November 25 

Comfort, Comfort Now My People 

TEXT: Johannes G. Olearius

b. September 17, 1611

d. April 24, 1684

Translated, Catherine Winkworth

Johannes Olearius was a philosophy professor at the University of Wittenberg, Halle, Germany, but he is primarily remembered for his hymn writing. Three hundred and two of his hymns were included in one of the most important German hymnals of the 1600s, Geistliche Singe-Kunst. One of the hymns was the basis for “Cantata 129” by Johann Sebastian Bach.

TUNE: Louis Bourgeois

b. 1510, Paris, France

d. 1561, Paris, France

Louis Bourgeois, a French composer, is famous for his Psalm tunes and was one of the three primary composers of the famous Genevan Psalter. OLD HUNDREDTH, the melody to which we sing “The Doxology,” is commonly attributed to him. We may think people feel strongly about changes in church music today, but the local church authorities had Bourgeois sent to prison in 1551 for replacing the tunes of some well-known psalms “without a license.”⁵ John Calvin intervened and obtained his release. Still, controversy remained as people did not want to learn new tunes. The town council ordered the burning of Bourgeois’ instructions to singers, declaring they were confusing. GENEVAN 42 was originally written for a setting of Psalm 42. When the tune is sung at a brisk tempo, its irregular meter is rollicking and joyful as befits the text.

As you sing this hymn … you are singing Isaiah 40:1, 3, printed under the hymn title. Isaiah records many tumultuous years for Israel. Some kings in this prophet’s day were righteous, some were unrighteous. But throughout, the book is punctuated with God’s promises of a Messiah who would bring comfort. Read this promise in #4 of the “Christmas in the Bible” section.

How Israel longed for comfort! Isaiah used the word “comfort” seven times to describe God’s kindness to Israel. Pastor Mark Dever says of Isaiah, “The book is far more about God’s tenacious concern in judgment and love for his people than his people’s love for him … whether that love is expressed through his judgment upon their evil or through his promises of future deliverance.”⁶ Pastor Scotty Smith calls the words of Isaiah a description of “Advent arms.”⁷ “He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart” (40:11). What could be more comforting?

The Hebrew word for comfort can also be translated “repent.”⁸ At its root is the idea of breathing deeply or sighing, perhaps a sorrowful sigh for sin or a breath of relief when comfort is found. Significantly, Isaiah’s words are in the present tense. The Israelites did not have to wait until Jesus was born to know comfort through repentance. God would have mercy on them then. Today, too, we do not have to wait for the return of Christ to find comfort. Comfort begins with our repentance, which means turning from sin. By repentance, we become reconciled with God, and that is where we find comfort and peace. Advent is a time for repentance, a time to sweep out the dirt and get ready for the coming Guest. Stanza four entreats, “Let your hearts be true and humble” as you prepare for Christmas. The promise of comfort is assured, for “God’s word is never broken.”