The Thessalonians had heard rumors of various kinds and may even have received forged letters that appeared to come from the apostles, containing erroneous information about the last times. There was the potential for them to become alarmed and shaken in their faith. Paul corrects the error of these false teachers and then reassures the church and urges them to stand firmly in the genuine gospel that they had received from authentic sources. Then he begins to conclude his letter with the verses that appear above - and they are full of encouragement for us.
The verses form an appeal to God that He would help the Thessalonians to stand firm, as Paul had just urged them to do. Verse 17 contains the request. Paul asks God:
- to comfort (strengthen - it’s that parakalesai word again - coming alongside to help) them in their hearts (their inner beings). This inner comforting is the work of the Holy Spirit
- to establish (fix, make fast, set) them in every good work and word (their outer walk).
Note, though, that before he gets to this request in verse 17, Paul has already laid out in the preceding verse the grounds on which he firmly anticipates God will hear and answer him. He rests his confidence in the demonstrated character of the God to Whom he appeals:
- He is confident that the Lord Jesus Christ, Who has the Name that is above every name, and Whose Name (we saw in the quiz a while ago) is “Jehovah is Salvation” and “Anointed” (meaning Prophet, Priest and King) is interested enough to intervene in this matter himself (personally and not through an intermediary). He is the One who left heaven, came as a man into this ruined world, lived a perfect life, died an unjust death, rose to God’s right hand and intercedes for His children based on the merits of His shed blood.
- Paul is also confident that the God Who sent His Son, Jesus, on this mission and Who has adopted them into His family so they may call Him “God our Father” will also engage on their behalf. The Father and the Son will do this, and they must do this, Paul argues, because through pure grace - unmerited favor they set their everlasting love upon the Thessalonians and have brought them irrevocably and unfailingly into a place of eternal comfort (His strengthening and coming alongside to help them) and good hope (the certain hope of glory that rest upon His promises, His faithfulness and His changelessness). He has personally guaranteed this to them by sealing them with the Spirit as a downpayment!
All of us have been unsettled by the coronavirus. We have all felt uncertainty as some of the things we have been leaning on in life (many of them perfectly legitimate) have been taken away for a season. We, too, can be weakened by such times and can find our spiritual life ebbing somewhat. But the God to Whom Paul made this appeal for the Thessalonians is our God, too! He is no less interested in our circumstances today; no less willing and certainly no less able to comfort our hearts and help us to hold fast to Him in our works and in our words. So although we can admire Peter in his stepping out to Jesus on the water when all his friends stayed behind in the boat, let’s learn from him and not take our eyes off our Jesus, Who reaches out His hand to hold us fast and to bring us the comfort we need!
