Isaiah 51:19
These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?
ISAIAH 51:19
Two calamities converge: desolation and destruction, famine and sword. The rhetorical question “by whom shall I comfort thee?” intensifies the sense that human comforters are outmatched or absent. The speaker embodies God’s chastening, yet also signals the expectation of divine consolation that cannot be found in human ease. The prophet speaks to a people overwhelmed by loss, as surrounding enemies and internal collapse press in.
This verse wrestles with the problem of suffering and divine sovereignty. It acknowledges real hurt while declaring that true solace comes from God. The themes include lament, the insufficiency of worldly comfort, and the pivot to divine consolation. It also foregrounds the paradox of God’s justice and mercy: he judges, yet he remains the source of comfort. The verse foreshadows the later prophetic emphasis that God will one day turn mourning into rejoicing, and usher in a future of restoration.
We all experience seasons where friends, systems, and resources fail to soothe. This verse validates those feelings while pointing us to God as the ultimate Comforter. Practical steps: name the hurts honestly in prayer, seek community for shared lament, and turn to God’s promises in Scripture for steady ground. In counseling or pastoral care, the verse encourages speaking truth about pain while guiding people toward the hope fulfilled in God’s faithful presence.
Cross-References
- Psalm 34:18
- Matthew 5:4
- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
- Lamentations 3:21-23
- Isaiah 40:1-2