As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.
Quite a large section of his writings pointed to the coming Messiah, Who would be born of a virgin and called ‘Immanuel’. Some of the most moving prophecies of Christ’s first advent are recorded by Isaiah. For instance, he wrote of John the Baptist who would come in the spirit and power of Elijah and proclaim that the promised Kingdom of God was imminent. He prophesied that a rod would come forth out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch would grow out of his roots. He prophesied that the coming Messiah would be a suffering Servant-King, Who would be wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, that our punishment would be upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed. Throughout the book of Isaiah, God’s constancy was highlighted against a dark backdrop of Israel’s carelessness, disinterest, and unfaithfulness, and Isaiah’s writings make it clear that although fallen men cannot attain righteousness on their own, God understands our limitation and is able to make it available to us, by faith in the work of His Servant Messiah, Who would be born at God’s appointed time. While Israel had to be punished for breaking their covenant with the Lord, His chastening rod will not last forever, and this final chapter ends with some of the most beautiful descriptions of God’s grace toward His people and their eventual return to the holy city of Jerusalem: “For thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees. And as one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.’” A wonderful picture of Israel’s restoration and the future glory of Jerusalem is foreseen in this passage. The promise of peace and prosperity is given to His chosen people, and verse 13 paints a most compassionate portrait of God giving comfort to His people in the same way that a mother would console and comfort her son…not only her nursing baby but also her dearly beloved grown-up son. Paul reminds us that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, and He is the One, Who comforts us in all our affliction. We who know the Lord as our God and Savior are truly blessed because we not only have peace with God at the point of our salvation but was access to the peace of God as we walk in spirit and truth. And a day is coming when every prophecy, as yet unfulfilled, will come to completion and Israel will be comforted in their homeland by Jesus, their Prince of Peace and promised King.
Spiritual Steve 