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)
