Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 40:1-2

"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she hath received of Jehovah`s hand double for all her sins." — Isaiah 40:1-2 (ASV)

You comfort, you comfort my people, says your God. You speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry to her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she has received from the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.

God would have his people happy. He knows that we are not in a strong, vigorous state, neither do we honor his name while we are lacking in holy joy.

Let the sinners be uncomfortable. Let them be like the troubled sea that cannot rest; but as for God’s people, it is his great joy that they should be happy. He bids his servants again and again to comfort them.

Sometimes we are in a condition of warfare, and we are under the chastising rod, but now the Lord appears graciously to his servants, and he says, "Your warfare is over: your chastisement is ended." Now the Lord returns in mercy, and he grants a sense of forgiven sin.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem.

The loss of comfort is no small loss. God would have his people happy. They are in the best condition for serving him, and less likely to be overcome by the temptations of the world, when the joy of the Lord is their strength. Therefore, three times over he bids his ministers comfort his people. O Triune Jehovah, help your servant now to fulfill this commission!