Sovereignty and Comfort

[ITS]

God's sovereignty is usually tied to His judgement. Isaiah also ties it to His comfort. How do His sovereignty and comfort fit? Answer an objection that might arise.

[Susanna Ho]

Isaiah ties God?s sovereignty to His comfort and he prophesied that a remnant who confesses their sins will be saved. God?s is sovereign and He is righteous. He will judge and punish sinners. At the same time, as our creator and Father, He sets out a salvation plan to save us from eternal condemnation. So there is hope and comfort for the sinners. However, even though all sinners will face His sovereignty in judgment of sins, His comfort is not for all the sinners. Only those contrite in heart and repentant of their sins will be saved.

by Susanna Ho

[ddjunker]

Isaiah ties God?s sovereignty to His comfort and he prophesied that a remnant who confesses their sins will be saved. God?s is sovereign and He is righteous. He will judge and punish sinners. At the same time, as our creator and Father, He sets out a salvation plan to save us from eternal condemnation. So there is hope and comfort for the sinners. However, even though all sinners will face His sovereignty in judgment of sins, His comfort is not for all the sinners. Only those contrite in heart and repentant of their sins will be saved.

by Susanna Ho

While what is posted here is true enough, it only touches on answering the question. Yes, as sovereign, God judges and punishes sinners as well as saving those contrite in heart, but the issue is how that sovereignty can be so closely tied to comfort. I find the answer in the surety of His plans. While anyone remaining in rebellion has reason to fear because of God's sovereignty enabling Him to carry out His just judgments, those who do flee to Him for forgiveness and safety can be just as assured that He is able to deliver them. Only a God that is completely sovereign, rather than contending with an equal, or even a first among equals, can guarantee salvation.

The primary objection I see raised about this is, "If God is good, sovereign, and created us, why would He destroy anyone?" The answer is simply that we have not remained good, and a truly good sovereign will not allow evil to continue without end, but will save those that are willing to return to God's good way while eliminating those who refuse.

[braunberger]

God?s sovereignty is connected to comfort because it includes the eternal plan of God. It was God?s plan to bless His people and to provide peace, security, and comfort for them. Yet in Israel?s sin, God brought judgment upon them to purify them for His name?s sake. God?s sovereignty is connected to comfort, because of His covenant with Israel. Even though God had to send judgment for a time, He did not desert them. It is still God?s eternal plan to restore, heal, and comfort his people. Even though man may fail God, God will remain faithful to His promises and eternal plans.

[braunberger]

Isaiah ties God?s sovereignty to His comfort and he prophesied that a remnant who confesses their sins will be saved. God?s is sovereign and He is righteous. He will judge and punish sinners. At the same time, as our creator and Father, He sets out a salvation plan to save us from eternal condemnation. So there is hope and comfort for the sinners. However, even though all sinners will face His sovereignty in judgment of sins, His comfort is not for all the sinners. Only those contrite in heart and repentant of their sins will be saved.

by Susanna Ho

I think this comment is good and I would agree with it, but I don't know if she really addressed the issue of sovereignty. In God's sovereignty, He can do whatever He chooses, yet He is faithful to honor His promises and His covenant. So while this comment explained that God has a plan of salvation and it is open to sinners that repent, she did not deal with God's eternal plans. Even though Israel sinned, God extended his comfort after their time of judgment and exile because of his eternal plans that are beyond our comprehension. As Isaiah says, His thoughts and ways are higher than ours.

[Roseanne Candell]

God's sovereignty ties into both His judgment and His comfort. Unbelieving Israel worshiped false gods and trusted in other nations. Instead, Israel should have trusted in the Lord. Since He is sovereign, He will judge those who do not trust in Him. However, He also gives hope to those who trust in Him. He provides comfort for the godly remnant. Although believers may experience hardship along with unbelievers, those who are believers do not go through their trials alone, and one day they will be with the Lord and will have no more pain.

