Isaiah 61:1-11

Isaiah: God controls the nations

God’s promises to his special people

Isaiah Chapter s 58 to 66

Norman Hillyer

Chapter 61

This chapter shows how God will achieve his great purpose for all the nations. His agent is *Messiah (verse 1-3a). The benefits that *Messiah’s people will receive will follow in verses 3b-7. (Note: ‘verse 3a’ means the first part of that verse. ‘Verse 3b’ means the second part.) In verses 8-9 God declares that his desire from his *covenant people is right behaviour. Verses 10-11 show the effect that right behaviour has on all the nations.

God’s Servant brings good news

v1 The spirit of the *Lord God is with me. God has especially chosen me to be his Servant. He has sent me to bring good news to ordinary people. To cure those whose hearts are sad. To announce freedom for those that enemies have *seized. And to give liberty to those who are in prison. v2 The *Lord has sent me to announce that the time has come to show us his great kindness. That is, to announce the day when our God defeats all our enemies. And he has sent me to comfort all those who have been very sad. v3 And to give those who are miserable about the fate of *Jerusalem, bright flowers instead of ashes. And a crown (display) of joy instead of a weight that causes hopeless despair. And clothes for a happy party instead of a heavy (sad) heart. Then such people will be called ‘Trees of God’s Goodness’. The *Lord planted them to display his wonderful power.

v4 People will erect again the buildings that enemies ruined long ago. They will rebuild cities that enemies knocked down in former days. v5 Foreigners will be your servants. They will feed your animals. They will farm the land for you. They will look after your *vines. v6 People will say that some of you are ‘the *Lord’s priests’ and ‘servants of our God’. You will enjoy the best food of the nations. You will be proud to possess the riches that once were theirs. v7 My people have suffered a double amount of shame and insults. Now they will receive in their own land a double amount of wealth. And their joy will last always.