What Is Your Comfort?

In some respects the same event happens to us all: to good men, to great men, to well-instructed men, as well as to the wicked, the obscure, and the ignorant. Each of these can speak of “my affliction.” “The heart knows his own bitterness”: Proverbs 14:10.

It is a grand matter when “my affliction” is in each case balanced by “my comfort.” I: was so in David’s case, and he is a fair representative of all believers. How is it with each one of our hearers?

I. BELIEVERS HAVE THEIR PECULIAR COMFORT. Each tried child of God can say, “This is my comfort.”

1. This, as different from others. Worldly men get their drops of comfort from such sources as they prefer; but the godly man looks to his experience of the Word, and says, “This is my comfort.” Psalm 4:6.

2. This, as understanding what it is. He knew his consolation as well as he knew his tribulation. He was not like Hagar, who could not see the well which was so near her. Genesis 21:19.

3. This, as having it near at hand. He does not say that, as if he pointed it out in the distance; but this, as grasping it.

4. This, as pleading in prayer that which he had enjoyed; urging upon the Lord the mercy already received.

II. THAT COMFORT COMES FROM A PECULIAR SOURCE. “Your word has quickened me.”

1. In part it is outward.

   • The word of God, full of promises, is our comfort. Romans 15:4.
   • The word of God, full of records of his goodness, is the confirmation of our confidence. Psalm 77:5–10.
   • The word of God, full of power, is our strength. Ecclesiastes 8:4.

2. In part it is inward: “Your word has quickened me.”

   • In past experience he had felt the power of the word in raising him,—
   • Into life from death. Psalm 116:8.
   • Into energy from lethargy. Canticles 6:12.
   • Into higher life from lower. Psalm 119:67.
   • In all things it had been a source of quickening to him.
   • In present experience he was then feeling its power in making
   • His mind less worldly.
   • His heart more prayerful.
   • His spirit more tender.
   • His faith more simple.
   • If the word has done and is doing all this, we may expect it to do more, and to magnify its power in our complete rescue.

III. THAT COMFORT IS VALUABLE UNDER PECULIAR TRIALS.

1. Hope deferred. Study the context. “Remember the word unto your servant, upon which you have caused me to hope:” verse 49. Quickening enables us to hope on.

2. Trial endured: verse 50. Comfort is most needed in trouble, and there is no comfort like quickening.

3. Scorn suffered. “The proud have had me greatly in derision:” verse 51. We care nothing for mockers when we are lively in spiritual things.

4. Sin of others. “Horror has taken hold upon me because of the wicked:” verse 53. More grace will enable us to bear up under abounding sin.

5. Changes. Read carefully verse 54. The Bible has a song for all seasons, and a psalm for all places.

6. Darkness: “in the night:” verse 55. There is no night-light like the Word, enlightening and enlivening the heart.

IV. THAT THE FORM OF OUR COMFORT IS A TEST OF CHARACTER.

1. Some look to wealth: when their corn and their wine are increased, they say, “This is my comfort.” They mind the main chance: they are worldly. Luke 12:19.

2. Some seek to dreams and visions, omens and fancies, impressions and presentiments: they are superstitious.

3. Some run to sin, drink, gaming, worldly company, dissipation, opium: they are wicked.

4. Some resort to their fellow-men for advice and assistance: they are unwise, and will be disappointed. Jeremiah 17:5.

   • What is your comfort?
   • Has this blessed volume quickened you?
   • If so, look to it under all trials, for it will never fail you.
   • The Rev. E. Paxton Hood says: “When I visited one day, as he was dying, my beloved friend Benjamin Parsons, I said, ‘How are you today, sir?’ He said, ‘My head is resting very sweetly on three pillows—infinite power, infinite love, and infinite wisdom.’ Preaching in the Canterbury Hall in Brighton, I mentioned this some time since; and, not many months after, I was requested to call upon a poor but holy young woman, apparently dying. She said, ‘I felt I must see you before I died. I heard you tell the story of Benjamin Parsons and his three pillows; and when I went through a surgical operation, and it was very cruel, I was leaning my head on pillows, and as they were taking them away, I said, ‘Mayn’t I keep them?’ The surgeon said, ‘No, my dear, we must take them away.’ ‘But,’ said I, ‘you can’t take away Benjamin Parsons’ three pillows: I can lay my head on infinite power, infinite love, and infinite wisdom.’ ”
   • “My word”—“The best relief that mourners have,
   • It makes our sorrows blessed;
   • Our fairest hope beyond the grave,
   • And our eternal rest.”
   • “Speak to me now in Scripture language alone,” said a dying Christian. “I can trust the words of God; but when they are the words of man, it costs me an effort to think whether I may trust to them.”
   • I would, when dying comforts fly,
   • As much as when they present were,
   • Up in my living joy rely:
   • Help, Lord, for here I daily err.—Ralph Erskine.
   • I was questioning my spiritual life, I who have so long been a preacher to others. I entered a little rustic assembly. An unlettered man preached the gospel, he preached it heartily; my tears began to flow; my soul leaped at the very sound of the Word of the Lord. What a comfort it was to me! How frequently have I thought of it since! The Word did revive me; my heart was not dead to its influence; I was one of those happy people who know the joyful sound. Assurance was bright in my soul,—the Word had quickened me.
   • What energy a text will breathe into a man! There is more in one divine sentence than in huge folios of human composition. There are tinctures of which one drop is more powerful than large doses of the common dilutions. The Bible is the essence of truth; it is the mind of God, the wisdom of the Eternal. By every word of God men are made to live, and are kept in life.