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Comforting Others with God's Sovereignty in Adversity

The Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 1:4, establishes a foundational principle for Christian community: "who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" [1]. This verse highlights that God's comfort in tribulation is not solely for the individual but also equips believers to extend that same comfort to others [1, 2]. This reciprocal nature of comfort is a recurring theme in biblical teaching, emphasizing the communal responsibility of believers to support one another, particularly in times of distress [4].

The concept of God's sovereignty undergirds this comfort, assuring believers that God is actively involved in their circumstances, even amidst suffering. The Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that God is with the afflicted, serving as a refuge and strength, and actively comforts, preserves, and delivers them [3]. This divine presence is not passive; rather, God's compassion is a motive for believers to show sympathy and support to those who are suffering [6]. John Gill, commenting on Zephaniah 3:17, emphasizes that Christ "is in the midst of" his people, providing support, supply, assistance, strength, protection, and defense, which serves as an "antidote against those fears and faintings they are subject to" [11]. This active, indwelling presence of God is a source of profound comfort, assuring believers that they are not abandoned in their trials.

Comforting others with God's sovereignty involves acknowledging that God's plan and purposes are at work, even when circumstances are difficult or painful. Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Isaiah 54:11, observes that God promises to restore his people to prosperity, even greater than before, following their humiliation. This reflects the belief that suffering can precede exaltation, mirroring Christ's own experience [12]. Similarly, Gill notes on Isaiah 40:1 that the prophecy of comfort for God's people, following the prediction of the Babylonian captivity, points to a deliverance that ultimately finds its clearest expression in the redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ [16]. This perspective encourages believers to view adversity not as an end, but as a part of a larger divine narrative that culminates in restoration and salvation.

The comfort God provides is often described as deeply personal and tender. Isaiah 66:13 states, "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you" [13]. Gill interprets this verse to mean that while ordinances and ministers can be instruments of comfort, God himself is the ultimate source. He highlights the wonder of God, an "immense and infinite Being," condescending to administer comfort to those who are "dust and ashes" and have sinned against him [13]. This intimate and compassionate comfort from God empowers believers to then offer similar solace to others.

The duty to comfort the afflicted is explicitly outlined in scripture. Beyond praying for them, believers are called to sympathize, pity, bear them in mind, visit them, relieve them, and protect them [4]. This active engagement reflects the communion with God that believers are called to exercise towards the afflicted [6]. Job, despite his own suffering, expresses a desire to strengthen others with his words, indicating that comfort can be conveyed through verbal encouragement and support [14]. This aligns with the idea that God strengthens his people with "good and comfortable words," and that one saint can strengthen another in distress [14].

The sovereignty of God in adversity also implies that God uses trials for specific purposes, often to draw believers closer to Him and to refine their faith. The Torrey's Topical Textbook lists various reasons for praise, including God's majesty, glory, excellency, greatness, holiness, wisdom, power, goodness, mercy, and loving-kindness [5]. Even in affliction, the ability to praise God stems from an understanding of His unchanging character and sovereign control. The joy of God over His people, described in Zephaniah 3:17, is linked to their repentance, faith, fear of Him, prayer, hope in His mercy, meekness, and uprightness [7]. These qualities are often cultivated and deepened through experiences of adversity, demonstrating God's sovereign hand in shaping His people.

Thanksgiving is another response to God's sovereignty in adversity. Christ himself set an example of thanksgiving, and believers are commanded to offer thanksgiving to God in all circumstances [8]. This practice, even amidst hardship, acknowledges God's ultimate control and goodness. The heavenly host is depicted as engaged in thanksgiving, further emphasizing its importance [8]. Offering thanksgiving through Christ and in His name is presented as acceptable worship [8].

The historical and theological understanding of comforting others with God's sovereignty has been a consistent thread in Christian thought. Early Jewish writings, such as Josephus's Antiquities of the Jews, illustrate leaders offering "consolatory speech" to their people during times of misfortune and distress, encouraging them with promises of deliverance despite overwhelming odds [9, 10]. This historical precedent demonstrates a long-standing recognition of the need for leaders and communities to provide comfort rooted in a larger hope or divine intervention.

