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Isaiah 61 Jubilee!
Introduction: In chapter 59, God revealed our helpless condition in sin. As Paul alluded to the same principle in Romans 3, he hit the central point that all of us must remember: “there is none righteous, no not one.” That is the first, and primary message of Romans. The Jewish mentality and the general thought of mankind is that we can attain a measure of righteousness. Paul even quotes Psalm 14:3, “No one does good, not even one!”
Therefore, God’s response was that he was displeased and appalled at the condition of mankind. And since there was no one to intercede, “his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him.” The result in Isaiah 60 is that we are to “Arise and shine” because our light has come.
Now in chapter 61 we again see the Servant/Messiah speaking and describing how Lord anointed him to bring his salvation to the world (Cf. 49). What is the point? Our good news is all about God and more than salvation! Why does God do chapters like this?
The Commission of the Anointed: Transformed People (1-3)
First, notice that it is “the Spirit of the Lord God” that is upon him. “Lord” is Yahweh, the God of the Exodus. He has returned to deliver his people a second time.
Next, the Messiah says that he has been anointed to “bring good news to the poor.” Not those who are comfortable! Notice that what follows is the good news. In 54:7 the good news was, “Your God reigns.” Now, it is the release of the captives and the healing of the brokenhearted. We have been broken over our sins, but it is also true that this world is filled with brokenness that that can constantly leave us in despair (vs. 3). But whatever your brokenness, whatever despair, the Lord’s good news is healing. Only the Lord God is our good news.
The word “proclaim” is used twice and refers to “liberty” in two ways. First are the “captives” and those in “prison.” This is another of Isaiah’s “exodus” pictures. We will see this again in chapter 64.
But verse 3 presents another “liberty.” The word used here is only used four times in the OT. It is the same word used in Leviticus 25:10 for the Year of Jubilee. Consider the anticipation you would have for the Year of Jubilee if you had lost all your lands to poverty, you had become a slave and were deep in debt. What a blessing! What is impressive is, we are enjoying that Jubilee today. Notice the description of us in our Jubilee:
After mourning and being ashamed of our sins and suffering for what we have done, we are given a beautiful headdress, or “crown of beauty” (NIV). We are anointed with the oil of gladness.
Instead of having a faint spirit (a spirit of despair, NIV), we are given clothing that are garments of praise.
Notice especially those who mourn [for the ruined state] in Zion. Grieving over the condition of the people around us is having the heart of God
Instead of being like an “oak that withers” (1:30), we are now “oaks of righteousness” – strong, lasting trees that proclaim God: “a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor” (NIV). This is the result of Jubilee. Are we living as a “planting of the Lord” so that he is glorified?
Remember also, Luke 6:40, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” As we have seen throughout the latter half of Isaiah, whatever the Servant/Messiah does, so will his offspring do. We are his offspring and if he proclaims the good news and the year of the Lord’s favor, so we do as well.
But we must also notice that the proclamation is not just liberty, but a “day of vengeance.” Note: Vengeance is a positive proclamation. Israel would rejoice over it because it is the crushing of the enemies. There is no salvation without relief from the oppression brought by Satan and his allies. (2 Thes. 1:5-9)
Finally, this section reminds us of our complete transformation, for which we must give thanks every day!
Restoration! (4-11)
Verse 4 is so important for us. As we serve God each day and week and as we come together and worship, it is easy to “get lost in the trees,” to see what God is doing.
“They shall build up…” Who? Those who had mourned and were of a faint spirit now are those who are building up the ruins. The Lord is using a physical picture of a spiritual building. Cf. Amos 9:11-15.
The apostles asked about this very question in Acts 1:6 and Jesus’ answer was the preaching of the good news to all the earth. In Acts 8:12, Philip “preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. The result was that men and women were baptized. In Acts 3:19-21, Peter called on the people to repent so that the times of refreshing would come from the Lord, “whom heaven must receive until the restoration of all things.”