[Roseanne Candell]

I appreciate Susanna Ho's explanation. Susanna explains that the repentant and contrite in heart will be saved. I agree with Susanna; the Lord knows the heart. He looks at the heart. Those who are not humble and who do not look to the Lord for salvation do not have hope. I also agree with Susanna that God is just. Since He is a just God, He cannot tolerate sin. He will judge those who do not repent of their sins. I also appreciate Susanna's mentioning that God is our heavenly Father. He is just, and He is loving. He cares for His children, and He provides them with hope of eternal life with Him. I am thankful for His salvation plan.

[danielwalker1]

God's sovereignty is usually tied to His judgement. Isaiah also ties it to His comfort. How do His sovereignty and comfort fit? Answer an objection that might arise. The Book of Isaiah is the perfect book in which these two subjects might be synthesized. God is proven soverign over all His creation with His display of power in the book. The use of predictive prophecy and the controling of nations and their leaders showcases these truths. We generally view this sovereignty in terms of retribution and judgment, but this book also illustrates His ability to bring comfort to those in His care. In essence, His sovereignty, judgment, and comfort are all intermingled. I believe that He employes these instruments to bring about a desired response on the part of the persons in which He targets.
The one who refuses to adhere to these efforts will be doomed to divine judgement.

[danielwalker1]

Isaiah ties God?s sovereignty to His comfort and he prophesied that a remnant who confesses their sins will be saved. God?s is sovereign and He is righteous. He will judge and punish sinners. At the same time, as our creator and Father, He sets out a salvation plan to save us from eternal condemnation. So there is hope and comfort for the sinners. However, even though all sinners will face His sovereignty in judgment of sins, His comfort is not for all the sinners. Only those contrite in heart and repentant of their sins will be saved.

by Susanna Ho I believe the greatest portion of this response is true, but I would also add that God uses comfort as one of the instruments in His soverign work to bring about righteousness. The book of Isaiah shows that God brings comfort through prophecy and deed to a people who have yet became righteous. I see this as Him,God, wielding different weapons at his disposal to secure His desired outcome. Yes, comfort will ultimately be fulfilled in Christ, but comfort is also a tool.

[Barbara Irvine]

The holiness of our heavenly Father had to be satisfied for his children to return to Him and to be found in His perfect and spotless image. Nothing in human effort could accomplish this; the chastisement, therefore, for our sins fell upon Jesus, His only begotten Son. Only God, Himself, could take sin to the cross to be justified before the Godhead; this is the eternal effort of God to reconcile mankind to Himself.
The sovereignty of God and the love of God are irreversibly and everlastingly united at Calvary. The supreme act of love of the Father is to chasten the child He loves; this atonement for sin hung on a cruel cross once and for all. God made the decision to reconcile the world to Himself even before the world began because of His omniscience in foreknowing what His creation would do. In His omnipotence, the fullness of the Godhead bodily was born to bear the iniquities of us all as prophecized in Isaiah 53. Transcending time and eternity, Jesus came. In the omnipresent immanence of God, the Holy Spirit continues to lead believers to this Truth. God planned the sacrifice, became the sacrifice and receives the sacrifice. No other plan could work for the fulfillment of our LORD's purpose.
In the midst of sovereignty, God allows choice and desires love in response. Elohim longs for our faith and prayers. He works in our lives in ways we cannot imagine. The supreme, eternal God, who is the Alpha the Omega and the King of Kings, has judged the value of His creation to be worth saving by the blood sacrifice of the only Worthy One. The sovereign, majestic God, the mysterium tremendum, became the servant of all humanity. Jesus cried out in Gethsemane,"not My will but thine, O God." And yet, in Hebrews 1, God the Father addresses God the Son as the Righteous God. Isaiah 9 unites the Godhead by prophesizing the greatness of the coming Messiah; He is also addressed as ' Holy Father. Isaiah 55 tells us of this love for us "My ways are higher that your ways, my thoughts are higher that your thoughts. I have good thoughts toward you, to bring you to an expected end." Only a sovereign God can
be resurrected and say to His creation that "by the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, you also shall be raised."
In Summary, God chastens His children for His sovereign holiness to be justified and to present them to Himself spotless and without blame. This is the overcoming church. Jesus said: "be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Sovereign God, alone, knows the beginning from the end. The believer will be judged for rewards at the Bema Judgement Seat of Christ; the five crowns will be laid at the feet of Jesus. This is called the First Resurrection. Almighty God will also judge the sinner at the Great White Throne Judgement at the end of the Milennium and before the eternal ages. These are sovereign acts of the One True God.

