May the mumbling commence!
In Isaiah Chapters 51-55, we find a smorgasbord of the perfect comfort foods. Do you know how it feels to eat at an all-you-can-eat buffet? Well, I feel a little overstuffed with the rich fair of these passages. So, what is the perfect comfort food? Read from Chapter 55, which starts with an invitation to come eat and drink:
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord's renown,
for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed." (6-13)
The Word of the Lord is the perfect comfort food. It is the Lord who calms the seas and makes a path (Is 51:10). It is the same Lord who churns up the seas for those who oppose Him (Is 51:15). We need fear no one or nothing else in our lives.
But, what about the trouble that we make for ourselves – how does the prefect comfort food cure that? Like when we stay in the midst of sin. Isaiah 52 proclaims the peace and joy of those who depend on the Lord. Depart and the Lord will go before you to guide you and behind you to protect you (Is 52:11-12).
How does this perfect comfort food cure our own stubborn sinfulness? The cure is found in the greatest expression of the Word of the Lord – the suffering servant, Jesus Christ. Isaiah 53 tells us of the work of the Suffering Servant that permanently solves the indigestion of sin in our lives. Read the last few verses of that chapter:
Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors. (10-12)
This Suffering Servant does NOT glorify suffering alone. It is suffering with a purpose – like the suffering of childbirth. Through his actions, Christ Jesus took all our sins upon himself. Christ’s faithfulness to the heavenly Father made atonement – once and for all – for Christ Jesus was the perfect guilt or sin offering. All my sins are forgiven. All your sins are forgiven. All our sins are forgiven. What a cause for comfort, for joy, and for peace! Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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