Editorial September 16, 1922 Issue

"Comfort ye my people"

Albert F. Gilmore

To the holy men of ancient time the voice of God came in certain and audible messages, conveying wise admonitions for the guidance of the obedient among His chosen people, and equally strong rebuke and condemnation for the transgressor of His commands. So convinced were the people of the source, authenticity, and accuracy of these messages that they became accustomed to obey them, even though it was with fear and trembling. Perhaps no one of the major prophets of the Old Testament spoke with greater authority and assurance than Isaiah; and, accordingly, his words as God's messenger were pondered and accepted to a degree unknown to moderns less religiously inclined. Possessed of the hearing ear and the understanding heart, the children of Israel interpreted these communications as God's directions to His people to guide them in their wanderings, bringing victory in the hour of strife, comfort in the time of sorrow. "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God," was Isaiah's interpretation of God's word to him in assurance to Jerusalem "that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned." The prophet manifestly voiced this message of good cheer as a proof of God's love and care for His children, following it immediately with a prophecy of the coming of Christ's eternal reign.

The etymology of the word "comfort" is of special interest in the light of this message. Its Latin root-word signifies strength. When used as a verb, it came to mean "to make strong;" and, later, it took on as its most common significance the meaning "to relieve of mental distress." This latter meaning finds excellent exemplification in the passage from II Corinthians 1:4, which reads, "that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." Here, manifestly, "comfort" signifies relief from mental distress through the understanding and application of the truth about God, man, and the universe,—that is, through the ministration of the healing and redemptive Christ. In view of this, Isaiah's message, as quoted above, was indeed big with possibility.

A highly important office performed by Christian Science for its students is the restoration of the assurance of God's care, and establishment of the firm conviction that to-day His messages of love, comfort, and good cheer are heard as distinctly, and are as worthy of acceptance and obedience, as in the ancient days. In proof of this position, Christian Scientists offer the experience of Mrs. Eddy herself, and her conclusive statements regarding this question. Not through the agency of the personal senses are these messages received, but through spiritual receptivity, intuition, faith, and hope. In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 581), Mrs. Eddy defines "angels" as "God's thoughts passing to man; spiritual intuitions, pureand perfect." These communicators convey messages both audible and definite, uplifting, inspiring, guiding, and reassuring mankind in the midst of earth's seeming trials and troubles.

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