[Barbara Irvine]

This is submitted to complete my comments to answer the question:
God's sovereignty is usually tied to His judgement. Isaiah also ties it to His comfort. How do His sovereignty and comfort fit?
Comfort comes from the Paraclete, who is God's Holy Spirit, that walks alongside of the believer and who was sent as the Comforter after Jesus was resurrected and ascended to the Father. The Holy Spirit does lead the believer into all truth and guides and counsels with divine wisdom. In Isaiah, the Messiah is said to have the Spirit of counsel and might and the government is upon His shoulders. In a court of law, the forensic word for redemption means that He paid the price for our freedom. In the midst of redemption, the sacrifice was made; this cost God everything. Judgement for sin was made.
The believing child of God, during his journey is often chastened by his sovereign LORD; ultimately each time this happens, it is intended to bring him closer to the perfect will of God for his life. God comforts his child along the way. He has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." He will never leave us comfortless. In the day of Isaiah and during the chastening that God brought upon his chosen people, Israel, they cried out for the consolation of the ages. . . for their Messiah. All alleviation of grief and promises and hopes to be fulfilled were to be in the Messiah. He would be eternal life for all mankind, a soothing solace in the midst of persecution. Yet, He was rejected by His own. Jesus is the suffering Savior in Isaiah 53; the greatest travisty of justice was seen on Golgatha hill, and yet, for this sacrifice came the great victory over sin and death. The greatest pain for the greatest reward was met at once.
This suffering by the sovereign God for sinful flesh came with the plea for repentance from the forerunner.
Prophecy foretells that which could not be seen by the prophet. The rivers of living water that would heal the nations will pour forth from the throne of God. The peace and the comfort, that is not as the world gives, is still yet to come. Jesus has paid the price. God is still patient for the redemption of the whole world. His mercy and His grace are not deminished. "Though the vision (the promise) tarries it will come."

[Barbara Irvine]

This reply is to Daniel Walker's comments concerning God's sovereignty as being tied to his judgment, and how God's comfort is related to this. The answer used the word "synthesis;" this very nicely dovetails the apparent extremes of "judgment and comfort." To know the heart of God, is to know love. "Father knows best." Very often, His chastening carries with it the amazing ultimate forgiveness. Another word, "intermingling" satisfies and explains these two extremes. They cannot really be separated. The child that is chastened only needs to yield to fall into the arms of the Father and find freedom. The writer in this response used the idea of "God using instruments to bring about results in one He targets." This analogy perhaps needed a full explanation, in that God's instruments may be misunderstood by the casual reader. As students of the Word, we know them to be pain, disease, loss, loneliness, etc. Indeed, it is the recipient that determines the outcome. To say it is "one He targets" requires more of an explanation of the foreknowledge and predestination aspects of Almighty God. Sovereignty includes the omnicience, omnipotence and omnipresence of God. To say he "target,s" might leave one confused as to the motives of God. To be wider and more inclusive in explaining the destiny of the repentent would more succinctly explain God's reasons for His actions. We know that all things work together for good; we know He is a good God. We know that God is eternally love.

[aljames]

God's sovereignty is usually tied to His judgement. Isaiah also ties it to His comfort. How do His sovereignty and comfort fit? Answer an objection that might arise.

God's Sovereignty and comfort goes hand in hand. In view of His Sovereignty, He is the Creator who made all things therefore He has power over all things He created. He is in charge of the destinies of men. God refers to Cyrus as being the servant he raised up who would do His purpose by delivering Judah out of captivity. Back in Exodus, God raised up Pharoah for His purpose to demonstrate His power before the Israelites. This could cause an issue, as many would say that Pharoah was a ginea pig. God raised him up to doom him. Some would even question God's character based on His dealing with Pharoah. But in looking at Pharoah's rebellious heart, we must take God's foreknowledge into view. God knew Pharoah's heart from the very start. Pharoah proudly declared, "Who is God? I know not God." He did not want to serve the God of Israel.

