Blessed (salvation belongs to) those who mourn for they will be comforted. Those who mourn are the ones who suffer injustice and wickedness at the hands of the people of this world who are the enemies of God. The world is full of pain, for God is against it and has cursed it. Those who mourn are not the people outside of the Kingdom but those who have been redeemed . There is no better cure from the allegiances to this world than pain. Pain reminds us we are living in a condemned world. Michael W Smith sings "I know there is a prayer flowing from, the longing for the healing to come." The pain of life causes the people of God to put their hope fully on the glory that will be revealed when God establishes the Kingdom of God after the resurrection and the great white throne judgement. The redemption of Jerusalem, the consolation of Israel is what believing Jews were waiting and longing for. For example Luke 2:25 Simeon is waiting for the consolation of Israel. Vs38 Hannah spoke to all about Jesus, who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. They longed for the day when the darkness would be over and the light would come in all its glory and fulness. This hope is expressed in the New moon festivals, The Day of Atonement, the Sabbaths and many other festivals such as Hannukah etc. Israel would only be redeemed when the suffering servant bore their sins. If God had saved them in the past he would save them again. Isaiah 54:10 speaks of Israel being afflicted and not comforted. Comfort is directly connected in the book of Isaiah to God saving them. The day when Jerusalem and the towns of Israel would be safe from invasion and all the oppression,brutality and suffering that went along with it.Thats what this teaching would have meant to those who heard Jesus preaching this.What it means to us who hear it today is that the time will soon be here when trouble will be no more. The time when wickedness will not hurt and affect our lives.When we will dwell in safety in the land because wicked men will not be found in the length and breadth of the earth. Revelation 21.4: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5: And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. This is the great hope which we live in that sorrow ,death and pain will be no more and we shall be comforted. For Christ will have destroyed our enemies even sin and death and the wicked will not enter into the land. "Comfort" in Isaiah 40 is declared as the true end to Israels exile and is fulfilled when John the Baptist declared the end of exile by pointing to the Christ, Jesus. For Israel to be comforted is for her suffering in exile to come to an end, and for her sins to be forgiven. Pictures of comfort are God wiping away every tear and filling them everlasting Joy. Isaiah 52:9 the Lord has comforted his people is in context of The Lord returning to Zion to redeem His people and Jerusalem. Isaiah 60:20-21 speaks of "the days of her mourning been ended" in the context of final salvation. Isaiah 62:2 tells us the comfort of the people of God is their exaltation by vindication. We are told the nations will see your vindication and all the kings your glory. No more will you be called forsaken. |
