Today’s Reading: Isaiah 40

1 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
Isaiah 40:1-2

I cried the first time I heard these words. 

My Old Testament professor had done a great job taking us into the despair, hopelessness, and judgment of the fall of Jerusalem and resulting exile. Yesterday, we looked at the lead up to that fall. When it comes, it’s devastating. The prominent citizens of Judean society are led off to Babylon in exile, where they will remain for decades. 

We as a class had plunged that depth of despair. Then, we read these words, “Comfort, O comfort my people.” God comes and speaks a word of comfort. Sins have been paid. All is forgiven. God has not forgotten God’s promises, the covenant made with Abraham forever. God will act to restore, to redeem. 

It’s a promise extended to us. We will experience redemption ourselves. Whatever ails us, whatever suffering we know, whether our own fault, the fault of someone else, or a mixture of the two, will not last forever. We will know redemption and restoration, for God keeps God’s promises. 

The people sitting in exile received that message. They believed and held firm to their faith, even as Babylon tried to convince them with pleasures and comforts to assimilate into Babylonian society. They knew God would provide and remained faithful in the waiting. 

God will fulfill God’s promises and act for restoration. Ours is to wait with faith, believing that we too will hear the words, “comfort, O comfort my people.” 

Think
Where do you need restoration, redemption, in your life today? 

Pray
Tell God where you need redemption and ask for the grace to wait. 

Do
Look back over your past: where did God fulfill a promise to you? Record that and place it prominently somewhere; a reminder that God will do it again.

Think, Pray, Do. As we respond in faith to scripture, God moves in power through our minds, hearts, and bodies. We are the people of God. Thanks for reading today. Go in peace. Amen.

Think, Pray, Do devotionals by Ted Goshorn follow the suggested bible reading plan from his website and book, Prayer Changes Us. Find this Bible reading plan at tedgoshorn.org/biblereading. If you have found today’s devotion helpful, don’t forget to subscribe for daily emails at tedgoshorn.org and share with others that we may think, pray, and do faithfully.