sorrow and comfort

Proverbs 19

Luke 6

2 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 2

 

Yesterday we studied Genesis 29 in BibleLife, and the focus was on Jacob and Laban, but afterward we were speculating about why God chose to route the lineage of Christ through Leah instead of Rachel.  Perhaps one of the reasons is that Rachel was sort of mixed up in the idolatry of her pagan father, Laban, but Leah seems to have more of a relationship with the LORD.  Also, there is this concept of "sorrow."  The scripture says that God saw Leah's sorrow and opened her womb.  This ties in with what I read this morning in Luke:

The Beatitudes

 20 Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said,

   "God blesses you who are poor,

      for the Kingdom of God is yours.

   21 God blesses you who are hungry now,

      for you will be satisfied.

   God blesses you who weep now,

      for in due time you will laugh.

 22 What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. 23 When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.

Sorrows Foretold

   24 "What sorrow awaits you who are rich,

      for you have your only happiness now.

   25 What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now,

      for a time of awful hunger awaits you.

   What sorrow awaits you who laugh now,

      for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.

   26 What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds,

      for their ancestors also praised false prophets.

It's like we get a choice:  we can be "sorrowful" now and happy later, or we can be "happy" now and sorrowful later.  On that note, Paul indicates a similar concept in regard to suffering (hmmm.... very interesting):

7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don't know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. ... 11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that illuminates reality.  Father, I pray that I will seek to live according to your plan.  Lord, I pray that I will have appropriate sorrow here in this life so that I will experience the joys of obedience in the life to come.  Jesus, thank you for the sorrow and suffering you demonstrated on my behalf.  I pray that I will return glory to you by humbly obeying your Word.  I pray this in the name of Christ Jesus.  Amen.