Many of us can relate to the feeling of a warm comforter covering us on a cold night. Today, we understand the word to include objects that provide physical comfort and warmth.
The early origins of the word “comforter” are from the French “consoler,” which entered Middle English via the Anglo-French term “confortour” in the 14th century. Interestingly, it initially referred to “a person who provides solace, support, and encouragement.”
Have you ever considered God to be a comforter? David expresses his belief in God’s comfort in the Lord’s Prayer. In Psalm 23:4 (NKJV), he writes, “Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” This verse talks about the gift of the Shepherd’s presence, who is God. God is telling those who are His sheep not to fear because He is ever present, always with them. David points out that darkness will happen; it might seem to be an ultimate defeat, the verse says, the “shadow of death,” but that will not be the end.
The words “you will walk” imply it is not your destination or dwelling place; instead, you will go through it, and in it, God will be there. God’s sheep can calmly walk, and His presence will eliminate the fear of evil, no matter your present environment or circumstances. The images David uses of the rod and staff would have been those of instruments a shepherd used to guide and protect. Sometimes used by the shepherd as a walking stick for “support’, and sometimes used for the sheep to physically discipline or guide the sheep. David, having these tools would be a comfort to him, knowing that correction is necessary, but it would be done out of love for the care and safety of his sheep, just as God would be doing the same for him.
The Hebrew word for comfort is “naham”, and its root word is interesting; it means to sigh, to breathe strongly by implication, to be sorry. So we can imagine that part of comforting someone is to sit with someone and be prepared to breathe heavily, a physical reaction to someone’s burden. There are many verses that speak of God’s consolation or comfort that He gives to His people.
Such as Isaiah 40:1 (NKJV), which says, “Comfort, O comfort my people.”
The book of Isaiah tells of a time in Judah’s history where their sin and the sin of the surrounding nations would bring judgment. Though by the end of the book, in Chapter 40, there is Hope. A comfort of Hope that would come with the return of Jesus. Isaiah’s theme is about “looking to God to be saved.” What could be a greater comfort for all, that despite the world’s sin, by God’s grace and forgiveness, there is the gift of eternal Hope to those who seek to know Him.
Isaiah 40:2 (NKJV) says, “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended. That her iniquity is pardoned, For she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”
Isaiah 40:28-31 (NKJV) is one of the most incredible sources of comfort:
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak. And to those who have no might, He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fail, But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
We who put our hope in God and the return of Jesus are not forgotten, and we will be comforted and led by our Good Shepherd, Jesus. Listen to the number of times the word comfort is in these verses:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4; NKJV)
2 Corinthians 1:5 (NKJV) continues:
“For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation [or comfort] also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation [comfort] and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings that we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partaker of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.”
We know we will suffer, but we also can TRUST that we will also be comforted; it is ALL for our salvation. We are to be steadfast, which means firmly grounded, not wavering in our faith and hope…because suffering and comfort go hand in hand. Without suffering, we can’t know comfort.
God is asking us to reach out from our own trials, hurts, pains, and in genuine empathy, “naham,” to give comfort with the comfort we have been comforted with the comfort we give is because of our Heavenly Father’s comfort. If we can imagine the “naham” is to console someone, and it involves a physical act of sitting with someone and being prepared to breathe heavily, a physical reaction to someone’s burden, to release a heavy sigh, to feel their trial with them.
That’s what God wants us to do. God calls us to reflect His character of comfort by being a loving and faithful servant to others in their times of need. It will also require us to be humble in our own trials to come and to ask for that same comfort when we need it.
We can trust that our suffering is not in vain, but it serves a purpose: to provide comfort and salvation to others, building in one another the developing patient endurance through trials. Believers are being called to trust in God’s faithfulness and to offer Him the glory for His comforting work in our lives.
If we trust that God is righteous (right) and good, then we can believe the words of David in Psalm 71:19-21 (NKJV), “Also, Your righteousness, O God, is very high (to the height of heaven), You have done great things; O God, who is like You? You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again and bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.”
God’s comfort will surround us in all circumstances.
May we know God’s character of comfort and seek His guidance when trials and suffering come, may we take comfort in these verses I have shared today, and may we continue to search the scriptures for more of His many promises of consolation.
Let’s imagine and feel God’s loving arms and the loving presence of those He sends to literally embrace us. May we always recognize and feel the solace of God’s character as a warm comfort on a cold night.