-Please Read this FIRST- On this site
we prefer to use the actual Name of our loving Heavenly Father as it was written
in the Word, and thus you will note that we will use the Four Letter
“Memorial Name” of 
- YHVH,
which is pronounced as YaHVaH or YaHWaH. In addition we will also
use our Heavenly Father’s attribute/title, which is Elohim rather
than “God,” which sadly is the name of a pagan god. In addition we
also love to use the actual and real Name of our beloved Messiah which
is 
- Yahushua or Yahshua in short, for
this is our Saviours original Hebrew Name as given to Him at birth in
Comfort After Challenge!
Please Note: In effect, this is the follow up study to a study entitled “Hatikvah – Prisoners of The Hope.” Although, this study does contain a great deal of material that is quite separate and it does quote a short statement from the previous study, which will keep it in perspective if you wish to read on. Alternatively please read “Hatikvah” first and then return to “Comfort.”
A Study on Isaiah 40: 1-2
This study deals with a unique word found in Isaiah chapter 40, verse 1, being the word “comfort.” In English, the fullness of this word is generally lost, even misunderstood. I pray that the beauty and the fullness of the word “comfort” will bless you.
“Nachamu, nachamu - Comfort, comfort My
people, says Elohim (God). Bid Jerusalem take heart (Hebrew for
“heart” is “Lev”), and proclaim to her, that her time of service (suffering) is accomplished,
that her guilt is paid off; that she has received from YHVH’s (the LORD’s) hand double for all her sins” Yeshayahu - Isaiah
40:1-2.
In these two verses,
In Hebrew the word “turn”
is “shuv,” which means “to repent, to turn back,
return, to be made whole again,” and thus the name of our ministry
“RMI Ministries” being the three letters that stand for The
RETURN Movement International. YHVH Elohim (the LORD
God), blessed be His Sanctified Name, certainly receives no satisfaction in
punishing
“No man repented (nacham) him of his wickedness” Yirmyahu - Jeremiah 8: 6.
“If so be they (
Thus, “Nacham”
is used countless times in the Word to denote “repentance,”
- repentance of man and yes even Elohim repented, or rather He changed His mind
“of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them” if Israel would only
repent. It is important to note why this word of comfort is given at this point.
Comfort is the very
first word of Yeshayahu - Isaiah
chapter 40. Therein lays another testimony of Elohim’s desire to comfort
the repentant sinner.
Once a
“christian” gentleman asked me, “Considering the Jews
don’t have a New Covenant, so tell me how can they ever learn about, the
There was a real
problem with his question for it was certainly not a learned one, but then we
cannot all be well taught and that is fine, second he forgot about believers
providing a testimony, be it by Word or example, for we are to be a
“Light to the world!”
Well beloved, you
will be surprised to know how simple the answer really is, for the truth is,
you do not really need the Brit Chadashah – the New Covenant, to learn about Yahushua
the Messiah. The blessed truth is that whole of the wonderful message
about Messiah can be found within the Hebrew Scriptures called the Tanach - the
Old Covenant. For we all know that the Tanach
is packed full of prophecies relating to HaMashiach - the
Messiah.
Being an Orthodox Jew, who loves his Elohim
with all his heart and soul, I came to know my Messiah one very special evening
back in December 1977. That evening I entered my study for my regular evening “
Certainly it has not been because of our
wisdom, far from it, but because of His ever loving guidance, for without Him
and the guidance of His Sanctified (Holy) Spirit, we would never have been able
to have done and what has been achieved! Beloved, we are just His tools, but it
is
The Chapters of Isaiah
Are you also aware beloved that the book of
Yeshayahu – Isaiah is divided into two distinctive parts? Here we find
the same structure for Part One is made up of 39 chapters, and Part Two has 27
chapters, making a total of 66 chapters.
Praise Elohim, for
the Tanach – the Old
Covenant also has 39 books and we all know that the Brit Chadashah - the Covenant has 27 books, thus
the whole of the Scriptures has a total of 66 books and it is therefore just like the book of Yeshayahu
– Isaiah, or visa-versa! And
there is a very good reason for this! Do you feel I have made a point here?
