The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor… (Isaiah 61:1-2 HCSB).
My heart used to take special notice when I would read Isaiah 61. I didn’t know exactly why, I just knew that it did.
As you read the whole chapter, it gives a beautiful picture, a life-giving picture. And now I realize that is why my heart was so drawn to it. This word is life.
Jesus came to give us life–and to give life that is full and good (John 10:10).
Jesus read this Scripture aloud in public at the start of his public ministry and announced that he was carrying it out (Luke 4:14-21).
Later, Jesus commissioned all who believe in him to continue his work and expand it (John 14:12-14).
That is why my heart was drawn to the passage. Because is expresses what I am here for.
And this, follower of Christ, is what you are here for.
Let your heart drink in the words of Isaiah 61. This is where your life is. This is how you will bring the life of Christ to others.
Isaiah 61
The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me,
because the Lord has anointed Me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and freedom to the prisoners;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of our God’s vengeance;
to comfort all who mourn,
3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion;
to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
festive oil instead of mourning,
and splendid clothes instead of despair.
And they will be called righteous trees,
planted by the Lord
to glorify Him.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins;
they will restore the former devastations;
they will renew the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
5 Strangers will stand and feed your flocks,
and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers.
6 But you will be called the Lord’s priests;
they will speak of you as ministers of our God;
you will eat the wealth of the nations,
and you will boast in their riches.
7 Because your shame was double,
and they cried out, “Disgrace is their portion,”
therefore, they will possess double in their land,
and eternal joy will be theirs.
8 For I Yahweh love justice;
I hate robbery and injustice;
I will faithfully reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations,
and their posterity among the peoples.
All who see them will recognize
that they are a people the Lord has blessed.
10 I greatly rejoice in the Lord,
I exult in my God;
for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation
and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness,
as a groom wears a turban
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth produces its growth,
and as a garden enables what is sown to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.
(HCSB)
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