Isaiah 61
COMMENTARY:
: 1 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 broken-hearted; to proclaim liberty to the captives; and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; (4886 “anointed” [mashach] means consecrate, to spread over, oil, or smear.)
DEVOTION: The Holy Spirit was active in the ministry of Jesus Christ when HE first came to the earth as a little baby. HE was there when Jesus was baptized. HE was there to lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. HE was with the LORD while HE lived on the earth.
Jesus quoted this passage in Luke 4: 18, 19. HE was in the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood to read. Once HE had closed the book HE stated: “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears.” The LORD Jesus Christ knew who HE was and what HIS purpose was at this first coming to die on the cross for our sins.
HE preached good tidings concerning a promise of a future hope to those who would listen to HIS message. HE healed those who came to HIM to show that HIS message was true. HE promised that those who were suffering now would be given a place in heaven for eternity if they were followers of HIM. Those who were in prison even had hope that they could spend eternity with HIM.
We are here to proclaim the same message to those in our generation who become followers of the LORD. HE still have the power to cause the meek to inherit the earth. HE still can bind up the broken-hearted. HE gives hope to all those who turn to HIM from their sinful lifestyle. It is a message of hope to all generations.
First we need to believe that HIS promises are true and then we can proclaim HIS truths with zeal. Once we proclaim the truth of HIS provision we can follow up with a way for those who follow to have strength to live each day to the glory of God.
We lead by example. Do those around us see the truth of the Word of God manifested in our life like it was manifested in the life of Christ? We will never be sinless as HE was but we can admit our failures and still give a good example to those around us.
Proclaim the truth of the Word of God to all. Warn them that the LORD is returning soon. Some people are even hearing trumpets now. It is not the trumpets that sound for us to meet HIM in the air but the birth pangs are happening all around us.
CHALLENGE: He promised to call HIS church to HIMSELF at any time. Do we believe HE could call today???
: 3 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. (4594 “garment” [ma’ateh] means a vestment, wrap, mantle, or be in joyful state.)
DEVOTION: Once the LORD enters a life there is change. HE promised hope for the present and the future. The promise of the present is that HE will never leave us or forsake us. HE will be by our side through all of our trials.
The first verses describe the time of the LORD’S first coming to die on the cross for our sins. HE read it in the temple and told them that it was fulfilled in HIM. This next verse describes what will happen when HE comes back a second time after the Tribulation period is complete. There will be a restoration in Israel.
The Gentiles will come to Jerusalem to worship and serve the LORD. The Israelites will be the ministers of God. HE will turn their shame into everlasting joy. Then Christ will have all these promises fulfilled.
Today, we can have some of the joy, as we trust HIM more in our daily walk with HIM. All mourning or heaviness will not be gone but we can have spells of joy and praise.
We can realize that the LORD is walking with us throughout all our tribulations and trials. What can bring us joy now is the fact that HE is coming back to set up HIS kingdom. Our God keeps all HIS promises to us. Praise HIS name.
We can practice what we will do in heaven now. There should be praise coming out of our mouths on a regular basis. We have so many blessings now that we can share with others. Too often we look at the negative in our life instead of the positive things that are happening.
I get bogged down with some of the details of life. As we try to get things in order to keep all our commitments to the LORD we can get frustrated that things are not happening as quickly as we would like. I even lose things that I have saved on my computer. They are there but I don’t know how to retrieve them. It is frustrating but those are just little things compared to all the blessings I receive each day.
CHALLENGE: Look at the blessings the LORD is giving us each day instead of the frustrations of life that blind us to the blessings. Then share the blessings with others to encourage them to share their blessings with others.
: 9 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 has blessed. (1288 “blessed” [barak] means to invoke (or enact) divine favor, often implying a positive disposition or kind actions toward the recipient, be praised, congratulates, or speak words invoking divine favor.)
DEVOTION: If you are wondering why such a small nation is receiving the blessings of the LORD. It is because they were chosen from the foundation of the world.
HE is the one who has the blessings to give to whomsoever HE chooses. HE has chosen Israel to bring the Savior into the world, Jesus Christ.
Many in Israel will not spend eternity with HIM but in the lake of fire with all those who have rejected the message of salvation in both Testaments of the Bible.
In the future the Bible says that Israel will be blessed again. It is hard for us to understand the working of the LORD but HE has created the world and chosen those HE has chosen to be HIS people to represent HIM to the rest of the world.
Today those who are believers are part of the church of Jesus Christ now. Those who worship HIM in spirit and in truth are blessed of HIM. The church is still growing in spite of so many “false churches” that are not preaching the Word of God but another gospel that has not come from God
Many who call themselves Christians are not confessing their sins on a regular basis and are doing things that are displeasing to the LORD. These individuals, if they are saved, have the promise that they will be saved “yet so as by fire.” Their works will be burned because once they had made a commitment to HIM that was genuine they stopped worshiping HIM properly. (Many who think they are saved are not really saved and will end up in Hell for eternity.)
God is the final judge as to those who are genuine believers and those who are not. One group will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ for their rewards which might be few because the Bible says that they will be saved “yet so as by fire.” Another ground that have faithfully served the LORD will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and receive MANY rewards. They served the LORD faithfully and confessed their sins on a regular basis. They kept short accounts with the LORD and listened to the Holy Spirit regularly.
Those who are not saved or followers of the LORD will stand before the LORD at the Great White Throne Judgment to receive their punishment for not following the LORD. There are degrees of punishment in Hell for eternity.
CHALLENGE: What group will you be in? The choice is made now while we are living. We are not sinless once we become believers but we should sin less. Confessing and keeping short accounts with the LORD.
:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
DEVOTION: What does it take for a believer to rejoice and be glad in the Lord? Isaiah declares that as people recognized the blessings of God upon their lives they would rejoice. Knowing that salvation and righteousness was theirs caused the people to rejoice and be glad. These two garments were the clothing the people of Israel put on to celebrate and to be married. The decked himself out with a turban and the bride wore costly jewels. All this to celebrate and to announce their special day.
Whether in the millennium or today the special garments we wear state the emotions or status we feel is ours. The suits and ties that announced professional status and the business attire that marked a certain standard of excellence was customary in the past, the same is true here as Isaiah states what to look for in the believers life! May our lives be marked with the clear clothing that describes my relationship with Christ.
CHALLENGE: As Isaiah was presenting the image of clothing to demonstrate what a believer’s inner life should look like so we are to put on the garments of the new life in Christ. Colossians states it this way, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). Be clothed in Christ likeness today! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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