In thinking of God's comfort we think of how God punished Judah with the exile in order that they might turn back to Him. When the people cried out because of their oppressors, God sent prophets to bring a message of comfort. In Isaiah, Isaiah spoke both Messages of Judgment as well as Comfort. God who is Sovereign, will judge sin but through His rich mercies He will bring comfort to His people. Though He allows their sufferings, He will ultimately give them peace and rest. This is what sets our God apart from the nations' gods: Our God not only exercise His limitless power over His subjects but He also exercises His awesome love and mercy over those same people.

[aljames]

Isaiah ties God?s sovereignty to His comfort and he prophesied that a remnant who confesses their sins will be saved. God?s is sovereign and He is righteous. He will judge and punish sinners. At the same time, as our creator and Father, He sets out a salvation plan to save us from eternal condemnation. So there is hope and comfort for the sinners. However, even though all sinners will face His sovereignty in judgment of sins, His comfort is not for all the sinners. Only those contrite in heart and repentant of their sins will be saved.

by Susanna Ho I believe the greatest portion of this response is true, but I would also add that God uses comfort as one of the instruments in His soverign work to bring about righteousness. The book of Isaiah shows that God brings comfort through prophecy and deed to a people who have yet became righteous. I see this as Him,God, wielding different weapons at his disposal to secure His desired outcome. Yes, comfort will ultimately be fulfilled in Christ, but comfort is also a tool.

I am not sure that I agree with this, Daniel. As I understand the Book of Isaiah, God uses judgment to punish sin as well as purge His people. The purging is what would make His people holy. It seems to me that righteousness preceded the comforting. When His people were purged and they returned to Him in repentance of their sins (a remnant returned), He then comforted them. It also seems that He went as far as comforting them during their suffering.

[jknaggs]

God's sovereignty is usually tied to His judgement. Isaiah also ties it to His comfort. How do His sovereignty and comfort fit? Answer an objection that might arise. I see God's sovereignty as tied to much more than His judgement and comfort. His supremecy is, however, clearly revealed in His appropriate judgement and available comfort. Who but the supreme God of all things would be in a position to be active in both? Does the judge also dispense comfort? Not to the same party. God's judgement leads to comfort. When His children were disobedient, He cautioned them with His judgement that was primarily directed to correct them in their ways. In this scenario, He then applies the comfort and peace and blessing as they respond in righteousness. This is His natural goal and hope for all. The judgement sets the parameters. The comfort is His heart.

The objection might be that who then pays for the disobedience? Is there not a consequence for such choices? Even if a person or a people changes their ways, what about the sin? Is it erased by the change of behavior? The consequences are often seen in the immediate. He or she who disobeys and disappoints God will suffer the affects of separation from Him. These affects are real, but need not be eternal. The plan of the sovereign God is that He will cover the sin and the guilt by the loving provision of the Messiah who would stand in their place and accept the penalty for all.

[jknaggs]

God's sovereignty is usually tied to His judgement. Isaiah also ties it to His comfort. How do His sovereignty and comfort fit? Answer an objection that might arise.

God's Sovereignty and comfort goes hand in hand. In view of His Sovereignty, He is the Creator who made all things therefore He has power over all things He created. He is in charge of the destinies of men. God refers to Cyrus as being the servant he raised up who would do His purpose by delivering Judah out of captivity. Back in Exodus, God raised up Pharoah for His purpose to demonstrate His power before the Israelites. This could cause an issue, as many would say that Pharoah was a ginea pig. God raised him up to doom him. Some would even question God's character based on His dealing with Pharoah. But in looking at Pharoah's rebellious heart, we must take God's foreknowledge into view. God knew Pharoah's heart from the very start. Pharoah proudly declared, "Who is God? I know not God." He did not want to serve the God of Israel.

In thinking of God's comfort we think of how God punished Judah with the exile in order that they might turn back to Him. When the people cried out because of their oppressors, God sent prophets to bring a message of comfort. In Isaiah, Isaiah spoke both Messages of Judgment as well as Comfort. God who is Sovereign, will judge sin but through His rich mercies He will bring comfort to His people. Though He allows their sufferings, He will ultimately give them peace and rest. This is what sets our God apart from the nations' gods: Our God not only exercise His limitless power over His subjects but He also exercises His awesome love and mercy over those same people.

