Journey to Sermon on the Mount Pt. 2

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.

First let’s look at some definitions for the words used in scripture.

Mourn – to grieve (the feeling or the act), to mourn – (be) wail

Blessed are those who mourn, grieve, wail…what? Before we go there let’s look at shall be comforted.

Most of the definition for shall be comforted is not comforted as we would think.

Shall be comforted – to call near ie: invite; invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation), beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray

So those that mourn will be called near, called for, invited, beseeched (had to look this up – ask urgently and fervently to do something), desired, exhorted (again defined as strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something.

WOW – I want to be called near, called out, and invited! I want to be asked to do something! Do you? But by mourning and grieving?

This scripture has a reference to Psalms 126:5-6 so let’s look at it. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. So we have a pattern of tears bringing (coming with) joy, and weeping coming with rejoicing. We will come with happiness after the tears and mourning.

So fortunate and happy are those who mourn and grieve for they will be called, desired to be near and asked to do something.

But here we go again mourn what? What if it is grieving for that huge hole in our heart that we have never been able to fill? What if it is mourning the sin, the lawlessness, we see all around us? Just a thought, was Lot called out of Sodom and Gomorrah because he was grieved by everything happening around him? Do we wail with desire to please our Creator and see others doing the same? Do we grieve for a land with order under the authority of our King? Do we wail over the lack of respect for our Creator? Do we mourn for the day when we will be with Him or are we thinking of all the earthly things we may miss? Are we grieving lost time with Him so much that we are setting aside our desires to spend time with Him, learning who He is? Learning from time in His word and presence?

What if this mourning is a deep desire for more than ourselves, more than being with other humans, more than money can buy, more than entertainment brings, more than anything of this earth? What if all that it takes to be called near, invited, or urgently asked to do something is having the desire for MORE? We should all be looking at our lives and checking for this! Do we have a grievous desire for MORE? If you are content in this world there is a problem. Let’s search ourselves and our desires and make sure they line up with His.