I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord,
the praises of the Lord,
according to all that the Lord has granted us,
and the great goodness to the house of Israel
that he has granted them according to his compassion,
according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
For he said, “Surely they are my people,
children who will not deal falsely.”
And he became their Savior.
In all their affliction he was afflicted,
and the angel of his presence saved them;
in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old,
therefore he turned to be their enemy,
and himself fought against them.
Then he remembered the days of old,
of Moses and his people.
Where is he who brought them up out of the sea
with the shepherds of his flock?
Where is he who put in the midst of them
his Holy Spirit,
who caused his glorious arm
to go at the right hand of Moses,
who divided the waters before them
to make for himself an everlasting name,
who led them through the depths?
Like a horse in the desert,
they did not stumble.
Like livestock that go down into the valley,
the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest.
So you led your people
to make for yourself a glorious name. (Isaiah 63:7-14)
As we look back on the year that has passed, many will remember the violence, sickness, and death so many of us have seen and endured. Many may be asking “Why does God allow suffering? What doesn’t He step in to prevent violence, oppression, and cruelty?” There is no simple answer to such questions. True, we can blame it all on sin which has corrupted all mankind since Adam and Eve, but this answer will not make suffering and pain easier to bear or take it away. It does little to satisfy or comfort those who have suffered loss or those living and dying in unbearable pain.
The evangelist Matthew relates the slaughter of the children in Bethlehem by King Herod. He suggests that one way to cope with such pain is to mourn and grieve with those who are in anguish. Mourning, grief, suffering, and pain it would appear, are the price we all must pay because of sin.
Isaiah, however, adds something else. He reminds us of the steadfast love of the Lord for His children. The Lord works in our lives to carry us through every affliction we endure. Over time and in eternity the Lord will give us all the comfort we need. For now, there is little more that we can do is weep and cry with those in anguish and come alongside them with prayer and our presence.