I very much agree with this good posting. Our sovereign God is all that. A question I would ask is on the role suggested for Pharoah. Sure, God knew his heart as He knows the hearts of all people, but was he used by God for evil? Is this how we describe our loving Lord? "God raised him up to doom him" is a pretty strong statement. Certainly, the sovereign Lord can do what He wants, but I cannot see the scripture that supports God's action taking back the free will of His creation. The line between God's foreknowledge and His negating will becomes delicate and borders on declaring Him to be in fact unjust.

[SCU Prof]

God’s sovereignty is connected to his comfort because he often brings comfort to the seemingly undeserved. Within Isaiah’s context, comfort is bestowed on the remnant during judgment even though their hearts had not truly changed. God proclaims, through his prophet, that he will deliver them for his name’s sake in spite of Judah’s continued ignorance of God. Some may object that God had to bring them out of bondage since they were descendants of Abraham. However, readers can easily see that the Northern Kingdom of Israel was not delivered from their Assyrian exile, though they too were Abraham’s descendants. It is most definitely God’s sovereignty to comfort those he elects.

[spalla]

God's sovereignty is usually tied to His judgement. Isaiah also ties it to His comfort. How do His sovereignty and comfort fit? Answer an objection that might arise.

I agree that people usually talk of God's sovereignty when speaking of judgment and not comfort, but this must be regarded as not quite biblical. Isaiah ties sovereignty to comfort, but which writer of the scriptures doesn't? I think of Habakkuk or Ezekiel and could say the same thing--that they portray a God who is sovereign when he is meting out judgment or consolation.
I suppose an objection that could arise from this is "How can God sovereignly be over my life in every way and punish me for what I've done wrong when he is the one who orders my life?" Without leaping into an endless Arminian/ Calvinist debate, I think I'd have to say that Isaiah shows that when God's people who were created to give him true worship and do justice to one another don't, and they act contrary to their nature as children of God and priests of God, what kind of God would he be to allow them to self destruct and not show them that their actions lead them to an eternal separation from God in Sheol? Isaiah says they are sick from head to toe and they have to stop what they are doing, and so God is going to judge them so they'll figure it out. Judgment and comfort seem to be God's tools in restoring his people to right relationship with him.
M. Spalla

[spalla]

I see God's sovereignty as tied to much more than His judgement and comfort. His supremecy is, however, clearly revealed in His appropriate judgement and available comfort. Who but the supreme God of all things would be in a position to be active in both? Does the judge also dispense comfort? Not to the same party. God's judgement leads to comfort. When His children were disobedient, He cautioned them with His judgement that was primarily directed to correct them in their ways. In this scenario, He then applies the comfort and peace and blessing as they respond in righteousness. This is His natural goal and hope for all. The judgement sets the parameters. The comfort is His heart.

The objection might be that who then pays for the disobedience? Is there not a consequence for such choices? Even if a person or a people changes their ways, what about the sin? Is it erased by the change of behavior? The consequences are often seen in the immediate. He or she who disobeys and disappoints God will suffer the affects of separation from Him. These affects are real, but need not be eternal. The plan of the sovereign God is that He will cover the sin and the guilt by the loving provision of the Messiah who would stand in their place and accept the penalty for all.

I liked what jknaggs had to say about "appropriate judgment and available comfort." God of course can be active in both to the same degree. The Israelites and of course us today are the ones who can determine whether we will see him working as judge or consoler by our own actions. jknaggs points out that hope is the goal; God isn't expereincing dementia when he switches his roles of judgment and consoler. He wants his people to succeed and so as I said before he's using different tools in his toolbox. I know the judgments Israel and the disobedient nations experienced were awful, but it seems like God was trying to give them a taste of the fruits they were sowing that way they wouldn't have to suffer everlasting pain of the sort they never could have imagined. We have to say that God was doing something good for them as he put them in a place to experience the fruits of their sins.

[maphil]

Whereas these two attributes going hand in hand might be difficult for some, I do not have any difficulties combining the two and really am not sure why anyone would. God uses judgments against Israel as a tool of discipline. They are not ultimately lost, but are judged as a way for them to repent and turn back to their Lord. As a parent, I will punish or discipline my child when he does something because I do not want him to do the same thing again. But as a parent, there are many times I will comfort him when gets hurt. I see the same parental activities in God and his dealings with his people.

