Comfort for the Sojourner

P.O.P.

When affliction and sin surround us, we are to remember the Lord’s promises for comfort.

Kids

The Lord promises to comfort us and lead us through difficult times.

I. A Prayer of Trust.

The Promise of God

The comfort of God

“There is every reason to ask God to fulfill His promises to His people. How He will do so, and when, may be uncertain, unless He has clearly stated something along those lines, but that He will do so is absolutely certain.”

Jay Adams

Affliction is the Christian’s theologian.

Martin Luther

Assurance makes heavy afflictions light, long afflictions short, bitter afflictions sweet.

Thomas Brooks

“Comfort is desirable at all times; but comfort in affliction is like a lamp in a dark place”

Charles Spurgeon

What other promises could verse 50 be talking about (it is singular) than the hope that God will never forsake us (vs 49 - remember). Not a promise of a better life, more things, easier life...but eternal life in him.

Your afflictions are not lost to God and they are not overlooked by God either. He knows every need and care that you have and he has promised to bring an end to it all. However, the Psalmist does not trust merely in heaven, but in God.

It is quite useless knocking at the door of heaven for earthly comfort; it’s not the sort of comfort they supply there.

C. S. Lewis

2 Corinthians 12:1–10 (ESV)

I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

There is nothing for God to remember if we are not in Christ. Only for those who are in Christ are these promises given.

“Interestingly, the psalmist does not ask for deliverance. He simply asks God to keep his word so that he may obey God’s Word (vv. 51-53) and sing God’s Word (vv. 54-56).”

Danny Akin

II. A Prayer of Holiness.

Facing opposition

Finding comfort

Faithful living

Romans 12:9–21 (ESV)

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

III. A Prayer of Worship.

Worship amidst wondering

Rememberence in weakness

Blessing from faithful walking

Christians are like Israel in the wilderness sojourning toward the Promised Land.

James M. Hamilton, Jr.

Verse 56 - Sermon on the Mount, the balance of blessing with affliction and suffering

“He had this comfort, this remembrance of God, this power to sing, this courage to face the enemy, this hope in the promise, because he had earnestly observed the commands of God, and striven to walk in them. We are not rewarded for our works, but there is a reward in them. Many a comfort is obtainable only by careful living: we can surely say of such consolations, ‘This I had because I kept thy precepts.”

Charles Spurgeon