Therefore in just
one of the books of the Tanach, the Old Covenant, a book I am so often told is
a very difficult book to read and amazingly it has even been said that the Old
Covenant has been now been replaced by the New Covenant. What utter rubbish,
how dare they throw away the precious Word of the Almighty Elohim, that is so
evil and the idea is certainly Satanic! However, I can tell you that the Tanach
– Old Covenant is in fact the Foundation of the blessed Scriptures, well
try and take away the foundations from under your home and where will it be in
a short space of time? I know where it will be, for your home will have gone
and be destroyed, just like those who have dared to suggest the aforementioned,
unless they repent! Yet in Yeshayahu -
Isaiah we have discovered the essence of all 66 books of the Word of our Elohim
who has done everything with such perfection!!
Even the details
line up so clearly, for if you check it very closely you will find that Yeshayahu - Isaiah chapters 1 to 39 deals with Judgement and the justice of YaHVaH Elohim dealing with the sins of the people. It also includes promises of Messiah who
would come.
Chapters 40 to 66 it deals with Him who is styled in Yeshayahu - Isaiah as the suffering Servant, being Yahushua our Saviour, the Messiah.
As we look at chapter
40 we can very clearly see that it obviously represents the fortieth book of
the Scriptures, which just happens to be the book of Mattityahu -
It is so significant that Mattityahu - Matthew is the fortieth book,
for in the
Word of Elohim absolutely nothing occurs by accident for it is all part
of Elohim’s great plan of salvation! Forty is a vital number in the Scriptures
for as we may have read in the Book of Shemos – Exodus that Moshe -
“It is eleven days' journey from Horeb
by way of
Later in the history of
In the first 39 books, we read the many prophesies that relate to the coming of the Messiah,
however in the 40th book we see the prophecy and its fulfilment
relating to the arrival! Just look at verse 3 and 5 of Yeshayahu - Isaiah chapter 40.
“The voice of one crying in the
wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of YHVH; make straight in the desert
a highway for our Elohim … The glory of YHVH shall be revealed.’”
Praise Elohim, the heart of the Brit Chadashah – New Covenant is to be found in the very heart of the Tanach – Old Covenant! There is great comfort to be found in the Tanach, but only for those that heed and act to Elohim’s call to repentance! You see beloved, there is so much more, but it does need a heart that is seeking His Word of Truth, and is that not true for each and every one of us, for so many of us will not easily accept the Truth of His Word, for the Traditions of Men will have gotten stuck and sadly that is the case with Israel and so many in the church as well!
Thus, when those of
Let us now return to verse one of chapter 40 of Yeshayahu - Isaiah and seek the Almighty for a fuller understanding of the Word that He gave us.
“Comfort, yes, comfort My people, says
your Elohim.”
In order to fully understand this word “comfort,” as given
to Yeshayahu - Isaiah, let us look at another word given to
another wonderful prophet in the blessed Word. In Zecharyah - Zechariah Chapter 1, we find
a powerful challenge, from verses 1 to 6. Only after
“YHVH has been very angry with your fathers.
Therefore say to them (
The answer to that is … YES it was a resounding
success!
You may ask, “But brother, how are you able to deduct that line
of reasoning? It is reasonably simple really, for Zecharyah -
“You have come back to the city of Elohim, but you have not come back to YHVH your Elohim. You are in the wrong with Elohim, thus get back with Him and He will come back to you!” (Paraphrased).
Now in his second message there is no challenge whatsoever, only words of assurance and of soothing comfort. As we hear him say …
“YHVH will again
comfort
This clearly
teaches us that the Children of Israel took YaHVaH’s message as given
through His prophet Zecharyah -
It is most important for us to understand
that true men of Elohim will begin with a word of challenge and then will continue to challenge until
there is a positive response. For only after a positive response, can there be
comfort.
Let me repeat that: only after a positive response, and that is one of repentance, can the Almighty COMFORT. Now REPENTANCE and many faithful who are reading this will know that this is a word that is seldom heard in churches these days! For it seems more like it is a “come”, “come” Gospel, in other words a sort of a “Jesus to Go Gospel.” But, what about seek Yahushua and repent of your sins and be immersed and follow His ways and teachings? No that is all too hard. So don’t worry, all that is no longer a strict requirement according to so many pastors and churches, just come and make your pastor look good at the front! Forgive my directness, but this is what is happening these days in so many churches, for it is more about numbers and dollars than true salvation!
