The Comfort of the Scriptures

Romans 15:4, 5 states, "(4) For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (5) Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus."

What is comfort? Collins Concise Dictionary gives us these meanings.

1. (Noun) A state of ease or wellbeing.

2. Relief from affliction, grief etc.

3. A person, thing or event that brings solace or ease.

4. Something that affords physical ease and relaxation

5. (Verb) To soothe; cheer.

6. Bring physical ease to.

Many people have been comforted through the Holy Scriptures. Let's look at verse 4 and take note of the important points in it.

1. Previous Scriptures were written and recorded so that we could learn from them.

2. We learn in continuing patience.

3. We derive comfort from the Scriptures.

4. The results are that we might therefore have hope in God.

It is interesting to observe that the word patience is closely allied to the word comfort in verse 4. We don't often consider that we learn through the patience of the Scriptures. The Greek word hypomone conveys the thoughts of hopeful, constant, enduring patience, or patient continuance [waiting]. And that is the marvellous thing about the Scriptures; they are not a one-time wonder. They are indeed to be studied, learned and applied to our own souls; time and time again.

Do you have a problem in your life? You will get guidance from the Scriptures. Why do you think Psalm 23 is so popular? It is because it provides comfort and hope. The first verse emphatically states, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

"I shall not want" is King David's conviction. As you read through the psalm you get an overwhelming sense of David's trust and confidence in the Lord. David was convinced that whatever came along in his life the Lord was more than equal to it; and would provide whatever David needed for that particular circumstance.

David saw the Lord figuratively as his Shepherd. In Psalm 23:4 David tells us, "...For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me." David's confidence was so strong that in verse 6 of the psalm he declares, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Here is a man that has his sight fixed on not just the here and now; but also eternity in the house of the Lord.

The apostle Peter in his 2nd Epistle speaks about exceedingly great and precious promises given to us by God's divine power.

2 Peter 1:2-4, "(2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you in the knowledge of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, (3) as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, (4) by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

There are many promises to the follower of Christ in the Scriptures. It takes patience and perseverance to find them. They are there for our learning and our comfort.

There is a growing trend in our technological world for instant gratification; but on the other hand there is the problem of an overload of often non-essential information. If you want to derive comfort and hope from the Scriptures you need to slow down and absorb the Scriptures.

My high school Maths teacher had a very good saying which is applicable when reading the Scriptures. "Read, mark, learn and inwardly digest!"

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog www.jon-peasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

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