Matthew Henry's commentary on Psalm 138:6 further elaborates on God's disposition towards His people in their low condition: "Though the Lord be high, and neither needs any of his creatures nor can be benefited by them, yet has he respect unto the lowly, smiles upon them as well pleased with them, overlooks heaven and earth to cast a gracious look upon them" [15]. This perspective underscores that God's sovereignty does not imply detachment but rather an active, compassionate engagement with those who humble themselves before Him, offering comfort and ultimately honoring them [15]. This divine regard for the humble provides a powerful basis for believers to extend comfort to one another, knowing that God himself is attentive to the suffering.

Sources

  1. 2 Corinthians “who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. -- 2 Corinthians 1:4”
  2. II Corinthians “II Corinthians 1:4 (KJV) — Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted, Duty Toward The — To pray for them -- Ac 12:5; Php 1:16,19; Jas 5:14-16. To sympathise with them -- Ro 12:15; Ga 6:2. To pity them -- Job 6:14. To bear them in mind -- Heb 13:3. To visit them -- Jas 1:27. To comfort them -- Job 16:5; 29:25; 2Co 1:4; 1Th 4:18. To relieve them -- Job 31:19,20; Isa 58:10; Php 4:14; 1Ti 5:10. To protect them -- Ps 82:3; Pr 22:22; 31:5.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Praise — God is worthy of -- 2Sa 22:4. Christ is worthy of -- Re 5:12. God is glorified by -- Ps 22:23; 50:23. Offered to Christ -- Joh 12:13. Acceptable through Christ -- Heb 13:15. Is due to God on account of His majesty. -- Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14. His glory. -- Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12. His excellency. -- Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13. His greatness. -- 1Ch 16:25; Ps 145:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3. His wisdom. -- Da 2:20; Jude 1:25. His power. -- Ps 21:13. His goodness. -- Ps 107:8; 118:1; 136:1; Jer 33:11. His mercy. -- 2Ch 20:21; Ps 89:1; 118:1-4; 136:1-26. His loving-k”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion With God — Christ set an example of -- Lu 19:41,42. Exhortation to -- Ro 12:15; 1Pe 3:8. Exercise towards The afflicted. -- Job 6:14; Heb 13:3. The chastened. -- Isa 22:4; Jer 9:1. Enemies. -- Ps 35:13. The poor. -- Pr 19:17. The weak. -- 2Co 11:29; Ga 6:2. Saints. -- 1Co 12:25,26. Inseparable from love to God -- 1Jo 3:17; Joh 4:20. Motives to The compassion of God. -- Mt 13:27,33. The sense of our infirmities. -- Heb 5:2. The wicked made to feel, for saints -- Ps 106:46. Promise to those who show -- Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42. Illustrated -- Lu 10:33; 15:20. Exemp”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Joy of God Over His People, The — Greatness of, described -- Zep 3:17. On account of their Repentance. -- Lu 15:7,10. Faith. -- Heb 11:5,6. Fear of him. -- Ps 147:11. Praying to him. -- Pr 15:8. Hope in his mercy. -- Ps 147:11. Meekness. -- Ps 149:4. Uprightness. -- 1Ch 29:17; Pr 11:20. Leads to him Prosper them. -- De 30:9. Do them good. -- De 28:63; Jer 32:41. Deliver them. -- 2Sa 22:20. Comfort them. -- Isa 65:19. Give them the inheritance. -- Nu 14:8. Illustrated -- Isa 62:5; Lu 15:23,24. Exemplified Solomon. -- 1Ki 10:9.”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Thanksgiving — Christ set an example of -- Mt 11:25; 26:27; Joh 6:11; 11:41. The heavenly host engaged in -- Re 4:9; 7:11,12; 11:16,17. Commanded -- Ps 50:14; Php 4:6. Is a good thing -- Ps 92:1. Should be offered To God. -- Ps 50:14. To Christ. -- 1Ti 1:12. Through Christ. -- Ro 1:8; Col 3:17; Heb 13:15. In the name of Christ. -- Eph 5:20. In behalf of ministers. -- 2Co 1:11. In private worship. -- Da 6:10. In public worship. -- Ps 35:18. In everything. -- 1Th 5:18. Upon the completion of great undertakings. -- Ne 12:31,40. Before taking food. -- Joh 6:11; Ac 27:35.”
  9. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 5, section 4: to encourage and embolden some of the better sort beforehand, and then ventured to make a speech to the multitude, which he had before avoided to do, lest he should find them uneasy thereat, because of the misfortunes which had happened; so he made a consolatory speech to the multitude, in the manner following: 3. "You are not unacquainted, my fellow soldiers, that we have had, not long since, many accidents that have put a stop to what we are about, and it is probable that even those that are most distinguished above others for ”
