the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Voice of the Lord
I, even I, am He who comforts you (Isaiah 51:12 NKJV).
These words open the fourth of seven Haftarot (portions from the Prophets) of consolation— passages from Isaiah that accompany the weekly Torah readings following Tish'ah Be'Av (the 9th of Av). Tish'ah Be'Av symbolizes Israel's exile in all its bitterness and loss. Now it is time to restore hope and receive encouragement from God.
The Lord says anochi, anochi (I, even I) to underline the fact that he will personally comfort his people. This exact Hebrew phrase is unusual in Scripture, appearing only here and in two other passages where such strong emphasis is required: "I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior" (Isaiah 43:11 NKJV), and "I, even I, am He Who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25 NKJV). All three of these encouraging and consoling passages speak of God's personal comfort, expressed through mercy, salvation, and forgiveness.
The Lord has many concerns, but here is one area in which he deeply invests himself—saving and comforting his people.
...not look to impersonal things or theories to comfort me in my trials, but to Messiah himself.
RR
The Voice of the Lord, Copyright © 1998 by the Lewis and Harriet Lederer Foundation, Inc. Published by Messianic Jewish Publishers, Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources, www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved. Used by permission. No part of this article may be reproduced in print or on the web, or transmitted in any form, without the written permission of the publisher.
