"Comforters"

“Comforters”

I’ve previously written about my devotional readings from Scripture in “Journaling”. As of now I’ve come to First Chronicles, which begins with nine chapters of genealogies complete with jaw-breaking names of people, most of which I didn’t recognize (more are found in later chapters). I have to admit this isn’t the most exciting portion of God’s Word but as I’ve asked Him to show me practical lessons for my life He’s done it. Now it’s up to me what to do with them.

Today is one of those times described in my last posting (“What to Write”) that a thought and article came on the same day. 1 Chronicles 7:22 says, “…Ephraim mourned for (his two sons) many days, and his relatives came to comfort him.” Compare the compassion of his family members with the actions of Job’s friends who “…met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.” (Job 2:11). The same Hebrew word, meaning to feel sorrow or pity for another, is used in both passages. In Ephraim’s case the context indicates his comforters were helpful to him in coping with his losses, but with Job “comfort” took the form of accusations and judgment over presumed “hidden sin” in his life. Which fulfilled Solomon’s wise statement, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)?

My work at the hospital is intended to bring encouragement, hope and comfort to patients and families. (As I was preparing to start this piece I got a call to see a lady who was injured in a motorcycle crash in which her husband of 38 years died.) When I’m paged for an emergency I often don’t know what I’ll encounter when I arrive in the room. But God has been faithful in giving wisdom far beyond what I have in myself.

After this morning’s reading and this afternoon’s visit I must ask myself: What kind of comforter am I? Do I more resemble Ephraim’s family or Job’s friends? I pray I’ll be a comforter who “(Carries another’s) burdens, and in this way…(fulfills) the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2).

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan