to comfort those who mourn--for that is all of us--all mankind. It is part of our life--to live...and to die. May we die to self and may we be compassionate to those who mourn--God's chosen people--Jews and Gentiles.
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 12-15
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. www.blueletterbible.org/daily reading.
- I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn.... Isaiah 57:18
- Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted. Isaiah 49:13 (NASB)
God is tough on His rebellious people--casting them out of the Promised Land into captivity in Babylon. But He is also compassionate--comforting them. Isaiah wrote to the people of Judah about their exile and then predicted the coming of the Messiah--Jesus Christ our Lord and King.
Can we expect God to show us compassion if we are "afflicted" spiritually or physically--or even politically oppressed? If we are obedient to Him--then it is more likely He will be compassionate to al His followers just as He promised in Isaiah 57 to comfort, heal, restore and lead His people--the righteous ones. As I try to be radically obedient to the Lord I am counting on His mercy and compassion. God comforts His people through His Word and through His people. Have you comforted anyone in God's family lately?
Prayer ~ Lord God, Thank You for Your promise to comfort those who mourn--for that is all of us--all mankind. It is part of our life--to live...and to die. May we die to self and may we be compassionate to those who mourn--God's chosen people--Jews and Gentiles.
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 12-15
© 2018 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted
No comments:
Post a Comment