Psalm 23:4f
Have
you ever literally breathed a deep sigh of relief? That’s what the word “comfort” literally means. When
translators were putting this verse from Hebrew into the Greek they used the
word which is translated into English as to encourage, or to implore. Elsewhere
in the Hebrew the word means to repent, relent, or to feel sorry. Have you ever been so anguished where you could not breathe? The word "comfort" is a word
that was used when someone was in deep sorrow and anguish and others come along
side and try to lift that person up.
How can a rod, used for correction,
and a staff, used to support, lift up and provide protection, bring such comfort in times when there is such
anguish that I can barely breathe?
There is a solace in God’s
correction. In Job 5:17-18 it says, “Behold,
happy is the man whom God corrects: do not despise the chastening of the
Almighty: For He bruises but He binds up, He wounds but His hands make whole.” In Proverbs 3:11, it is written, “Do not despise the chastening of the LORD or grow weary of his correction.”
The
New Testament says that correction by God is a sign of His love and also of our
being His children, “9 Furthermore, we have had human
fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more
readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they verily for a few days
chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be
partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the
present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth
the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Hebrews 12:9-11)
One
of my favorite passages of Scriptures is 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 where there are
nine times in four short verses that some form of the word comfort or
consolation is used, beginning with calling God the God of all comfort. Paul
returns to the comfort theme again in chapter 7:4-13. It is my favorite because
Paul says that one of the best ways we are comforted by God is when others come
alongside of us. It is like the girl who went to her parents for comfort and
the mother said, “Child, the Lord is with you!” The girl tearfully crawls into
bed and says, “I know, but I want someone with skin on.”
Will you be God’s comfort “with skin on” to someone who needs it?
“Lord, console me with your rod and staff.
Lead to others who need your comfort
and let me help them to breathe. Amen.”
Lead to others who need your comfort
and let me help them to breathe. Amen.”
