God Comforts Believers (5)

In this chapter we will give the fifth way, of the nine I gave in the first chapter, in which God comforts his people. That way says that God comforts by giving means of escape.

Comfort by Finding Means of Escape

"My eyes fail from searching Your word, Saying, “When will You comfort me?” (Psa. 119: 82 nkjv)

The Lord's people often ask, often with a sigh, "Lord, when will you comfort me?" The comfort they desire involves their deliverance from some evil, some trial, some distress, some anxiety. The Psalmist complains that his eyes are failing "from searching" God's word. How many have that problem? Not many I fear. In the popular movie "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" there is a line which is said more than once, by both Ulysses McGill (Clooney) and "Big Dan Teague" (Goodman) about "people looking for answers." McGill says that when people are lined up waiting to be baptized. The Psalmist was also looking for answers, but he was looking for it in the word of God. His eyes were even strained by long searching. He was not like some professing Christians who superstitiously look for biblical answers by saying -- "I am going to open the bible and the first verse I see jumping out at me will be my answer." No, the psalmist made a "diligent search" (Psa. 77: 6) of the word of God and for answers to his problems. That was the right place to look. Oddly however, he found no answer by his search. I am sure that many of God's people know about this frustration.

God comforts his people at the time and manner of his choosing and the Christian needs to keep this in mind and should never say, as some do, "well, Lord, it's too late now." Why? Because Father knows best. In commenting on this Psalm, John Gill wrote the following in his commentary:

"The people of God are sometimes very disconsolate, and need comforting, through the prevalence of sin, the power of Satan's temptations, the hidings of God's face, and a variety of afflictions; when they apply to God for comfort, who only can comfort them, and who has his set times to do it; but they are apt to think it long, and inquire, as David here, when it will be."

Notice what the apostle Paul said:

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (I Cor. 10: 13 nkjv)

In the above text the words "way of escape" are from a singular Greek word, ekbasis. It is a combination of "ek" and "basis" the former meaning "out of," exit, egress, and the latter denoting a movement of the feet, so together they mean to walk out of, or to escape, some trial or difficulty. The word ekbasis is used only two times in the new testament, the other place is translated by the word "end" in Hebrews 13: 7, which is interesting. The word "basis" is only used once and is translated by the word "feet" (Acts 3: 7). The Lord's people get themselves into tight spots often and the Lord gives them ways to walk out of them. Interesting too is the fact that McGill in the above cited movie often said "we are in a tight spot." 

Though the word "comfort" or it cognates are not in the above text, yet it is surely implied, for it deals with ways of escaping temptations (which includes trying times) and with being made "able to bear" those hard times. Recall our definition of comfort in the first chapter, how it means to strengthen, and the Greek word for comfort was "paraklēsis," and the Greek word for the word "comforter" or "advocate" is "paraklētos." In I John 2: 1 "paraklētos" is translated by the word "advocate." Jesus is both a comforter and an advocate, and a helper too. They are compound words, made up of "para" and "klēsis," the former meaning "alongside" and the latter meaning "to call," thus giving the meaning of "to call to one's side" another person to help you. It literally means a person being helped, strengthened, or aided, by another person coming alongside that person in order to give strength, counsel, consolation, emotional support, etc. Some translations actually give "helper" as an English translation of "paraklētos."

Such is God, Father, Son (who is also Christ Jesus), and Holy Spirit. They walk with the Christian, always standing at his or her side, to comfort, help, and as an advocate (lawyer). He gives perfect counsel. He knows what you need and when you need it. Many of the psalms say that Yahweh is the Helper of his people. In the new testament the apostle says: "For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

Wrote the Psalmist:

"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." (Psa. 71: 20-21 nkjv)

Here we see God "comforting" by "reviving" and by "bringing up" his servant out of "great and severe troubles." In the Book of Acts Luke records these words:

"Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied." (Acts 9: 31 kjv)

God provided relief by providing the new convert, Saul of Tarsus (who became Paul the apostle), a way out of the hands of those who sought to kill him. In doing so he provided a way of escape for Paul and a way to comfort the churches of Christ. 

God is the chief way of escape when facing trials. He is a place of refuge, the place of escape.