Advent 2

“Be Comforted My People”

Is. 40:1-11
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
“Comfort. Comfort My People.” Not a wish, a desire, a hope or a
dream. This is God’s command spoken to the prophet Isaiah to speak to
His people. Comfort is SO important to God that He chooses these
words to begin the second half of Isaiah’s prophecy.
Previously God had used Isaiah as His mouthpiece to speak of
impending punishment and the need for repentance. Today God uses
His pastors to do so. The Word of God’s Law is still necessary, for like
Israel of old, we have become lethargic in our love for God and lazy in
our worship. If you doubt it, consider how much time you spend on
work, family and gathering around the TV compared to time spent in
prayer and being gathered around God’s Word.
God spoke seriously to Israel of old and still does, but today we hear
Him speaking softly—telling out Good News—promising consolation,
salvation and comfort through the Messiah who is to come. God’s
people needed to hear these words—for though times were good when
Isaiah spoke, soon they would be taken into captivity. Their bondage to
sin would be illustrated by their slavery to the Assyrians and
Babylonians. These words would bring them comfort. Like them we
are also in bondage, slaves to sin. We are captive to materialism, and
greed. We are selfish and self-centered. Though we may not know it, or
care to admit it, it is true. Sin is all around us, and within us.
It is easy to see sin and its effects internationally in places like
Iraq or India or other countries still reeling from savage acts of terror.

1
 It is easy to see sin nationally, people trampled under foot—
literally due to the decadent desire to get a good deal—and figuratively
due to the greed of a few which results in many losing their jobs, their
homes, their livelihood.
It is more difficult to see sin in our own lives, our own homes, our
own community called Peace With Christ. But it’s here. Even you, dear
children of God, experience the pain and hurt and suffering that comes
from living as fallen people in a fallen world.
We are born into sin, beset with sin, by the world the devil and
our own fleshly desires. If it weren’t so, why would we, like the world,
be seeking comfort in so many counterfeit sources? Why would we
delight in popular placebos that promise to provide temporary escape
from the pain and discomfort of daily living?
For example, do we depend on pills, drugs or drink to get us through the
day? During these tough economic times people have cut back on
spending, and giving, with one notable exception. Can you guess what
that is? Liquor. Yes, it appears that people are seeking comfort of the
southern kind. Lutherans often make light of drinking—but addiction
is no laughing matter. In my experience in the ministry many problems
people have are either created or exacerbated by the use of alcohol and
other drugs. They are one form of comfort, but not the only.
Sometimes we seek comfort and consolation from people. It is
good to be comforted by others—as we will hear later. But the comfort
that is too often sought is beyond the ability of mere mortals to provide.
We are incapable of serving as eternal saviors. It was a very difficult
lesson for me to learn. Early on in my ministry I was counseling with a
couple who had marriage problems. They shouldn’t have gotten

2
married in the first place. Love has a way of causing us to see only what
we desire to see in other people. They had each brought their problems
to the relationship, subconsciously, I am sure, hoping the other person
could solve them. They couldn’t—and their disappointment and
desperation brought them finally to me. I sought to help them—thought
I could be their savior—but I couldn’t. The most I could do was to
direct them away from me—and themselves—and to the font and source
of comfort. To the One who does provide deliverance on a daily basis.
To the One who came to give His life so that we can have life. To the
One that Isaiah is directing us towards today. The Lord of Life and
Savior from all sin—Jesus Christ.
Isaiah speaks of Him in many places and in many ways. But here he
prophesies of John the Baptist who would prepare His way;
In verse eleven he gives a gentle description of the kind shepherd
who will tend His flock, gather His lambs, carry them in His bosom, and
lead the nursing ewes, and in the last chapter of this book The savior
speaks in the first person--As one whom his mother comforts, so I will
comfort you.
The One who is Himself comforted as a baby lying in the arms of
His mother Mary is the very One—yes the ONLY One capable of
providing lasting comfort for us! What kind of comfort?
The forgiveness of sins. Speak kindly to Jerusalem, and call out to
her that her warfare has ended, her iniquity has been removed. God’s
people would be delivered from their captors and returned to their
homes. We have been delivered from our sins—from whatever is
holding us captive. In Christ we lack no good thing, thus we need not
seek comfort in making people or material things into our gods.

