Mourn and Be Comforted
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5.4
Those who are poor in spirit, mourn. What does Jesus mean when He says, mourn? He literally means weep, lament or grieve or as Martin Luther said, the bearing of sorrow. To mourn refers to godly sorrow over one’s rebellion toward God. The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 7.10 says, For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Are we broken over our sin? We will not change if we are not. Too many times we pass over our sins as though they are no big deal or we think, oh, I am forgiven, yet, we keep sinning. This demonstrates no fear for God. Genuine disciples grieve and weep over their sin against God.
It is to these that Jesus says, Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11.28-30).
The comfort is the kingdom reward and blessing of the comfort of forgiveness and salvation. What great news for the crowd that day as they are suffering from a worldly point of view and are unhappy ones. The great news of the day is that in God’s salvation they will find a happiness which transcends their worldly condition. God will comfort them with salvation!
So many things break our hearts – a spouse who leaves; overwhelming grief from losing a loved one; a broken relationship with another or the lost of a job. I love what John Piper says when such a season comes. He says, It is utterly crucial that in our darkness we affirm the wise, strong hand of God to hold us, even when we have no strength to hold Him.
Here is what this promised comfort looks like:
- Sorrow over Loneliness: God makes a home for the lonely (Psalm 68.6).
- Sorrow over Rejection: I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you (Joshua 1.5).
- Sorrow over Lost: You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you (Matthew 5.4, The Message).
- Sorrow over Pain and Suffering: You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me (Psalm 56.8-9). The Psalmist is confident that God has a particular interest in his every pain, even his every tear. He also knows the great truth that comes from the meaning of God’s name, and that the Lord is for us.
So, mourn and be comforted. This is the sweet and joyful blessing of the kingdom of heaven.
