“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’s hand Double for all her sins.”
Isaiah 40:1-2

The first thirty-nine chapters of Isaiah are heavily weighted with judgment. Sure, those chapters were lightly seasoned with comfort an hope, but for the most part, not so much.

Thank God for chapter 40, the dramatic turning point of the writings of Isaiah—that through the end of Isaiah in which comfort and blessing for the glory of God are generously predominant.

Ironically, there are 39 books on the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament for a total of 66 books. This mirrors the reality of so much judgment in the Old Testament followed by the grace of God revealed in Christ in the New Testament.

Reading the OT is good to be reminded that religion—including the God ordained religion of Judaism—can never accomplish for us what Christ has done, is doing, and will do for those who trust in Him.

May our trust be in Christ, and may we be marked by gratitude for the “Comfort, yes, comfort” we have in Christ and in His forgiveness of our sins.

Lessons? God is loving and patient. He meets my needs even when I am unfaithful to Him. Am I in a position therefore to “live it up” since His love is undying? Only if I am a fool and fail to understand His grace.