“Don’t write cheerful graffiti on the tomb of my sorrow” is a quote that I read years ago, which still stays with me today. We do well to remember it as we consider the second of Jesus’s beatitudes.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5.4).
There are times when, if we use Jesus’ words in this Beatitude to someone who has just suffered tremendous grief, we would be guilty of the quote I just mentioned.
One of my seminary professors gave tremendous advice that I have used for all of my life. He said, that when someone is grieving, you don’t have to try to fix the problem with words. Your presence will say it all.
In its historical context, the first and second Beatitudes are related to the prophecy of Isaiah in Chapter 61.
The first Beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5.3), identifies the poor in spirit as oppressed, brokenhearted, captive, and in prison.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to the prisoners. (Isaiah 61.1)
These people are blessed because God has anointed His Messiah with the Holy Spirit to act on their behalf.
There is an “already, but not yet” component to this blessing from the Lord. We are already living in His care, but we have not yet realized the full impact of it which is reserved for later.
The Second Beatitude
The second Beatitude pronounces God’s blessing on those who mourn. It is also connected to the prophecy of Isaiah in Chapter 61.
To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
To provide for those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. (Isaiah 61.2-3)
I learned this week in my reading that the rabbis considered the Messiah to be a comforter. That is what He does for those who mourn.
My friend, Rudy Ross, reminds us that in the year of the Lord’s favor we get back all that we have lost. Isaiah expands on this thought and writes that we have a garland instead of ashes, gladness instead of mourning, and praise instead of a faint spirit.
For God’s Glory
God blesses those who mourn with His comfort. He does so to display His glory. His glory is a representation of His essential nature – that of a comforter, lover, and redeemer of humanity.
While reading through Isaiah during my morning prayer time this week, I was captivated by some verses in Isaiah 43.
When God called Isaiah into the ministry, He told him that the effect of his work would be to blind the eyes and stop up the ears of the people of God (Isaiah 6.9-10).
After many years of ministry among the people, God instructs Isaiah to remind them that they have eyes, but they can’t see what God is doing. They have ears, but they can’t comprehend what God is doing
Bring forth the people who are blind yet have eyes,
who are deaf yet have ears! (Isaiah 43.8)
However, it is to a poor in spirit and mourning nation that God declares, “You will be my witnesses.”
They glorify God, not because they are so special, but because God is great. He works among broken people and uses them to bear witness to the world of His mighty character.
You are my witnesses, says the Lord,
and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor shall there be any after me.
I, I am the Lord,
and besides me there is no savior. (Isaiah 43.10-11)
Respecting Grief’s Timing
I would never approach someone during their grief and write cheerful graffiti upon the tomb of their sorrow by saying, “Hey, you can glorify God in this,” or “God will comfort you.”
There may come a time for that statement, but amid grief, that is not the course we should take.
That being said, many people are both poor in spirit and mourning today, when they surrender their lives to God, show the brightness of God’s goodness like few others.
Please join me in looking around your world and asking God, “Lord, help them to be your witnesses.” Then, look within and say, “God, help me to be one of your witnesses.”
YouTube Video Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It can be found on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 