God’s Motherly Love for All Seasons

Delivered by: Rev. Gordon Woolard

Sermon texts:  Isaiah 66:5-14, 49:15, Acts 9:31, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at His word: Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you for My name's sake, have said, 'Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy.’ But they will be put to shame. 6 A voice of uproar from the city, a voice from the temple, the voice of the LORD who is rendering recompense to His enemies. 7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy. 8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons. 9 "Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?" says the LORD. "Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?" says your God. 10 Be joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who love her; Be exceedingly glad with her, all you who mourn over her, 11 that you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts, that you may suck and be delighted with her bountiful bosom. 12 For thus says the LORD, "Behold, I extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem." 14 Then you will see this, and your heart will be glad, and your bones will flourish like the new grass; and the hand of the LORD will be made known to His servants, but He will be indignant toward His enemies.

Isaiah 49:15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.”

Acts 9:31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.