  10. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 15, section 3: of their freedom; and this so far, that their incredulity prompted them to throw stones at the prophet, while he encouraged them and promised them deliverance; and they resolved that they would deliver themselves up to the Egyptians. So there was sorrow and lamentation among the women and children, who had nothing but destruction before their eyes, while they were encompassed with mountains, the sea, and their enemies, and discerned no way of flying from them. 5. But Moses, though the multitude looked fiercely at him, did not, h”
  11. Zephaniah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Zephaniah 3:17: The Lord thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty Every word carries in it something very encouraging to the church and people of God; and is an antidote against those fears and faintings they are subject to; Christ "is in the midst of" them; near at hand to support and supply them, to assist and strengthen them, to protect and defend them; he is not only near by his essential presence, which is everywhere; and by his providential presence, which is concerned with all his creatures; but by his gracious presence, peculiar to his church and people; and which gives th”
  12. Isaiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Isaiah 54:11: Very precious promises are here made to the church in her low condition, that God would not only continue his love to his people under their troubles as before, but that he would restore them to their former prosperity, nay, that he would raise them to greater prosperity than any they had yet enjoyed. In the foregoing chapter we had the humiliation and exaltation of Christ; here we have the humiliation and exaltation of the church; for, if we suffer with him, we shall reign with him. Observe, I. The distressed state the church is here reduced to by the providence”
  13. Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 66:13: As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you,.... Though ordinances are means, and ministers are instruments of comfort, God is the sole efficient cause of it; and very wonderful it is that he should condescend to administer it, since he is an immense and infinite Being, the high and lofty One, possessed of all perfections, and yet deigns to revive the spirit of the humble and contrite; since he is the Maker of heaven and earth, and all things, and those he comforts are dust and ashes; and especially since they have sinned against him, and rendered themse”
  14. Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 16:4: But I would strengthen you with my mouth,.... Comfort them with the words of his mouth; so God strengthens his people with strength in their souls, when he answers them with good and comfortable words; an angel strengthened Christ as man when in an agony, comforting him, suggesting comfortable things to him; so one saint may strengthen and comfort another when in distress, whether of soul or body; see Psa 138:3; and thus Job had strengthened and comforted others, with his words in former times, as Eliphaz himself owns, Job 4:3 and so he would again, were there a change i”
  15. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 138:6: David here comforts himself with three things: - I. The favour God bears to his humble people (Psa 138:6): Though the Lord be high, and neither needs any of his creatures nor can be benefited by them, yet has he respect unto the lowly, smiles upon them as well pleased with them, overlooks heaven and earth to cast a gracious look upon them (Isa 57:15; Isa 66:1), and, sooner or later, he will put honour upon them, while he knows the proud afar off, knows them, but disowns them and rejects them, how proudly soever they pretend to his favour. Dr. Hammond makes this ”
  16. Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 40:1: Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. The Babylonish captivity being predicted in the preceding chapter, for the comfort of God's people a deliverance is promised, expressed in such terms, as in the clearest and strongest manner to set forth the redemption and salvation by Jesus Christ, of which it was typical. Here begins the more evangelical and spiritual part of this prophecy, which reaches to and includes the whole Gospel dispensation, from the coming of John the Baptist to the second coming of Christ. It begins with comforts, and holds on and ends wit”
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