God is the God of All Comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3), and His Spirit is also called the Comforter, so it makes sense that He also wants those of His house to comfort others as well, being that we have His Spirit. As is usually the case, we can see this more clearly when we look at the words for comfort in the original Hebrew and Greek, along with the verses they’re in. In addition, the word comfort is often tied together in the same verse or passage along with the word “hope.” The unchanging promises for the future restoration of Israel are seen in this, as well.
In Greek, there are several words for comfort:
- G3874 “paraklesis” – Comfort, encouragement, exhortation, consolation
- G3870 “parakaleó” – To call to one’s side, to exhort, to encourage, to comfort, to urge
- G3888 “paramutheomai” – To comfort, to console, to encourage
Of special note in regard to prophecy, there is also a Greek word for comfort which is used only once in the Bible, and it’s G3889 “paramuthia,” meaning comfort, consolation, and encouragement. It’s in 1 Corinthians 14:3 (my notes added):
“But he who prophesies speaks edification (oikodomé: Building, edification, structure) and exhortation (paraklésis: Comfort, encouragement, exhortation, consolation) and comfort (G3889“paramuthia”: Comfort, consolation, encouragement) to men.”
That says there are three main reasons people prophesy: to edify, to exhort to comfort and console, and to comfort! This is what builds us up and holds us together, as we’re like living stones being built up for the spiritual house of the Lord (1 Peter 2:5). As a matter of fact, everything was written in the scriptures to give us hope and comfort:
Romans 15:4-5 “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort (G3874 “paraklesis”) of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort (G3874 “paraklesis”) grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.”
The last sentence above is a prayer that we’d all be like-minded in this with each other, according to Christ Jesus. This is God’s will, and His Spirit, and it means anyone who stands in opposition to this comfort and hope is not agreeing with God’s will, because all of the things He wrote to us were written for this very purpose. In addition, all of the Lord’s prophets agree with this according to the scripture quoted above in 1 Corinthians 14:3, and they only speak what He has said, lest they be false. However, the enemy wants to deceive the people into not agreeing with this, in order to rob us of our comfort, joy, and hope which God has given us. This results in all the warnings we see all throughout the scriptures. Don’t be deceived!
Something else we should note is that without love, we’re nothing but a resounding gong. We can have all of the prophecies, work miracles, speak in tongues of men and angels, and even have all knowledge – but without love, it’s all meaningless (vain). God put it in the 10 commandments (and all throughout the Word) that He doesn’t want us to take His name in vain – He wants us to be fruitful and productive. So then, we look at what the list of what love is includes. Included in the list is that love hopes and endures all things, and it never fails. Faith, hope, and love overcome until the end, these are all that remain, and the greatest is love. So what are we, if we have not hope? As it’s part of love. This is why it’s absolutely vital to our Living God – in order to have life and have it abundantly, we must have those three things (love also protects, but that’s for an upcoming commentary).
In this next short passage alone, the word comfort is used 10 times, indicative of prophecy, especially when tying it in with the verse about what prophecy is (above). Take note that G3780 also means to “call to one’s side” and to “urge.” (My notes included in the following verse):
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (G3874 “Comfort, encouragement, exhortation, consolation”), who comforts (G3870 “called to one’s side, to exhort, to encourage, to comfort, to urge”) us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort (G3870) those who are in any trouble, with the comfort (G3874) with which we ourselves are comforted (G3870) by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation (G3874-comfort) also abounds through Christ.
“Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation (G3874-comfort) and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted (G3870), it is for your consolation (G3874-comfort) and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation (G3874-comfort).
He is pointedly telling us something in that passage, undoubtably more than just what we see on the surface of it. So much of our ability to understand the scriptures has been “lost in translation.” However, the depth and richness of the meaning of each word is now being revealed through the very technology which will be used against those who are not delivered into His Kingdom, but are instead delivered into wrath and destruction. Without looking into the Greek meanings, some might say this says we will have to suffer through the tribulation – but it’s wise to look at everything else He has told us in His Word before we make that hasty (and false) conclusion.
1 Thessalonians 2:11 “as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”
(Luke 11:11 “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?”)
1 Thessalonians 5:14 “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”
In Hebrew, the words for comfort are:
- H5162, “nacham: To comfort, to repent, to relent, to be sorry”
- H5165, “nechamah: Comfort, consolation”
The Hebrew word for “comfort” also means “relent,” which helps us to see the full picture. God doesn’t change His mind, but He does relent.
It’s clear through the verses with these words that Zion will also one day be comforted by the LORD, and He wants us to take part in the comforting, having already been comforted ourselves. We also see that through the Lord, we have salvation and eternal life, and don’t need to be afraid. For those in Christ, this gives us hope of a pre-tribulation salvation and deliverance, because it also means “to relent.” As we’re in hidden in Christ, He has already relented of the judgment we would have otherwise received if we were not covered by Christ’s sacrificial blood.
Psalm 23:4 “Yea, 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 (H5162 – repent/relent/be sorry) me.”
Psalm 135:14 “For the LORD will judge His people, and He will have compassion (H5162 comfort/repent/relent/be sorry) on His servants.”
Psalm 119:76 “Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort (H5162), according to Your word to Your servant. Let Your tender mercies (H7356 compassion) come to me, that I may live; For Your law is my delight.”
We should remember that some of the scriptures will also speak to those who weren’t delivered to the Kingdom of God, who were taken captive by the thief; they’ll find their comfort in them. Upon receiving the LORD, they also will be shown comfort, compassion, and mercy. However, they will face death, and will become tribulation saints (not the bride).
Psalm 106:45 “And for their sake He remembered His covenant, and relented (H5162 comfort) according to the multitude of His mercies. He also made them to be pitied (H7356 shown compassion) by all those who carried them away captive.
Isaiah 51:3 “For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.”
Isaiah 49:13 “Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.”
Salvation is repetitive in this verse:
Isaiah 12:1 “And in that day you will say: ‘O LORD, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort (H5162 – relent) me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
Isaiah 40:1 “’Comfort, yes, comfort My people’ Says your God.”
I believe this next verse is likely a prophetic warning tucked in. I’ve noticed that many times, prophetic verses are specifically not in context. Otherwise, they’d be easy to find. Instead, they seem to be more often grouped with similar words, such as “eternal life” or “comfort” and are there for those who are actively looking. I use NKJV almost exclusively, so this is in NKJV:
2 Samuel 19:7 “Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort (H3820 leb: heart, hearts, mind) to your servants. For I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”
God’s heart, and the mind of Christ, is to comfort, so it makes sense to read it that way. Hebrews 6:13-20 says God swears by Himself because there is no one greater to swear by, and the oath puts an end to all argument:
v.17-20“…Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation (paraklésis: Comfort, encouragement, exhortation, consolation), who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
He doesn’t want us to put fear into people, when Jesus has given us peace and hope through Him. If someone is going to be delivered into wrath, it’s because they chose their king and it wasn’t Him – that’s not His desire.
Isaiah 51:19 “These two things have come to you; Who will be sorry for you?— Desolation and destruction, famine and sword— By whom will I comfort you?”
The glory of the Gentiles will flow like a flowing stream during that Day (comfort is repetitive in v.13):
Isaiah 66:12-13 “For thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; On her sides shall you be carried, and be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.’”
Job 6:10-11 “Then I would still have comfort; Though in anguish I would exult, He will not spare; For I have not concealed the words of the Holy One. ‘What strength do I have, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?’”
Psalm 119:50 “Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.”
All said, this word is one more reason (and a big one, at that!) for the hope that we have. We’re told to always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that we have. Our God is the God of Comfort, our Shepherd’s rod and staff comfort us, and He calls us to His side so we can have life everlasting, so we will not perish or be condemned. Amen!
Blessings,
Angela
The post The Prophetic Word: Comfort My People :: By Angela Scohy appeared first on Rapture Ready.
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