We all know that
the prophet Yirmyahu -
“Unless you
get back with Elohim, He will destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, and you shall
be taken captive to Babylon.”
Chapters 25-26.
Messiah Yahushua also warned us about false prophets in these the
“End Times.”
“For false
messiahs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to
deceive, if possible, even the elect. See,
I have told you beforehand.” Mattityahu (
However, a genuine believer in Messiah can easily detect a false leader or a prophet for these men tend to commence with words of soothing comfort, just as it was in the days of Yirmyahu - Jeremiah.
These men and women tend to speak of mighty blessings, massive church
growth and huge revivals! Yes I have heard it all and sadly there are pastors
who love to stand alongside leaders of those mega ministries with massive
numbers, who continually speak of ever growing church numbers, whilst they send
out their News-letters, or should I say, their “beg-for-money-letters” and are you
ready with your credit at church, for we have card machines if you do not have
enough with you. And that was at a pastors message that said, and I am
adlibbing here but in principle is contained the following. Possibly not in the
order it is stated.
“God has given me a message for you;
yes all of you today right here, right now. You are to give a thousand dollars
at this meeting and you will receive a mighty blessing from the Father, for He
will reward you with His riches, your bills will be taken care off, for I Am
your provider! Also I Am You healer! … Just give your gift to our ushers
who will come around soon, they will take in cash or you can also pay by credit
card as we do have credit card machines.”
This pastor stayed at a five star luxury hotel and was chauffeured
around in a stretched limo. In addition he was dressed in a Versace suit, and
we all know that all Versace garments have a demon “Head of Medusa”
emblem on the inside of their garments, but that does not seem to matter to a
“christian” pastor? Back in
“As you go, preach this message:
‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received,
freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts, take
no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker
is worth his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy
person there and stay at his house until you leave.” Mattityahu -
Thus the faithful were to take nothing but themselves, and we understand
this, for this ministry has always lived by one simple principle; “Give
us this day our daily bread” and we have never asked for more! We do not
have a mailing list, send no news, or what in most cases are Beg-Letters, we
are non-marketing, we sell nothing and will never ask for a single cent! YaHVaH
Elohim is indeed our Provider, and since 1977 He has taken good care of me, yes
I did work for a good time, until He called me into full time ministry with my
dear Greek brother in Messiah as we travelled our own country extensively
several times first, and then travelled the world together! We always give
YaHVaH thanks and praise for all that He has done over all those years, for He
alone does it, as I said earlier, those who are called, must listen to Him and
go, and be at the right place and ensure to be there at the right time!
But in regard to all those statements being made in churches about “there is a great revival coming!” Beloved let me tell you right here and right now when the genuine great revival will really come and that is certainly not now, but that will occur in the middle of the Great Tribulation after the when the Two Witnesses have been killed, then having laid in the square in Jerusalem for three days, Elohim will raise them from the dead and they will stand up! The Word makes it clear that the whole world will see this event, and upon having seen this, they will finally come to know and believe that what these two men of Elohim have been saying was in fact completely true and millions will come to believe in Messiah Yahushua and enter into the second half of the Great Tribulation, which is also known as the terrible Time of Jacob’s Trouble, but that is another study!
Sadly,
little has changed from the time that Israel embraced the spiritual fads of its
day as it was in the days of Yirmyahu - Jeremiah, when their false prophets, priests and teachers
were leading them far from the Word of truth and so many were worshiping false
gods.
However, we are
living in some of the most evil times right now in this day, be it in the
secular world and even when it comes to some ministries that offer a fad of a
“come and go
salvation”, like I said. a sort of “Jesus to Go,” but without a message
about the need to repent of ones sins and to follow the Messiah in all of His ways and teachings, for He did give us His commandments to follow!
Now comes the Question - Does
Comfort really mean to Comfort?
“Comfort, yes, comfort My people,
says your Elohim.”
