Day Twenty-Two – Isaiah 61

Day 22 – Isaiah 61

We are going to start our commentary today by reading a passage about Jesus in a synagogue from Luke 4:16-21. It has direct bearing on Isaiah 61 as you will see:

“When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.’

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

You know how you read Old Testament passages and you *think* they might be referring to Christ? Well. There’s no guesswork when it comes to Isaiah 61. Jesus Himself tells us this about Him. Isaiah saw ahead of time all the miracles and healing Jesus would do. And Isaiah also saw that glorious second coming and all that Jesus would do then, as well. I love how God, in this passage of inspiration, shares His love for the poor, the captives, the blind, the oppressed, those who mourn, and all who are troubled basically. He’s the great Healer and Restorer. He’s the One that helps us to turn from ashes to beauty. To be planted firmly in His love and to grow to be mighty oaks. He clothes us with righteousness.

Your God is for you. Just sit with that for a moment. Wow.

My verse: Isaiah 61:10 “I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.”

My response: It is indeed overwhelming to see how God pursues and loves His Israel. And all of us who go astray. He makes us His own and clothes us like a bride … and some day we’ll sit down with You, Lord Jesus, at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. Your love cost You so much. And we are the humbled and glad recipients.