3
 In Jesus Christ we have been rescued eternally—it’s called
salvation—and is spoken of by Isaiah in a previous passage of his
prophecy:
You will say on that day I will give thanks to Thee O Lord; for
though you were angry with me, your anger has been turned away and
you comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be
afraid. For the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become
my salvation.”
This Salvation, while earned on the cross, is personally delivered
to us by the Holy Spirit. Who, not surprisingly, is called The Comforter
by Jesus. That is the meaning of the word “paraclete”—which you have
heard as another name given to the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit gives comfort to Mary when she hears the news
from the angel that she is to be the mother of the Lord. “Fear not,
Mary, for that which is conceived in you is of the Holy Spirit” The Holy
Spirit gives comfort to the disciples after the death, resurrection and
ascension of Jesus. And the Holy Spirit gives comfort to you. How?
Through the Word!
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of the Lord endures
forever.”
There are countless examples of God’s Word that are especially
comforting:
Psalm 23—“yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me, Thy rod and Thy staff
they comfort me.”
Psalm 46—“God is our refuge and our strength, an ever present help in
time of trouble.”

4
John 16—“In the world you have tribulation, but take heart, I have
overcome the word.”
Romans 8—“All things work together for the good of those who love God.
We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Nothing can
separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”
Just a few familiar examples—but there are so many more to be
found in God’s word, which is why the study of God’s Word is central in
the life of every Christian.
God’s Word provides comfort when we hear it proclaimed. John
the Baptist was the voice of one crying in the wilderness. The sound of
God’s Word that came from him was both harsh—speaking law; and
helpful—speaking Gospel. But all of it was comforting for he was
pointing people to Christ. The same can be said today. For what is
preached from the pulpit may at times fall hard upon our ears like a
hammer hitting stone; and at times falling softly upon our ears like the
winter snow this past week fell upon the earth. The Word of God is
comforting—for it shows us our savior and brings us His salvation.
It is not only the pastor who speaks God’s Word of comfort—it is
God’s people as well. You have been given the gift of God’s Word to
speak comfort to one another. One of the “tasks” that some people sign
up for in through HIH is to be a reader at some of the Sunday services.
It provides people an opportunity to participate in the service. But
there is a much greater opportunity, a much more valuable service that
is needed in the church and that awaits each of us every day. It is the
opportunity given each of us to speak words of encouragement to
others. To share the Gospel with those who are hurting or in need of
help, whether they be members of the body of Christ or not; whether

5
they be close friends or complete strangers. The people with whom the
pastor may never come in contact, who we may never see in church, but
that you see every day. It is your privilege, your calling, to speak God’s
comforting word with them. Listen to what St. Paul says about this in 2
Corinthians—(Read 1:3-7 and expound)
Paul makes it clear that we are to comfort others. But He also
says that Christ comes to us in our suffering. For Christians it is
acceptable to suffer—even to embrace it—for we know that it is then
that we share in the sufferings of Christ that we are most comforted
with His Gospel.
Today is December 7th. A day that will, in the words of FDR, live on in
infamy. For it was the day that Pearl Harbor was bombed and the US
was thrust into WWII. Some of you might remember that day, the
tragedy that occurred then and that would follow—and the comfort that
was needed by all of those who suffered so intensely during those times.
The president spoke reassuring words—“We have nothing to fear but
fear itself”. Those words helped—for a time. But almost seventy years
later we still live in fear of being attacked. Human words cannot erase
that reality.
And that is why December 7th is observed in the church for another
reason—it is the day traditionally reserved to remember St. Ambrose,
the Christian Bishop of Milan who lived in about 350 AD. He is revered
for leading the church through the Arian controversy—and leading St.
Augustine to the faith; Speaking not His own words—but the words of
Jesus. He is remembered because of many of the hymns that he wrote
which put God’s Word to music and provide comfort for the ages.

6
Hymns like that found on page 332 of our hymnal—“Savior of the
Nations Come”—the sixth verse of which reads
“For You are the Father’s Son, Who in flesh the victory won.
By Your mighty power make whole, all our ills of flesh and soul.”
Comfort, Comfort my people. Thus says your God.
Amen.