61:1,2Jesus quoted these words in Luke 4:18, 19. As he read to the people in the synagogue, he stopped in the middle of 61:2 after the words, “the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” Rolling up the scroll, he said, “The Scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” (Luke 4:21). The next phrase in 61:2, “and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies,” will come true when Jesus returns to earth again. We are now under God's favor; his wrath is yet to come.
Life Application Study BibleIsaiahChapter 61
Isaiah 61
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1187, 1188
61Isaiah 61
1and prisoners will be freed.*
2He has sent me to tell those who mournthat the time of the LORD’s favor has come,*and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies.
3To all who mourn in Israel,*he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,a joyous blessing instead of mourning,festive praise instead of despair.In their righteousness, they will be like great oaksthat the LORD has planted for his own glory.
4They will rebuild the ancient ruins,repairing cities destroyed long ago.They will revive them,though they have been deserted for many generations.
5Foreigners will be your servants.They will feed your flocksand plow your fieldsand tend your vineyards.
6You will be called priests of the LORD,ministers of our God.You will feed on the treasures of the nationsand boast in their riches.
7Instead of shame and dishonor,you will enjoy a double share of honor.You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land,and everlasting joy will be yours.
8“For I, the LORD, love justice.Lhate robbery and wrongdoing.I will faithfully reward my people for their sufferingand make an everlasting covenant with them.
9Their descendants will be recognizedand honored among the nations.Everyone will realize that they are a peoplethe LORD has blessed.”
10[am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God!For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvationand draped me ina robe of righteousness.I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suitor a bride with her jewels.
11The Sovereign Lor will show his justice to the nations of the world.Everyone will praise him!His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring,with plants springing up everywhere.
Isaiah's Prayer for Jerusalem
6 2 1 Because I love Zion,I will not keep still.Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem,I cannot remain silent.I will not stop praying for heruntil her righteousness shines like the dawn,
Textual footnotes
- of the Lonp.
- 61:1 Greek version reads and the blind will see. Compare Luke 4:18.
- 61:2 Or to proclaim the acceptable year
- 61:3 Hebrew in Zion.
Life Application Notes 4 notes
61:6Under.the old covenant, God ordained the priests of Israel to stand between him and his people. They brought God’s word to the people and the people’s needs and sins to God. Under the new covenant,.all believers are priests of the LORD (1 Peter 2:5), reading God’s Word and seeking to understand it, confessing their sins directly to God, and ministering to others.
61:8We suffer for many reasons—our own mistakes, someone else’s mistakes, injustice. When we suffer for our own mistakes, we get what we deserve. When we suffer because of others or because of injustice, God is angry. God in his mercy says that his people have suffered enough. God will reward those who suffer because of injustice. He will settle all accounts.
61:10“Me” could refer to the Messiah, the person appointed by the Spirit of the LORD (61:1), or to Zion (62:1), which symbolizes God’s people. The imagery of the bridegroom is often used in Scripture to depict the Messiah (see Matthew 9:15), while the imagery of the bride is used to depict God’s people (see Revelation 19:6-8). We, too, can put on our new clothes— right relationship with God—by putting our trust in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).