Comfort My People
Isaiah 40:1-8, 27-31
1 “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.
2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”
3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
27 “Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God’?
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Hallelujah! May the grace and peace of our Lord be with you all. Our Lord is always with us and desires to be glorified through us. To fulfill this, He gives us His Word. However, if our spirit is not awakened, we cannot hear Him even when He speaks. That is why the Lord said, “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Our spirit has the ability to hear God’s Word. But for this to happen, it must be awakened. The Spirit of God is the one who awakens our spirit. Therefore, if we want our spiritual ears to be opened to hear the Word of God, we must seek the Holy Spirit and pray earnestly. At this moment, I bless each of you that your spirit may be fully awakened.
- The Declaration of God’s Comfort
In today’s passage, God declares, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God” (Isaiah 40:1).
This statement was directed to the people of Israel who had endured captivity in Babylon, proclaiming that their time of punishment for sin had come to an end. It is an announcement that God’s work of salvation is now beginning.
Who, then, are “my people” in this passage? And what does God’s work of salvation mean for us today?
In the Bible, “my people” refers to the descendants of Abraham and the offspring of David. However, Scripture makes it clear that being Abraham’s descendants and David’s offspring is not merely a matter of physical lineage, but rather applies to those who are united with Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and rose again.
Therefore, those who believe in Jesus Christ are God’s children and the ones whom God comforts and restores.
When God commands, “Comfort my people”, He is declaring, “I know the suffering you have endured.”
But why did God’s people suffer?
God’s people are called to live by His Word, yet they suffered because they chose to follow the ways of the world instead.
We are no different.
We often try to navigate life by relying on our own strength and abilities. At times, we may succeed, but there are also times when we fail.
Why is this?
Because human beings do not know what tomorrow holds.
That is why we must rely on Almighty God.
The Israelites faced suffering in Babylonian captivity because they did not follow God’s Word but lived according to the ways of the world.
Likewise, when we fail to live by God’s Word, we experience spiritual struggles and hardships.
Yet, God is the One who comforts His people in times of affliction and distress (2 Corinthians 1:4).
At the appointed time, God declares that the punishment for sin is over.
Our Lord took upon Himself all the curses and shame that we deserved on the cross, so that our sins could be forgiven.
To receive this amazing grace, we must prepare the way of the Lord.
However, preparing the way of the Lord is like the voice of one calling in the wilderness.
Why?
Because only those who have ears to hear will listen to God’s Word—and at times, this calling may feel like a lonely cry.
Yet, whether people listen or not, we must proclaim repentance.
John the Baptist fulfilled this mission.
When Scripture says, “Repent”, it does not simply mean feeling remorse.
Rather, it means turning away from a life lived according to one’s own will, apart from God’s rule, and fully accepting God as King.
- Recognize Human Frailty
The Bible declares that all people will see the glory of the Lord.
There is no distinction in witnessing this glory.
However, everyone must acknowledge their own frailty.
Only God is almighty and eternal.
The Bible records:
“All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field…
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:6-8)
There are moments in life that are as beautiful and joyful as flowers in bloom.
However, when the flowers wither, life may seem fragile and fleeting.
Therefore, we must not place our hope in things that perish.
Then, where should we place our hope?
The Bible speaks clearly:
“The word of our God will stand forever.”
God created the world by His word,
and He is faithful to fulfill His promises.
Thus, our hope should not be in changing circumstances,
but in the unchanging word of God.
Our King, Jesus Christ, shines with the radiance of His glory.
Regarding this glorious light, 2 Corinthians 4:6 states:
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’
has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 3:18 declares:
“And we all, with unveiled face,
beholding the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image
from one degree of glory to another,
for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
When the light of the Lord’s glory shines upon our hearts,
all worries and fears disappear.
We become assured of the Lord’s love and His help.
As a result, our hearts are filled with peace and joy.
- Human Limitations and God’s Renewed Strength (Isaiah 40:27-31)
The Israelites failed to recognize their own limitations
and did not trust in the Almighty God,
so they complained, saying,
“My way is hidden from the Lord” (Isaiah 40:27-28).
However, God gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29-30).
Thus, the Bible declares:
“But those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength;
they will soar on wings like eagles.” (Isaiah 40:31)
When we trust in the Lord,
we receive new strength,
just as an eagle soars powerfully into the sky.
God has given us the authority to pray,
and He hears and answers our prayers.
Isn’t this truly good news?
“You who bring good news, lift up your voice with strength;
say to the people of God, ‘Behold your God!’” (Isaiah 40:9).
To “Behold your God”
means to fix our eyes on Him and pray in faith.
The Lord is our Good Shepherd;
He feeds His flock
and gathers the lambs in His arms to protect them.
Our King, Jesus, hears our prayers
and fulfills His divine will.
However, there are principles to prayer.
When we pray,
we often say,
“Lord, please solve my problem first.”
But Jesus taught us
to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
To seek God’s Kingdom
means to pray for the reign of our King in our lives.
And His righteousness
means to pray for His will to be done in our lives.
When we pray in this way,
the Lord, who already knows our needs,
will provide for us
even before we ask.
A few years ago, a missionary team was working to support the underground church in North Korea.
They wanted to deliver Bibles to North Korean believers,
but border checkpoints had extremely strict inspections.
So they prayed,
seeking first God’s Kingdom and righteousness,
asking that His will be done in delivering the Bibles.
Then, miraculously,
a sudden fight broke out among the soldiers,
causing the inspection process to be disrupted,
and the Bibles were successfully delivered to the North Korean believers!
Brothers and sisters,
when we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,
He provides even what we have not asked for.
Pray with faith!
Do You Feel That the Lord Does Not Hear Your Prayers?
That is not true!
When we first seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness in prayer,
the Holy Spirit will surely renew our hearts.
As a result, the work of new creation will take place,
all suffering, sickness, and the power of darkness will be broken,
and we will enter into the light.
Moreover, we will realize that God has already prepared great and marvelous things
that we have not yet seen or known.
Therefore, trust in the Lord!
And become a person who prays with sincere faith.
God will surely answer,
and He will perform great and wondrous works!
Through these answers to prayer, glory will be given to God.
Conclusion
Among our fellow believers, many are facing various difficulties, including in their businesses.
Many people blame the hardships of the times.
However, what we must do first is honestly acknowledge our weaknesses,
entrust all our problems to God, and seek His kingdom and righteousness.
When we do this, the Lord will uphold us and open the way before us.
This is how we prepare the way of the Lord.
As we prepare His way,
the Almighty God will be with us,
and we will accomplish all things not by our own strength, but by His power.
And through it all, God will be glorified.
As a result, people will recognize that what has been achieved was not by our strength, but by the grace of the Lord alone.
When this happens, our families, businesses, and lives will become testimonies that bring glory to God.
Through such a testimony-filled life,
may we all give glory to God and live a life filled with joy and gratitude. Amen!