Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Isaiah 40:1-2 "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" says your God. "Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins ..."
THE PREACHER'S ADVENT MESSAGE: PROCLAIMS COMFORT
Bethany Seminary Dean Norman A. Madson (1886-1962) said that no pastor can claim to be fulfilling his calling unless he makes COMFORT the basis for all his preaching and teaching. That is clearly the teaching of our text. While Old Testament prophets were to warn God's people of impending wrath and punishment if they disobeyed Him, their chief calling was to be "comfort bringers." Yes, the people had sinned and been carried away into captivity, but God would see to their safe return to their homeland. He would pardon their iniquity, blessing them even in double measure.
That is also the chief message of God's faithful New Testament messengers. Ever since the verdict pronounced upon Adam for the very first sin, mankind has had a hard way on this Earth. Sin is behind all the wars and violence in the world. Sin is the underlying cause of the ugly unrest in the hearts and souls of sinners.
BUT THERE IS COMFORT, THERE IS PEACE for the sinner, whoever he or she is! That peace is wrapped up in the good tidings first heralded over the plains of Bethlehem by the Christmas angels: "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord….Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
And so we love to sing the Advent hymn based on this Scripture text:
"Comfort, comfort ye, My people, Speak ye peace,” thus saith our God;
"Comfort those who sit in darkness, Mourning 'neath their sorrows' load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover And her warfare now is over."
Yea, her sins our God will pardon, Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger He no more will see or heed.
She hath suffered many a day, Now her griefs have passed away;
God will change her pining sadness Into ever-springing gladness.
(Lutheran Service Book, 347:1-2)
