“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.” (Isaiah 40:1–2, ESV)
These opening words to the fortieth chapter of Isaiah were first heard in one of the bleakest of moments in Israel’s history. God’s people had suffered through warfare and famine and death. All of these were the direct result of sin. The people had broken commandment after commandment, worshipped the gods of neighboring countries, and broken the law of God. As a result, God stopped protecting them, healing their wounds, watching over their future. Jerusalem was destroyed. The Temple was in ruin. God’s people were led off to a foreign country as slaves. Those who remained in the holy land suffered with hunger, thirst, and more. All this was the result of their sins against Almighty God.
People think that our loving God would not punish sin. They are so convinced of God’s mercy and grace that they think they can get by with anything. I remember a priest from Rome telling me that he knew of people who committed terrible sins, even murder, on Saturday only to come to confession and ask for forgiveness and expect it on Sunday. The theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer denounced many of the Christians of his age for their notions of “cheap grace”. He saw many in 1930’s Nazi Germany who committed grievous sins only to demand God’s grace in return. Don’t you know that when sin abounds, there will come a time when God causes people to suffer “double for their sins” (Isaiah 40:2)?
The words for today from Isaiah 40 were spoken to the people of Israel to bring “comfort” to their suffering. Because of sin, they had suffered “double” punishment (Isaiah 40:2). Our God is loving. Our God is giving. Our God desires grace and mercy and peace. However, there comes a time when God must render judgment for sin. When people do not repent of their sins and turn from their wickedness, God may bring “double” punishment. Woe to anyone who suffers such a thing!
In my decades of ministry, I’ve seen people who suffered greatly for their sins. Some, I might even characterize as suffering double for their sins. I am reminded of a man I met who, in a fit of rage, shot and killed a family member. To this day, he greatly regrets what he did in the heat of the moment. He still is in prison. He wakes up every day knowing he killed a loved one. Many nights he wakes up in a cold sweat with nightmares. His extended family has all but rejected him, causing him to feel alone and isolated. He suffers every moment of his life. He even has a hard time believing God can forgive him.
People are capable of terrible acts. They can be cruel. Their words can cut like a knife. Their actions can be horrific. By way of example, a Hamas terrorist captured a father and son. Reveling in his situation, he tied the two together and burned them alive. And he enjoyed it! Trust me when I say that God does not look kindly upon murder, torture, and the killing of HIS people. I guarantee that terrorist will pay double (or more!) for his sin… and for all eternity. I have no doubts about it.
History has shown that people are capable of terrible sins and horrible acts. In modern times, some people lie to themselves thinking that such atrocities do not occur. What a bunch of lies! Atrocities all over the globe are buried, hidden in shallow graves, swept under the rug. Evil deeds occur regularly with the passing of time. Why? Why haven’t things gotten better? Because human beings are inherently sinful. And this world is tainted with evil and the fallen (John 12:31). Jesus said in Matthew 18, “Woe to the world for temptations to sin!” (Matthew 18:7).
Despite the fallen nature of humanity, God offers love and joy and peace and more to those who are willing to believe. In the scripture for today, God was willing to bring “comfort” to the suffering people, despite their sin. God has never given up on Israel. Until your dying breath, God will have hope that you will give HIM your whole heart and soul! God wants to bring comfort, not judgement. God wants you to know love and peace, not suffering and shame. All it takes is your willingness to place your faith and future in the hands of God while obeying the will of God in Christ.
In Romans 5:8, Paul teaches that “God shows HIS love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” The Heavenly Father sent Jesus to bring love and peace and wholeness to this fallen world. God wants to reach out to you, save you, protect you. God does not desire that people should suffer “double for their sins”. Instead, God desires to send Jesus to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10)!
Be careful about the choices you make in your life. You don’t want to suffer the same fate as the people of Israel in the days of Isaiah! Do you ever want to suffer “double for your sins”? I should say not! But God is the judge. God will determine what lies in your soul. God watches over you not only for our protection but to see whether you obey in faith or wallow in sin. Confess, repent, atone for your sins. God blesses these acts of humility and faith!
In my heart of hearts, I do believe that God sent “double” for the sins of Israel not only to punish their sinfulness but to save their souls. I also believe that God punishes evil in order to bless what is good and holy. God never enjoys the suffering of people. God hates what sin does! God seeks to save. Jesus died to prove God’s desire that humanity should be redeemed and blessed, not cursed and regretful and full of shame.
