Who comforteth us in all our tribulation
The apostle in this verse gives a reason of the former
thanksgiving, and at the same time confirms the above character
of God, as "the God of all comfort", by his own experience, and
that of his fellow ministers; who, though they had been in great
tribulation and affliction for the sake of Christ, and his
Gospel, yet were not left destitute of divine help and support
under their trials; but had much consolation and sweet
refreshment administered to them by the presence of God with
them, the application of his promises to them, the shedding
abroad of his love in them, and the fellowship and communion they
enjoyed with Father, Son, and Spirit. The end of this, or why God
was pleased to comfort them in such a manner, was not so much on
their own account; though it showed that they were loved, and not
hated and rejected of God, but for the good of others:
that we may be able to comfort them which are in any
trouble, by the
comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of
God;
many are the troubles and afflictions of the saints in this life,
but it is the will of God that they should be comforted: and the
persons he employs and makes use of in this way are his
ministering servants, whose principal work and business it is to
speak comfortably to the people of God; see ( Isaiah 40:1 Isaiah 40:2 ) , and
that they may be able to do so, that they may be fitted and
furnished for so good a work, they are blessed with a rich
experience of divine consolation in themselves, under the various
troubles and exercises they are attended with in the course of
their ministry; and such persons are, of all others, the fittest,
and indeed the only proper persons to speak a word in season to
weary souls.