THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS ON ME

Isaiah 61:1-62:12 / Keywords 61:1

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

 

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

    because the Lord has anointed me

    to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

    to proclaim freedom for the captives

    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

    and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

    instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

    instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

    instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

    a planting of the Lord

    for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins

    and restore the places long devastated;

they will renew the ruined cities

    that have been devastated for generations.

5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;

    foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,

    you will be named ministers of our God.

You will feed on the wealth of nations,

    and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of your shame

    you will receive a double portion,

and instead of disgrace

    you will rejoice in your inheritance.

And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,

    and everlasting joy will be yours.

8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;

    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.

In my faithfulness I will reward my people

    and make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 Their descendants will be known among the nations

    and their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will acknowledge

    that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

10 I delight greatly in the Lord;

    my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up

    and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness

    and praise spring up before all nations.

Zion’s New Name

62:1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,

    for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,

till her vindication shines out like the dawn,

    her salvation like a blazing torch.

2 The nations will see your vindication,

    and all kings your glory;

you will be called by a new name

    that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.

3 You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand,

    a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

4 No longer will they call you Deserted,

    or name your land Desolate.

But you will be called Hephzibah,[b]

    and your land Beulah[c];

for the Lord will take delight in you,

    and your land will be married.

5 As a young man marries a young woman,

    so will your Builder marry you;

as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,

    so will your God rejoice over you.

6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem;

    they will never be silent day or night.

You who call on the Lord,

    give yourselves no rest,

7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem

    and makes her the praise of the earth.

8 The Lord has sworn by his right hand

    and by his mighty arm:

“Never again will I give your grain

    as food for your enemies,

and never again will foreigners drink the new wine

    for which you have toiled;

9 but those who harvest it will eat it

    and praise the Lord,

and those who gather the grapes will drink it

    in the courts of my sanctuary.”

10 Pass through, pass through the gates!

    Prepare the way for the people.

Build up, build up the highway!

    Remove the stones.

Raise a banner for the nations.

11 The Lord has made proclamation

    to the ends of the earth:

“Say to Daughter Zion,

    ‘See, your Savior comes!

See, his reward is with him,

    and his recompense accompanies him.’”

12 They will be called the Holy People,

    the Redeemed of the Lord;

and you will be called Sought After,

    the City No Longer Deserted.

Footnotes

a. Isaiah 61:1 Hebrew; Septuagint the blind

b. Isaiah 62:4 Hephzibah means my delight is in her.

c. Isaiah 62:4 Beulah means married.

1. Jesus quoted these words (1-2; Lk 4:18-19) as he launched his Messianic ministry. By the power of the Spirit, Jesus proclaimed good news to the humble and penitent, bound up the brokenhearted, gave freedom to the prisoners of sin. He brought God’s favor to all who received him and God’s judgment to those who did not. He bestows beauty instead of ashes, joy instead of mourning, and praise instead of despair so that his people will be “oaks of righteousness.” The transforming work of Jesus restores our mission to serve God and the world as ministers of God. Because of God’s everlasting covenant with us, we rejoice in him, for we are clothed with righteousness and salvation. Such blessings are given to us not because of what we have done, but because of God’s sheer grace alone. Anyone who humbly receives the gospel of Jesus finds God’s favor.

 

2. Zion became “the Forsaken City” and “the Desolate Land.” But God will keep working until the glory of Zion shines brightly and evidently to all nations. Then Zion will be a splendid crown in God’s hand. Her new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God.” Watchmen are posted, praying unceasingly for the fulfillment of God’s promise for Zion. They prepare the way for people to come to God until our Savior comes again.

 

Prayer Lord, fill me with the Spirit to proclaim the gospel with unceasing prayer for your kingdom.

One Word Your kingdom come!