2 Thess. 2:13-17, A Prayer for Standing Fast (2)

What requests does Paul make?

·       Comfort your hearts.  The key to this request is that this word “comfort” is from the same family of words as “consolation” in v16.  Verse 16, in the NKJV, says He has given us everlasting consolation.  But “us” is in italics, meaning it is not in the Greek.  It’s true that God has given this to “us” but if we read that He has given everlasting consolation, it says something different.  It says God provided this, which He did, through His Son.  Hebrews, with it’s emphasis on our High Priest “forever,” makes this point clear.  Then, what Paul is praying for, is that out of that everlasting consolation He will comfort our hearts.  What wonderful words for these believers in their time of affliction.

·       Establish you in every good word and work.  Again, the context of suffering is important here.  Our sufferings remind us of our frailty and our mortality.  In this present body, thank God, we are not eternal; there is another body prepared for us that will take us through eternity.  Thus, we need to know that God, who is eternal, will be answering our prayers even after we die.  We are encouraged to know that the aspirations we have now, aspirations that glorify God, God will still be here to bring them to fruition. 

o   You may remember this idea from Psalm 90.  That song is all about God (from everlasting to everlasting You are God, 90:2) and frail man (they are like grass which grows up: in the morning it flourishes and grows up; in the evening it is cut down and withers, 90:5-6).  Jesus prayed this prayer on the cross: Into Thy hands I commit My spirit!  All the OT saints had this mindset.  They died, waiting for what God promised (Heb. 11:39-40), the salvation through the Seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15).  This is the prayer of those who recognize that this life is a pilgrimage (Heb. 11:13-16).

What resources does Paul mention that make it possible for the need to be met?

This is important.  The answers encourage our faith, helping us to believe God for things not seen.  What encouragement did Paul call on here?

·       Encouragement is found in what God has already done.  We have drawn attention to this already, but does this not encourage you to pray this prayer for those in severe trial?  Our God has a long history of doing mighty things for the poor and needy.  He is the same today as then.

·       Encouragement is found in God’s grace.  Meditate on the “grace of God.”  Remember, as Paul said elsewhere, He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things (Rom. 8:32).