Here’s a little background to our first reading from Isaiah 40:1-11: In 587 B.C., Jerusalem was conquered, their Temple destroyed, the people put in chains and lead off to Babylon. They had been unfaithful to God. But now it’s 50 years of exile later, and they were struggling to be loyal to God. They had huge faith questions, as you can imagine:
- Had God abandoned them?
- Why was God so silent?
- Where is God?
Into their distressing situation, God called and sent Isaiah the Prophet. Beginning in Ch. 40, which we heard today, Isaiah speaks a message of hope and joy to the people, which they needed. In a strange land where they were oppressed, imagine how they felt when they heard: “Comfort, give comfort to my people” says your God. After all that suffering and pain from losing their city through their own fault, the people had suffered enough. It was time to go home.
Elna Solvang, a religion professor at Concordia College, writes about 6 expressions of comfort that Isaiah proclaimed in this passage:
- The first “comforting word” was how God identified Israel as “my people” – when they certainly did not deserve it. Our tendency is to disown someone whom we don’t think is ‘deserving’.
- The second comforting word was for God to tell Isaiah to “speak tenderly to Jerusalem”. Compassion, not condemnation, was the focus!
- Third, God declared, not only their release from their sins, but God doubled his mercy! Would that we could do as much for others who offend us!
- God commands Jerusalem to announce good tidings to the other cities of Judah. Jerusalem, the condemned city, which had lost all its leaders to exile and shame, was called by God to speak comfort to others! The condemned are now being called to witness.
- Fifth, Isaiah was to announce that God is coming to be with God’s people. So get ready – “prepare the way of the Lord…make straight a highway”! Have you been on I-4 lately? There’s major road construction going on and total upheaval of the landscape. It’s tough work and pretty messy now, but it promises to be smoother in the end. Same goes for Christ’s coming…challenging now, but promising later.
- Sixth is the word that God will create a new future for his people. The end of their exile in Babylon didn’t guarantee a better life for the people once they returned to Jerusalem. Far from it. God, however, comforts the people by announcing God’s involvement in their future.
“He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.”
The truest comfort God can give them, and us, is to be present, to work in the midst of us, inspiring, providing, protecting and guiding us gently, like a shepherd with a flock.
Like the people in Isaiah’s time, I can think of a lot of people today could stand a comforting message just now. We all know people in tough situations. Perhaps this Advent we can all take Isaiah's advice and "speak tenderly" to them, those who are obviously ‘deserving’, and even those we may judge to be ‘undeserving’. Let them know of God’s care by our care. “Comfort, give comfort to my people”
