Isaiah 61
61
Messiah’s Mission
1The mighty Spirit of Lord Yahweh # 61:1 The “Spirit of Lord Yahweh” is viewed by many scholars as a synonymical phrase for the Spirit of Prophecy. is wrapped around # 61:1 Or “upon,” “in,” “on,” “over,” “above,” “by,” “for,” “through,” “throughout,” “around,” or “beside.” me
because Yahweh has anointed me, # 61:1 The title of Messiah is taken from the Hebrew verb “to anoint.” Messiah means “the Anointed One” in both Hebrew (mashiach) and Greek (Christos). Our Lord Jesus quoted this passage in Nazareth (see Luke 4:16–21) and introduced his “jubilee” ministry to Israel (see Lev. 25). The first three verses of this chapter describe the twofold mission of Jesus: (1) to open the door of the day of grace to the world; (2) to proclaim the coming day of vengeance on sin, darkness, sickness, and eventually, the “goat” nations. As a prophet, he came to preach the new season of grace; as a priest, he came to heal; and as a king, he came to decree and herald peace and freedom to the captives. See Luke 3:21–22; Acts 10:38.
as a messenger to preach good news to the poor. # 61:1 Or “humble,” “lowly,” or “depressed.”
He sent me to heal the wounds of the brokenhearted,
to tell captives, “You are free,” # 61:1 See Rom. 8:21; 2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 5:1.
and to tell prisoners, “Be free from your darkness.” # 61:1 Or “to release the blind from darkness” (LXX).
2I am sent to announce a new season # 61:2 Or “year”—not a literal year but a season of time. of Yahweh’s grace # 61:2 Or “favor,” “good pleasure,” or “acceptance.”
and a time of God’s recompense on his enemies, # 61:2 Through the cross and the resurrection of Jesus, a time of recompense has come (see Col. 2:15) to conquer sin, sickness, Satan, death, demonic power, and injustice—vengeance not just on humanity but also on evil wherever it is found.
to comfort all who are in sorrow,
3to strengthen those crushed by despair who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful bouquet # 61:3 Or “beauty for ashes” or “a garland [of flowers] or headdress.” There is an interesting wordplay in the Hebrew text. The word for “beauty” is phe’er, and the word for “ashes” is epher—simply the moving of one letter. God has the power to change and move things around in our lives to make them into something beautiful. See Rom. 8:28. in the place of ashes,
the oil of bliss # 61:3 Or “joy” or “gladness.” See Heb. 1:9. instead of tears, # 61:3 Or “[robes of] mourning.”
and the mantle of joyous praise # 61:3 Or “a splendor-garment.”
instead of the spirit of heaviness. # 61:3 Or “the spirit of failure.” The Hebrew word for “heaviness” (keheh) comes from a root word for “dark,” “dim,” “obscure,” “colorless,” or “gloom.”
Because of this, they will be known as
Mighty Oaks # 61:3 The oak, a hardwood tree, was used to make yokes for oxen and symbolizes strength, might (or mighty men), stability, conviction, uprightness, and resoluteness. This could be the Quercus calliprinos, also known as the Palestine oak. There is a Palestine oak not far from Hebron that has been estimated to be 850 years old. “Oaks of Righteousness” points to a godly, spiritually mature people who will know the righteousness of God and walk in it. Jesus, the Tree of Life, multiplies himself in us so we become trees of righteousness. A Tree became a forest. See Ps. 1:3. of Righteousness,
planted # 61:3 See Ps. 92:13; 1 Cor. 3:9. by Yahweh as a living display of his glory.
4They will restore ruins from long ago
and rebuild what was long devastated. # 61:4 These desolate places can also point to areas of our lives that are broken and spiritual truths that have been lost and forgotten for generations, which are now being recovered. See Acts 3:21.
They will renew ruined cities
and desolations of past generations.
5Foreigners will be appointed to shepherd your many flocks;
strangers will cultivate your fields and tend your vines.
Messiah’s Ministers
6But you will be known as Priests of Yahweh, # 61:6 It has been the desire of God to make all his people priests (see Ex. 19:1–6; 1 Peter 2:1–10; Rev. 5:9–10). This far surpasses the priestly ministry of the Old Covenant (see Heb. 8:6). Under the law of Moses, only the Levites were allowed to be priests, but in the New Covenant reality we are all believer-priests. Once we were covered in ashes, but now we are robed in his beauty as priests.
and called Servants of our God.
You will feast on the wealth of nations
and revel # 61:6 Or “glory.” in their riches! # 61:6 Or “admired because of their wealth” (LXX).
7Because you received a double dose
of shame and dishonor,
you will inherit a double portion
of endless joy and everlasting bliss!
8“For I, Yahweh, love fairness and justice,
and I hate stealing and sin.
I will rightly repay them because of my faithfulness
and enter into an everlasting covenant with them.
9Their seed will be famous among the nations,
and their descendants the center of attention of the people.
All who see them will recognize
that they are the seed that Yahweh has blessed with favor!”
Messiah’s Music
10I will sing and greatly rejoice in Yahweh!
My whole being vibrates
with shouts of joy in my God!
For he has dressed me with salvation # 61:10 See Rom. 13:11–14; 2 Cor. 5:1–5.
and wrapped me in the robe of his righteousness! # 61:10 See Ex. 28:4; Luke 15:22; Rom. 14:17; Rev. 6:11; 7:9–14; 19:7–8.
I appear like a bridegroom on his wedding day,
decked out with a beautiful sash, # 61:10 Or “ornaments,” “[priestly] turban,” or “garland.”
or like a radiant bride adorned with sparkling jewels.
11In the same way the earth produces its crops
and seeds spring up in a garden,
so will the Lord Yahweh cause righteousness and praise
to blossom before all the nations!
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Isaiah 61: TPT
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