Journal Through the Bible: Week 66 Thursday

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Isaiah 61:1-62:12

Isaiah restates his anointing from God and the purpose for it. It was the same anointing that Jesus the Messiah received. Like Isaiah, His purpose was to set captives free!

Does God issue any commands?

• God anointed Isaiah preach good tidings unto the meek, to tell the captive that he is free! He was sent to bind up the brokenhearted, and to open the prisons so that those who are bound can leave, to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of their God; to comfort all who mourn and to appoint them a place in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, to allow them to be called righteous, plants of the LORD that bring Him glory.

Does God make any promises?

• God promises restoration.
• God promises that His people will be named Priests of the LORD and Ministers of God. These will be nourished by the riches of the Gentiles. Israel shall receive a double portion because of her mistreatment at the hand of others.
• God promises an everlasting covenant.
• God promises garments of salvation and robes of righteousness so that righteousness and praise spring forth before all nations.
• The day is coming when Israel's wealth and food shall no longer be given to her enemies. Those who gather shall eat it and give praise to God.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus was the Anointed of God (as witnessed by the Spirit at His baptism) to preach good tidings to the meek, and He was sent to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those that are bound. It is sin that enslaves us and its ravages causes our hearts to break. Jesus frees us from sin and its results.
• Jesus proclaimed the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God, and to comfort all that mourn, to appoint unto them that mourn a place in Zion, to give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness so that we might be called trees of righteousness and plants of the LORD so that God would be glorified. Jesus preached all of this in His sermons and His miracles validated His claims. He clothes us in His righteousness.
• Jesus clothes us with garments of salvation and covers us with robes of righteousness so that we are adorned as brides and bridegrooms.
• Jesus is the One that will not hold His peace until Zion and Jerusalem have rest.
• Jesus is the Salvation that will come to Zion.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• One day the curse of sin will have no hold on us and we will live as the free people we were meant to be. We will be at liberty and as a result our hearts will no longer be broken.
• The old waste places (this old earth) will be rebuilt (the New Earth) and all former desolation will be repaired and rebuilt. The waste is the result of many generations living upon the earth.
• The Apostle Paul, a Jew, told both Jew and Gentile believers that all who trusted Jesus as their savior are considered part of Israel, the children of Abraham, in the sight of God. Therefore, the everlasting covenant (61:8, 9) that God has with Israel extends to Gentile believers as well.
• Zion and Jerusalem will receive the brightness of the Lord when Jesus sets up His capital there. Then the Gentiles will see the glory of the King and His city. Israel will receive a new name (The New Jerusalem?) from the LORD. No longer will the city be called Forsaken or Desolate but Hephzibah (my delight is in her) and Beulah (married). Note: King Hezekiah's wife's name was Hephzibah. She was the mother of Manasseh. See II Kings 21:1. Isaiah used the analogy of marriage between the king and his queen to describe God's relationship to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the Bride of Christ. (62:3-7)
• Those that live in God's capital shall be called the holy people, The redeemed of the LORD, and the city shall be called Sought Out, a city not forsaken.