Out of love of Jesus, is there some sin that weighs heavily on your heart today that needs repentance? Is there someone who is suffering for their sin who needs prayer? Pray for our world! Pray for the lost! Pray for the fallen! You don’t want to witness when God brings a double punishment for sin!
People think that our loving God would not punish sin. They are so convinced of God’s mercy and grace that they think they can get by with anything. I remember a priest from Rome telling me that he knew of people who committed terrible sins, even murder, on Saturday only to come to confession and ask for forgiveness and expect it on Sunday. The theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer denounced many of the Christians of his age for their notions of “cheap grace”. He saw many in 1930’s Nazi Germany who committed grievous sins only to demand God’s grace in return. Don’t you know that when sin abounds, there will come a time when God causes people to suffer “double for their sins” (Isaiah 40:2)?
The words for today from Isaiah 40 were spoken to the people of Israel to bring “comfort” to their suffering. Because of sin, they had suffered “double” punishment (Isaiah 40:2). Our God is loving. Our God is giving. Our God desires grace and mercy and peace. However, there comes a time when God must render judgment for sin. When people do not repent of their sins and turn from their wickedness, God may bring “double” punishment. Woe to anyone who suffers such a thing!
In my decades of ministry, I’ve seen people who suffered greatly for their sins. Some, I might even characterize as suffering double for their sins. I am reminded of a man I met who, in a fit of rage, shot and killed a family member. To this day, he greatly regrets what he did in the heat of the moment. He still is in prison. He wakes up every day knowing he killed a loved one. Many nights he wakes up in a cold sweat with nightmares. His extended family has all but rejected him, causing him to feel alone and isolated. He suffers every moment of his life. He even has a hard time believing God can forgive him.
People are capable of terrible acts. They can be cruel. Their words can cut like a knife. Their actions can be horrific. By way of example, a Hamas terrorist captured a father and son. Reveling in his situation, he tied the two together and burned them alive. And he enjoyed it! Trust me when I say that God does not look kindly upon murder, torture, and the killing of HIS people. I guarantee that terrorist will pay double (or more!) for his sin… and for all eternity. I have no doubts about it.
History has shown that people are capable of terrible sins and horrible acts. In modern times, some people lie to themselves thinking that such atrocities do not occur. What a bunch of lies! Atrocities all over the globe are buried, hidden in shallow graves, swept under the rug. Evil deeds occur regularly with the passing of time. Why? Why haven’t things gotten better? Because human beings are inherently sinful. And this world is tainted with evil and the fallen (John 12:31). Jesus said in Matthew 18, “Woe to the world for temptations to sin!” (Matthew 18:7).
Despite the fallen nature of humanity, God offers love and joy and peace and more to those who are willing to believe. In the scripture for today, God was willing to bring “comfort” to the suffering people, despite their sin. God has never given up on Israel. Until your dying breath, God will have hope that you will give HIM your whole heart and soul! God wants to bring comfort, not judgement. God wants you to know love and peace, not suffering and shame. All it takes is your willingness to place your faith and future in the hands of God while obeying the will of God in Christ.
In Romans 5:8, Paul teaches that “God shows HIS love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” The Heavenly Father sent Jesus to bring love and peace and wholeness to this fallen world. God wants to reach out to you, save you, protect you. God does not desire that people should suffer “double for their sins”. Instead, God desires to send Jesus to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10)!
Be careful about the choices you make in your life. You don’t want to suffer the same fate as the people of Israel in the days of Isaiah! Do you ever want to suffer “double for your sins”? I should say not! But God is the judge. God will determine what lies in your soul. God watches over you not only for our protection but to see whether you obey in faith or wallow in sin. Confess, repent, atone for your sins. God blesses these acts of humility and faith!
In my heart of hearts, I do believe that God sent “double” for the sins of Israel not only to punish their sinfulness but to save their souls. I also believe that God punishes evil in order to bless what is good and holy. God never enjoys the suffering of people. God hates what sin does! God seeks to save. Jesus died to prove God’s desire that humanity should be redeemed and blessed, not cursed and regretful and full of shame.
Out of love of Jesus, is there some sin that weighs heavily on your heart today that needs repentance? Is there someone who is suffering for their sin who needs prayer? Pray for our world! Pray for the lost! Pray for the fallen! You don’t want to witness when God brings a double punishment for sin!