There are those
who claim to comfort
Beloved, this in itself may seem good, however as we will discover that this work of comforting may not be technically Spiritual if you are going to use the above verse in its true sense, no matter the sincerity!
I also suggest
that you read my study entitled “Labour with Elohim.” The link is
located on the Main Index.
A leader of one of
these “comfort” organisations has stated, “We will assist the
Jews back to the
Beloved, this is NOT what the Word of YHVH
Elohim teaches us!
“Repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in His Name among the Gentiles, beginning at
“It is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Message of Peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’” Romans 10:15.
Amazingly the main offender of this kind of
erroneous teaching is an organisation based in
I had been asked
to minister at a Fellowship in Sydney, and the Australian leader of this
worldwide organisation came and spoke on April 26, 1998, as well as at the
‘Israel’s 50th Jubilee
Celebration’ at the Sydney Opera House on April 28. But, during his
message he made the Embassies doctrine very clear with a message that included
these revealing words - “
We all know from
the Word of Elohim that this is an evil and satanic lie and the Christian
Embassy in Jerusalem
proclaims this wickedness as well as telling believers that “... they do NOT have to share Messiah with the Jews as it is not their time.” Utter rubbish and an evil lie that is
being propagated by
Of course everyone
who knows the Word of Elohim knows differently, and we know that Yahushua
Himself so clearly spoke about the “Time of
Yes many will come
later, but, My heavenly Father did also chose me and He spoke to me directly back
in 1977 and I came to know Messiah, who I in the past had so greatly opposed.
Why share Messiah with
All individual Jews who have returned to their Elohim, accepting Yahushua as their Messiah will receive the great “comfort” of salvation, as we did when we accepted Him as our Saviour!
“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” Revelation 3:10.
“…you turned (repented) to Elohim from idols to serve the living and true Elohim, and to wait for His son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Yahushua who delivers us from the WRATH to COME” 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10.
Remember earlier in this study I clearly stated that the Hebrew word
“nacham” that is
translated as “comfort” also translates as “repent.” Thus, When
we read “Comfort, yes, comfort” it is based on repentance, for there can be NO comfort without
repentance. Are we rewarded by the Almighty whilst we are in sin, no
of course not, and neither is
Just note Yirmyahu –
“This is what YHVH says: ‘When men
fall down, do they not get up? When a man turns away, does he not return? 5 Why
then have these people turned away? Why does
Back to Zecharyah’s Second
Message
Praise Elohim, that
“Thus says
YHVH, I have
returned unto you.”
Here we see the kind of the comfort YaHVaH Elohim, blessed be His
Sanctified Name, assures Jerusalem and her people as spoken of in Yeshayahu - Isaiah 40:1-2.
In these verses Elohim, blessed be He, is reconciled to His erring
people Israel and calls them no longer by names expressive of rejection or
contempt, as He did in the Book of Hoshea – Hosea For
at that time the Almighty had said;
“Then said Elohim, Lo-Ammi for you are not My people, and I will not be your Elohim.” Hoshea - Hosea 1:9.
In Yeshayahu - Isaiah 40, Elohim calls them, “My people ...
The greatest comfort of all occurs when the person who receives comfort from YaHVaH is RIGHT with Elohim! “Comfort, comfort ye.” It is an inspiration of earnestness in conveying the heavenly message. For YaHVaH is an Elohim of comfort. Not comfort for those who continue to live in sin, but a comfort to all who seek to be delivered from sin and live a life according to His Word!
Let us now elaborate on the conditions of comfort, and the methods of comfort as well as the results of comfort.
The Conditions of Comfort
The first condition is - “Repentance of all their sins.”
The second is that
the sinner implores Elohim’s pardon for their transgressions in the
blessed Name of Yahushua the Messiah, and acknowledges that the justice of the
chastisement has been just.
The third is that prayer and praise is offered to Elohim for His goodness having ceased His anger and to speak comfort to our souls and pour His Shalom, His Peace, unto us.
If we neglect any of these conditions, we have no right to expect that the Almighty will bless us with His comforting Grace, for it does not come from rain or sunshine, which is a general blessing of His providence, but it is a special gift reserved for those who have prepared their lives to receive the gift of His presence, Elohim’s Ruach HaKodesh, His Sanctified Spirit in our lives.
