The
people of Israel were struggling. They had been taken captive by the Babylonians
and forced to live in a country far from home. What could the prophet Isaiah
give these weary people to help them?
He gave
them a prophecy of hope. It was a message from God relating to the promised
Messiah. In Isaiah 50:4, the Savior Himself described the comfort and
consolation He would one day bring: “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of
the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is
weary.”
These
were words of dual comfort—both to the people in exile and to future generations
whose lives would be touched by Jesus’ compassion. In the Gospels we see how
Christ fulfilled the prophecy with “a word in season to him who is weary.” To
the crowds who followed Him, Christ proclaimed: “Come to Me, all you who labor
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). Words of
compassion indeed!
Jesus
left us an example of how to minister to people who have grown weary. Do you
know someone who needs a timely word of encouragement or the listening ear of a
concerned friend? A word of comfort to the weary can go a long way.
Compassion
is needed to heal the hurts of others. (RBC)
