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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Isaiah Chapter 40 verses 1to 15 . We are living at a time when we need to know the comfort of our comforting God – but also what that word ‘comfort’ really means in Scripture – and it has its same meaning in 2025.
Look at the setting – it is important to understand why Isaiah is writing as he does. This is God speaking to His Chosen People through Isaiah.
The people of Israel have been captives - prisoners - exiles - in Babylon - modern day Iraq - for around 50 years.
They had been disobedient to God - the Father of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. They had been given many opportunities to repent - to turn back to God - to say sorry for the way they had been living. They had refused to hear various preachers and prophets sent by God.
How long would they be prisoners? How long would they have to suffer? They were so sad - they could not sing. There is a lot of sadness around today - with few signs of victory.
The good news is - God's Anger does not last for ever! And God gives His man Isaiah a word to preach - a message to proclaim. It is a word of comfort.
If you need a word of comfort today this word is for you - comfort means to fortress - to strengthen you - the word means "to be with strength" - to make you strong and impregnable like a castle.
God says - Preach to my people - a word of comfort. Tell My People I love them - tell My people - This is Your God speaking! O to hear the voice of God - and we hear the voice of God through the Word of God.
Isaiah - comfort My people - comfort My people. Tell my people they have had enough suffering - speak tenderly to my people. Fill them with courage so that they can face what they have to face.
When you comfort someone, you do not molly-coddle them. You don't wrap them in cotton wool and keep them from the truth.
Comforting is putting strength into people's hearts - and Jesus teaches us that the Holy Spirit is our Comforter. The Holy Spirit gives strength for today and strength for to-morrow.
To tell people that things are all right when they are not, is deceitful misleading and lying.
God had punished His people Israel for their sins - but now they were being wronged - they were being persecuted in that land of Babylon - and God will save His People when they are wronged. That is our God. "Our God reigns".
God turns from judgement to mercy - from punishment to pardon - from causing His people suffering, to saving them from unjust suffering. Now, that is righteousness!
Tell my people - speak tenderly to them - let them know that they will soon be going back to Jerusalem.
There are four voices here, crying in the darkness and in the suffering.
These are verses to read when you are going through it - when you are being persecuted - when times are difficult. They begin with a whisper and end with a shout.
God is wooing His people - tell her that her hard service is over - it has been completed - her period of suffering and warfare is past. It is the word used for conscription - tell her that she is being demobbed - set free - released from this painful past. She is about to go home - back to Jerusalem. The warfare has stopped - she has paid for her sins - that is past.
“Loving Father – comforting God – draw near to us at this time – come close as we pray. There are so many people afraid and sad and anxious and worried – and yet, You have spoken – and Jesus has answers to all these fears and distressing emotions. We thank You that You are a God who forgives – hear the prayers of all who seek You and pray to You, in Jesus’ Name.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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