The Comfort Of God
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"Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God. "Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins." (Isaiah 40:1 NASV).

The Biblical Counselor offers the comfort of God. He bears witness to God's lovingkindness and tender mercy. Because the wrath of God toward sin has been satisfied in Christ, now comfort, mercy, kindness, and compassion are available.

He entreats his client to end his warfare with God. He urges him to put away unbelief, disobedience, and resistance to God's will and purposes. He says, "God is establishing peace with you. The turmoil of your life can now stop.

God brings this comfort in Christ Jesus through confession of sin and turning to God in faith and obedience. Iniquity is dealt with; God's justice is satisfied; His comfort is given.

When Isaiah says that Jerusalem has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins, he refers to a practice of folding over in two the written certificate of a person's indebtedness once the debt has been paid. The certificate was then nailed to a door as public testimony of freedom from debt.

This is a metaphor of redemption through the blood of Christ; God Himself provided payment to purchase us out of the destruction and brokenness which comes because of sin. He opened the door for us to come in. The counselor invites the client to enter.

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