The Methods of Comfort
However, this
should not be so. Elohim blesses wise council, guidance, help, and sympathy
from friends to the relief and solace of those who are in need or are in
trouble. “Comfort, comfort you My people,” was YHVH address to Yeshayahu - Isaiah. Be assured, the words of His prophet was
filled with YHVH’s Spirit, and it made the comfort effectual, for YHVH
Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, comforts us through His Word. How
frequently has the despairing soul found peace and joy through the promises in
His blessed Word, which gives a potent boost of hope to the most despondent and
provides comfort for the unhappy?
Although YHVH does
not require an intermediary to give comfort, but at times He will use a person
who has been led by His Spirit! We have also read the command “speak lovingly to
the heart of
The Word states to tell her “that her iniquity is pardoned.” In other words, “comfort” is shown here that it is directly related to forgiveness! YHVH cannot forgive without repentance and a blood sacrifice! Thus to comfort Israel, or any lost soul, be they a Hebrew or Gentile, is to tell them about Yahushua the Messiah, YHVH’s anointed one, and bring the sinner to the throne of Elohim in repentance and in faith!
The Results of Comfort
The immediate
result of comfort from Elohim is peace and happiness. The soul comforted by YHVH,
blessed be He, is at least contented and blissful. Further results should be gratitude for Elohim's
Mercy and His Loving-Kindness. Perseverance
in faith and well doing, the bearing of good fruits and gratitude to YHVH is
the chief result of those that have repented and been comforted. This is one
way; they are able to show their thankfulness. Praise and thanksgiving are the
natural utterance of the mouth when the heart is touched with gratitude to
Elohim the Father.
“Your guilt is paid off.” This
seems to be the idea of the original, which we have as; “her iniquity is
pardoned” in Yeshayahu - Isaiah 40:2.
The reference here
is rather pointed to the penalty of iniquity being effectively removed. There
can be no comfort while
Even when Elohim
speaks of punishment, He also shows us His great mercy. In Vayikra - Leviticus
26 and Davarim - Deuteronomy 28,
“Scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other … I will set My face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no-one is pursuing you”
However, praise
His Name, in the very same chapter, where the Almighty outlines the punishment
that was due to
“Yet for all that, when they are in the
land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to
utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am YHVH their
Elohim. But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors,
whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I
might be their Elohim: I am YHVH” Vayikra
- Leviticus 26:44-45.
This knowledge is
comfort indeed! When many of
Thus beloved let
this be also our calling unto
“Let not your heart be troubled, you
believe in Elohim, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions;
if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you; that
where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you
know ... I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me”. Yochanan -
This study from Yeshayahu - Isaiah clearly teaches us that comforting
“Comfort ye
My people.” Elohim is calling on the faithful to bring
Yahushua is calling us to “Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.” The world will never find the solutions that will bring peace in Israel for the truth is beloved, peace in Jerusalem will only come to Jerusalem when our beloved Messiah Yahushua returns at the Second Coming with His saints and then there will be true Shalom, true Peace, for Yahushua is our Peace!
“‘Return to Me,’ says YHVH of Hosts, ‘and I will return to you,’ says YHVH of hosts” Zecharyah - Zechariah 1:3.
“‘Comfort (Nachamu means repent. Elohim’s comfort comes ONLY after repentance), comfort My people!’ Says your Elohim. Speak tenderly to Yerushalayim, and proclaim to her, that her warfare (service) is ended, that her sin is pardoned.” Yeshayahu - Isaiah 40:1-2.
In
conclusion:
The faithful in
Messiah are to “proclaim” Yahushua unto
We the faithful
have received the blessed comfort of Elohim when we repented and accepted
Yahushua as our Messiah and were fully immersed in water. Now it is time to
share that “comfort” with
“Comfort, Comfort ye My people” a comfort they will receive ONLY after they have fully repented!
Beloved, we are to be both “hearers and doers of the Word”!
“Teach me Your way, O YHVH. I will walk in Your truth.
UNITE MY HEART TO FEAR YOUR NAME!”
May YHVH Elohim bless and keep you in the palm of
His hand always, in Messiah Yahushua’s loving Name!
.
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