The Comforter

“But He who comforts the lowly comforted us by the coming of Titus.” (2Corinthians 7:6)

Paul was writing to the Corinthians and meant that when Titus came and gave a good report of the Corinthians, he was comforted. What we are going to focus on is the beginning of that verse. “He Who comforts...” means the Lord Who is known as the comforter. Several Scriptures, including some in Psalms, in the Old Testament prophesy or declare that the Lord will comfort His people.

Jesus taught that those who mourn will be comforted. “Blessed are they that mourn! For they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4) And Jesus gave an example of an actual incident. This was what happened to Lazarus the beggar, not His friend whom Jesus brought back to life. The beggar Lazarus ate the crumbs of the rich man’s table. When they both died. Lazarus was comforted in death by Abraham, and the rich man was tormented. (Luke 16:19-31) Jesus was explaining to His disciples that He would be leaving them, and they would be sorrowful, but that they would see Him again and be comforted. “And therefore you now have sorrow. But I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John16:22) All of us will experience this sorrow before we die because of old age or sickness. But we will be comforted when we see Jesus face to face. When we go to the Father’s house there will be a joy that is unknown here on earth that will more than comfort us from the troubles of earth. “And therefore you now have sorrow. But I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John16:22) It is the Lord Himself Who will comfort us in heaven. “For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will feed them and will lead them to the fountains of living waters. And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17) And it’s mentioned again a second time in Revelation. “And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

At the end of life, it will seem as if death has triumphed over us. But we will be whisked to eternal life with the Lord. We can say then, “O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?" (1Corinthians 15:55) Paul was talking about the rapture when our bodies become incorruptible to meet Jesus in the air. But we can apply this to the liberty from death at the time that our earthly bodies die but we live to eternal life.

In our Scripture, Paul writes that the Lord comforts the lowly. In other translations the word used is the cast down. The Greek word that was used means the depressed, the humiliated in circumstances or humiliated in disposition, the base, the cast down or the humble. The Lord comforts us in those circumstances and shows us how to comfort others in the same situation. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, He comforts us in all our trouble, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in every trouble, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2Corinthians 1:3-4) Our Lord is the God of all comfort, meaning any and in every means and manner. It means always and, in every way, and as many as needed. It means thoroughly and in whatsoever circumstances. It is the complete comfort of spirit and soul (mind, will and emotions).

The Lord sent us the Comforter to be with us always. He’s the Holy Spirit. “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, so that He may be with you forever, the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him nor know Him. But you know Him, for He dwells with you and shall be in you.” (John 14:16-17) Battling the flesh and the world is hard work. We get sucked into giving in to the flesh and taking up the culture of the world easily and without realizing it. Paul in writing to the Thessalonians encouraged them to stand firm. “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, who has loved us and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” (2Thessalonians 2:16-17) Paul mentions that the Lord has given us everlasting consolation. That’s comfort and solace that is eternal and perpetual. This comes from the grace in our lives. In spite of all the hardships and afflictions, we are able to obey the Lord and fulfill His purposes for us.

At last, true comfort which is eternal and lasting comes from the Lord. In any and all circumstances, the Lord’s comfort through the Holy Spirit is available to us. God made it available because He knew we would need it.