The common critic of God is "how can a God of love send someone to hell?" The answer is that he is both a loving God and just God. God loves man and desires that no one should perish. However, he cannot allow sin to go unpunished. And thus, if a person doesn't want to apply the vicarious work of Christ upon their life, they must be judged for their sins.

[maphil]

God’s sovereignty is connected to his comfort because he often brings comfort to the seemingly undeserved. Within Isaiah’s context, comfort is bestowed on the remnant during judgment even though their hearts had not truly changed. God proclaims, through his prophet, that he will deliver them for his name’s sake in spite of Judah’s continued ignorance of God. Some may object that God had to bring them out of bondage since they were descendants of Abraham. However, readers can easily see that the Northern Kingdom of Israel was not delivered from their Assyrian exile, though they too were Abraham’s descendants. It is most definitely God’s sovereignty to comfort those he elects.


God is sovereign and it is his divine will to choose who he judges and who he comforts. At the same time, God is faithful to the covenants he makes. God promised Abraham that the land will belong to his descendants forever. Thus, aside from a heart of comfort, God had a duty to bring them back into the land. This is because God has to answer to himself. Because he is true to his word, God has the responsibility to ensure that Israel, despite her captivity, is brought back into the Promised Land. In addition, the 10 northern tribes weren't "lost tribes". In fact many of them returned to the land along with the southern exiles. We know this because the 144,000 witnesses will come from the 12 tribes of Israel in Revelation. Also, Anna the prophetess in the Gospel of Luke comes from the tribe of Asher.

[Jonathan Srock]

God's sovereignty is usually tied to His judgement. Isaiah also ties it to His comfort. How do His sovereignty and comfort fit? Answer an objection that might arise.

As king over all of the universe and time, God's sovereignty has usually been questioned by humanity in the sense of the decisions He makes, such as to judge this nation with that nation. But rarely does humanity complain when God decides to show comfort toward a nation or a people. God's sovereign will is seen positively as His plan to save His people from their own dilemmas, for it was their own sin that placed them in captivity. It was God's desire to free them and to comfort them. God could have decided to leave them in exile and never to have kept the relationship with them, but He sovereignly chose to show grace and mercy and to comfort His people in their return from the exile.

[Jonathan Srock]

God's Sovereignty and comfort goes hand in hand. In view of His Sovereignty, He is the Creator who made all things therefore He has power over all things He created. He is in charge of the destinies of men. God refers to Cyrus as being the servant he raised up who would do His purpose by delivering Judah out of captivity. Back in Exodus, God raised up Pharoah for His purpose to demonstrate His power before the Israelites. This could cause an issue, as many would say that Pharoah was a ginea pig. God raised him up to doom him. Some would even question God's character based on His dealing with Pharoah. But in looking at Pharoah's rebellious heart, we must take God's foreknowledge into view. God knew Pharoah's heart from the very start. Pharoah proudly declared, "Who is God? I know not God." He did not want to serve the God of Israel.

In thinking of God's comfort we think of how God punished Judah with the exile in order that they might turn back to Him. When the people cried out because of their oppressors, God sent prophets to bring a message of comfort. In Isaiah, Isaiah spoke both Messages of Judgment as well as Comfort. God who is Sovereign, will judge sin but through His rich mercies He will bring comfort to His people. Though He allows their sufferings, He will ultimately give them peace and rest. This is what sets our God apart from the nations' gods: Our God not only exercise His limitless power over His subjects but He also exercises His awesome love and mercy over those same people.

This post captures the heart of the matter, that God is a good God who loves. Sometimes His love carries discipline with it and other times His love carries judgment with it. Humans may never understand God's plans and His purposes fully. Paul said that we see in a mirror darkly. We are not always given the reasons the Lord has for what happens to us or to unbelievers. We only seek to know His ways. But we know for sure that His characteristics of goodness and greatness will bring Him to the right decision in every circumstance and we place our faith in His character, and are comforted by that knowledge of His attributes.