And so, when we think in terms of now and not-yet, it is the destiny of all humankind that is envisioned. “Comfort ye my people” is not a message for a solitary self-determined person. It is addressed to all of God’s people in exile, and the original setting in Babylon is widened and expanded to include all the descendants of Abraham (Gen. 12:3) who are no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all
