"Comfort"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, December 7, 2008 at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "Comfort" (coming soon)

Warning: What I’m about to tell you has been described as "liberal" by some Bible scholars.

There are three Isaiahs in the Bible.

First Isaiah – consisting of some pretty harsh language and warnings towards God’s people

Isaiah 1-39

Second Isaiah – consisting of words of consolation for God’s people in exile

Isaiah 40-55

Third Isaiah – consisting of reminders of God’s love and justice to God’s people returned from exile

Isaiah 56-66

The three Isaiahs were written by different authors and come from three historical times in the life of Israel.

Some Bible scholars would disagree –saying that everything came from the first author – Isaiah – and no others

Some would disagree – saying that there is only a first and second Isaiah.

Some have suggested that John – the one named as the author of Revelation – is the Fourth Isaiah.

But enough of all of this.

Except to show you some context. This morning’s Bible reading comes from Isaiah 40 - -right at the beginning of Second Isaiah.

Second Isaiah is also known as ‘The Book of Consolation."

God’s people were about to come home – after being away for a long time.

Coming home

Why would people who were finally coming home need to hear words of consolation?

Have you ever been afraid to return home? Was it because you’d done something so terrible you thought there was no forgiveness possible? Was it because you’d been gone so long that you thought there was nothing left of home for you? Was it because you’d forgotten what home was and you were worried that everyone would be disappointed?

Apparently others have felt that way, too.

Today’s reading from Isaiah 40:1-11 carries with it similar emotions to the ones anyone who has ever been afraid to return home has likely felt. It starts, recognizing the fears of a people that have been in exile for so long, with words of comfort:

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.

It goes on to let the people know that whatever it was that made them afraid to come home was over. The way for them to return was being prepared. God was welcoming them home. God was welcoming them with open arms and with a gentle spirit.

We often hear some of the words from today’s reading from Isaiah as the words written in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John about John the Baptist—preparing the way for Jesus.

A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

And these words are about John – preparing the way for Jesus. But they are also about the people back in the time of Isaiah – coming home after a long time in exile. We can see the comfort that Jesus brought to the estranged when we read this Old Testament passage. We can also see the comfort God had for God’s people at the time of Isaiah.

God’s comfort; God’s forgiveness; God’s welcome with open arms and with a gentle spirit aren’t momentary events described in the Bible. They are realities then . . . and now.

Have you been estranged for far too long? Are you longing for forgiveness, welcome, open arms and a gentle spirit?

May this advent season be one filled with comforting homecomings for all that have been estranged.

May this advent be one where all experience:

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God

Comfort

Close with prayer.

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