By Eugene Garner

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 61

MESSIAH'S MINISTRY

    The very heart of this final section of Isaiah's prophecy is set forth in the following three chapters. Here (ch. 61) is a beautiful description of the Messianic ministry of our Lord Jesus. Initially directed to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 10:6; 15:24; Lk. 15:4-6), the ministry is ultimately effective in the deliverance and restoration of the covenant-nation, (ch. 62). The prophet then announces "the day of vengeance" in which the Lord's wrath will be poured out upon the enemies of righteousness - while mentioning the prayers and praise of the holy remnant in Israel, (ch. 63).
    Throughout this prophecy there has been a blending of the near and the far - something that perplexed the prophets themselves (I Pet. 1:11). It will be well to remember that the speaker is NOT the prophet Isaiah, but "the anointed Servant" - identified in the New Testament as our Lord Jesus, the Christ.

   The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

    1. The anointing (unction) of the spirit, in the Old Testament, was used in the consecration of prophets, priests, and kings to their holy offices, (Lev. 8:12; I Kings 1:34; 19:16); it symbolized the spiritual power whereby its recipient was both designated and qualified for his particular office, (vs. la; I Sam. 10:1, 6; 16:13).
      a. Jesus Christ read this passage in His home-synagogue at Nazareth and startled His audience by claiming: "this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears", (Lk. 4:16-21); it was not TOTALLY fulfilled that day, but continues, in perpetuity, in the ministry of the church "which is His body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all", (Eph. 1:23).
      b. He is the speaker in Isaiah 61.
      c. It is the spirit of "Adonai Jehovah" that is upon Him, (11:1; 48:16), that Jesus' anointing, for His Messianic ministry, was publicly manifested in connection with His baptism, at the hands of John the Baptist, is deeply significant, (Matt. 3:13-17; John 1:29-34).
    2. It is Jehovah Himself who has anointed the Servant for His task - such a task as never fell upon another among the sons of men, (Psa. 45:6-7). He was anointed:
      a. To preach good tidings to the meek - the poor, needy, weak, afflicted and lonely, (11:4; 29:19; Matt. 5:5).
      b. To heal the broken-hearted, (57:15).
      c. To proclaim Jubilee-liberty to those captivated in the darkness of spiritual bondage (Lev. 25:10-13; 27:24; Jer. 34:8-10; Ezek. 46:17), and loosing from the grave those saints who have long awaited the vindication of their faith, (comp. Psa. 79:1-2, 8, 11; 102:13-22, etc.).
      d. To proclaim the "acceptable year of the Lord" - an extended season wherein God's grace and favor are to be extended to ALL MEN!
      e. To proclaim "the day of God's vengeance" - a relatively brief period wherein His wrath will be poured out, in righteous judgment, upon His enemies, (2:12; 13:6; 34:2, 8).
      f. To grant comfort and joy to those who mourn because of Zion's wretchedness, (Jer. 31:13; Matt. 5:4;~Isa. 35:10; 65:19; comp. Ezek. 9:4-6b).
        1) Giving them an ornament (garland, or crown) of beauty instead of ashes - exaltation to share the rule of Messiah as they are conformed to His image in the beauty of holiness, (Rom. 8:17-18; Psa. 110:2-3; I John 3:1-3).
        2) Exchanging the oil of joy for their mourning, (Psa. 23:5).
        3) Clothing them with the garment of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness (vs. 10).
      3. Nothing short of the re-establishment of the NATION of Israel (the Theocracy of Old), in a state of unprecedented blessedness, will satisfy the teachings of the prophets, (comp. 49:6; 44:7-8; Ezek. 34:11-13).
    4. The people of Zion are, henceforth, to be called "trees of righteousness", which the Lord has planted for His own glory, (60:21; Jer. 17:7-8; comp. Psalm 1:3).

   And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
   For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

    1. It is clear that Isaiah expects the restoration and prosperity of Zion, (vs. 4-5).
      a. There will be a renewal, and building again, of that which has been devastated from ancient times, (vs. 4; 49:8; 58:12; Ezek. 36:33; Amos 9:14-15).
      b. Strangers and foreigners will render willing service to the people of God, (vs. 5; 14:1-2; 60:10).
    2. The people of the covenant will be Priests of the Lord and Ministers of God, (vs. 6; Ex. 19:5-8; comp. I Pet. 2:5-10; Isa. 56:6-7; 60:5, 11); they will share the bounty of the nations to whom they minister in spiritual things.
    3. Their former shame and dishonor will be exchanged for honor and great joy; the Lord will liberally bless them with a double inheritance, (vs. 7; 54:4-5; 60:15; Psa. 16:11).
    4. Furthermore, the Lord establishes an "everlasting covenant" with His restored people, (vs. 8-9).
      a. In His dealings with Israel, the Lord will vindicate His own holy character.
      b. While He loves justice, He hates the cruel treatment that has been maliciously heaped upon His people by their enemies.
      c. Thus, His dealings with them will be IN TRUTH, and in such a way that all nations will recognize them as divinely-blessed - and sustaining a special relationship to Jehovah Himself.

   I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

    1. Here is an expression of Joy in the Lord as the personal covenant-God of a people who have been the special objects of His grace, (12:1.2; 51:3; Hab. 3:18-19).
    In this rejoicing they remember how He has CLOTHED them:
      a. With the garments of salvation, (25:9; 49:18; 52:1).
      b. With a robe of righteousness, (Phil. 3:7-9).
      c. With garments appropriate for a holy union with Himself, (Rev. 19:6-9).
    2. As, in the natural world, a seed is planted - that it may germinate, come forth, bud, blossom and bear fruit - so, the Lord will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations, (60:18, 21).
      a. The Bearer of this seed is the Messianic Servant, (Psa. 72:1-3; 85:9-13).
      b. God Himself causes the seed to come forth, (45:23-25).
      c. His word is sure; His promise is faithful and true!