Finding Comfort Amidst Desolation
"These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?" - Isaiah 51:19
As we explore the profound and poignant words of Isaiah 51:19, we encounter a call for deep reflection on the state of our hearts, our communities, and the world around us. The verse reads, "These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?" In this passage, the prophet cries out to the people of Israel, revealing the impending calamities that await them if they fail to heed God's call.
This verse opens with a rhetorical question that pierces the soul: "who shall be sorry for thee?" Here, it serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of our actions and the spiritual desolation that results from wandering away from God’s protection. While desolation and destruction loom, it compels us to ponder how often we find ourselves in similar positions of despair, facing our own forms of metaphorical famine and sword.
In the historical context, the people of Israel faced oppression and destruction due to their disobedience and turning away from God. Isaiah’s message is one of urgency, urging them to recognize the gravity of their situation before it’s too late. It’s easy to point to the external threats of the sword or the internal struggles of famine and destruction, but the deeper issue arises from a spiritual desolation and an unwillingness to seek God's comfort. In moments of trial, we often turn to the world for consolation—material possessions, fleeting pleasures, or advice from friends—only to find that they offer no lasting comfort but rather lead us further into despair.
As we reflect on our own contemporary desolation, we might question: Are we not also experiencing a time where moral decay, societal unrest, and personal upheaval abound? The call from Isaiah urges us to recognize that these conditions do not exist outside the realm of God's sovereignty. Rather, they are divine messages prompting us to return, repent, and seek comfort in the Lord.
The second question, "by whom shall I comfort thee?" reveals God's compassionate heart. Despite the calamities that are allowed to come upon us, He still offers a path to solace. It’s as if the Lord is standing ready, waiting for us to turn towards Him so He can wrap us in His embrace of mercy and grace. Jesus emphasizes this theme in Matthew 11:28-30, where He invites the weary and burdened to come unto Him for rest.
In times of desolation and the trials of life, it is crucial to remember that while we may feel abandoned or overlooked, God is ever present, longing for us to acknowledge our struggles and return to Him. There is a profound strength found in vulnerability—admitting our need for help and allowing God to be our comfort and refuge.
Moreover, the prophetic words of Isaiah remind us that we are never too far from God’s grace. His desire is that we should not despair but rather turn to Him, who is rich in mercy and full of comfort. When we face the sword of conflict, the darkness of famine, or the ruins of desolation, we can be assured that our cries for help do not go unheard. God sees us, and He cares for us.
The invitation in Isaiah 51:19 ultimately leads us to a choice: to remain in our desolation or to courageously seek comfort in the Lord, who is faithful. Let us earnestly seek Him today, understanding that even in the depths of destruction, His arms are outstretched, ready to offer us the comfort and strength we so desperately need.
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Isaiah 51:19 - "These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?"
"These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?" - Isaiah 51:19
Isaiah 51:21 - "¶ Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:"
Isaiah 51:15 - "But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name."
"¶ Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:" - Isaiah 51:21
Isaiah 51:14 - "The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail."
Isaiah 51:2 - "Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him."
Jeremiah 51:19 - "The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name."
Isaiah 51:20 - "Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God."
Isaiah 51:10 - "Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?"
Psalms 51:19 - "Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar."
Isaiah 51:7 - "¶ Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings."
Isaiah 51:1 - "Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged."
"For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody." - Isaiah 51:3
Isaiah 51:9 - "¶ Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?"
Isaiah 51:5 - "My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust."
Isaiah 51:17 - "¶ Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out."
Isaiah 51:8 - "For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation."
Isaiah 51:12 - "I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;"
Isaiah 51:18 - "There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up."
Isaiah 51:11 - "Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away."
Isaiah 41, 19
Isaiah 19:8
Isaiah 43:19
Isaiah 51:4 - "¶ Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people."
Isaiah 19:1
Isaiah 43:19
Isaiah 51:13 - "And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?"
Isaiah 43:18-19
Isaiah 19:19 - "In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD."