December 7 “Comfort – Speak Compassionately” Isaiah 40.1-11 Jacqueline Hines
The December sermon series will echo the words of Isaiah: [ # 1 verse 40Comfort, … ]
40Comfort, O comfort my people, God tells the prophet to comfort
God’s people. So often a prophet was
assigned to challenge [ #2 man over pulpit ] and rebuke God’s people in hopes that
they would change from their less than honorable ways.
Not this day. This day, the prophet is told to comfort, [ #3 Jesus hugging ] comfort
my people. Isaiah is told to speak tenderly, to the heart, compassionately. It
is a season of reprieve [ #4 lion on branch ], a
season of rest from swimming against the tide of temptation [ #5 just say no ] or
diving into demanding discipline [ # 6 tightrope ] .
It is a moment of warm hugs and friendly gestures. [# 7
dogs resting together ] It is a time of pleasant exchanges [ # 8 several jumping for joy ] and joy -filled connections. It is
like those days just before the Christmas holiday a teacher might announce,
there is no homework, [# 9 kid smiling] the test
is cancelled, there will be no final exam, or if there is a final exam, it is
going to be really easy. [# 10 kids cheering ]God says, instead of the usual
challenge and rigor, tell them there will be free time and enjoyment, leisure
and rest. Sounds good, feels good, and it is good.
God sends someone with compassionate speech which is so
comforting. It helps us to rest, rejuvenate so we can emerge to reach far above
what we expect. [#11 passing a baton ] Words of compassion and comfort help
us to recuperate from the many wounds and injuries that we accumulate in life’s
wildernesses.
Verse 11 like –[# 12 verse 11 he will….] “ 11 He will feed
his flock like a shepherd; he will
gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.” [# 13 man holding lambs
]
We need all the comfort that God’s compassionate words bring
to us, for it enables us to go to the next level in our spiritual journey. It is being in our comfort zone that enables
us relax, sit back and see exactly what God is doing in our lives, to
appreciate it and give thanks. Verse 4 says what God is doing. [ #14 verses 4-5 every valley ] 4
Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the
uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be
revealed…
In our comfort zone, we can see where God is working to
straighten up or build up something in our lives. [ #
15 God first] Your comfort zone
is a place where you are at rest, a place where your heart’s longings and
desires come quickly to the surface. [ #16 gushing
spring ]
Your comfort zone is the place where you think about God,
where your hopes are high and you dare to dream. [# 17 dream
big] It is where you stand still long enough to look around and see the
hand of God working with mercy, justice, and compassion in each and every one
of our lives.
Have you seen lately how God is working to straighten
something out in your life? Is God straightening a path toward right living,
moral ground, speaking up, shutting up, forgiving more, doubting less? What is
it that God is straightening out in your life?
What is it that you want God to build up in your life? Is it
a healthy relationship, a happy home, stronger resolve, fewer burdens, more
cash?
Certainly there are messes we want God to quickly turn into
miracles, though they seem so impossible. Definitely there are broken areas
that we are trusting God will fix, even when there is nothing left but the
ruins. We can rest assured
[ #18 man
relaxing ] that God is working to transform each
and every one of our lives for the good. We can trust that God’s good will is
being done. We can trust that God will be glorified, that others will see that
God is good and worthy to be praised.
Our creating God instructs the Isaiah to bring words of
compassion, to comfort God’s children so they rest while God does a great work
among us. We all know it is not easy to sit back, relax, [ #19 frog relaxing ]and rest while God is working on
the most important issues in our lives. It is not easy to be comforted or
comfortable when God is working around us, up close and personal.
Is it easy to rest before a big game or a final exam? Is it
easy to relax when we are getting a needle, or when a sliver of wood is being
removed from our finger?
We are blessed with an abundance of good news in our lives.
Our blessings, great and small, are too numerous to count. We have trusted God [ # 20 let go of
cliff] and God has never failed
us nor forsaken us. So sit back,[ #21 relax in
chalk ] relax, rest [ #22 God is in control
] and let Christmas come as Christmas always comes,[ #23 Merry Christmas - camels ] to straighten something out and to
build something wonderful. Amen