What are we doing? We are building up the ancient ruins. That Garden of Eden scene is now in our grasp. We are living in the “year of Jubilee,” and it is no longer a physical Jerusalem that we rebuild, it is a heavenly Jerusalem. We have come to Mt. Zion, not Mt. Sinai.
Verses 5-7 may at first appear that the foreigners became Israel’s servants or second-class citizens. Instead, the idea is that those who formerly tried to take what Israel had and dominate them (Midianites), now will gladly cooperate in building the Kingdom. They will even be “shepherds” over the flocks. Indeed, from Israel’s point of view, an amazing thought that the shepherds of Israel would be foreigners who came into the kingdom.
“And you will be called priests of the Lord” (NIV). Note that NIV does not begin with “but,” as in contrast, but a complimentary role with those who shepherd.
We often do not appreciate God’s description of us as priests. There are two important aspects of this: This is a fulfillment of Exodus 19:5-6 where the Lord promised to make Israel and “kingdom of priests.” Peter confirms this in 1 Peter 2:9, “a royal priesthood.” We often only think of priests as those who ministered in the tabernacle. But their primary role was bringing the people to God and to holiness by teaching them God’s ways. They were repeatedly condemned when they did not do this (Malachi).
In verses 6-7, instead of the nations taking away Israel’s wealth, they bring their wealth to Israel, thus enriching the Lord’s kingdom. Before they had shame and embarrassment, but now they possess a double portion, a picture of the birthright and therefore as a favored, firstborn son, just as Jacob conferred the birthright to Joseph instead of Reuben.
And please do not miss the final phrase, “they shall have everlasting joy.”
Verses 8-9 gives us a reason for God’s change of heart toward his people.
It is because they have been changed. Verse 3 reminds us that God has made his people “oaks of righteousness.” That is, we now stand for righteousness. We exemplify righteousness. Whereas before, “none were righteous,” so now we are examples of righteousness. That is why now God gives “their recompense” or “reward” (NIV) and makes an everlasting covenant with them.
The phrase, “I hate robbery and wrong” is rendered by the Massoretic Text as “robbery in/with burnt offering.” In other words, it is pollution of worship. It is wicked living along with a pretense for God.
Notice in verse 9, we are considered the “offspring of the Lord.” As First John states, we are children of God, and therefore we act like God. Isaiah 53:10 started this offspring picture. When the Messiah offered himself for guilt, he would see his offspring.
Further, the offspring of the Lord produces descendants, more offspring of the Lord. Parents, your goal, your highest goal, is to produce offspring of the Lord – not become champion soccer players or the smartest person in school, etc.
Verse 10 is the people’s response to what God has done. We should ask ourselves if this is our response. It is the response God expects after he has released us from bondage and healed us from being brokenhearted.
Notice that it is God who clothes us. We wear garments of salvation and righteousness. Notice that God gives us more than salvation; he gives us righteousness. We need to never forget that salvation is a deliverance from the bondage of unrighteous living to being clothed with righteousness – reflecting him!
Next, we are clothed for marriage. It is the ultimate purpose and the ultimate beauty. Eph. 5:25-27; Rev. 19:6.
But don’t get caught up in the garments as much as the reason. We rejoice in the Lord…who clothed us so we can be with him. Apart from the Lord, there is no joy.
Verse 11 Just as the earth sprouts, so God is the one who causes righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations. In other words, if you plant a garden, do you expect that it will sprout? I’ve planted many gardens, they always sprout. And when it rains, the grass and all the seeds God has put in the earth spouts. That’s a surety. It is the same surety as God transforming us into oaks of righteousness. Therefore, don’t let your failures cause you despair!
Conclusion: In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus came to Nazareth and attended the synagogue on the Sabbath. He was given a scroll of Isaiah in order to do the traditional reading. The text he chose was Isaiah 61:1-2, in which the Messiah spoke of the Lord’s anointing that he might proclaim liberty to the captives and year of the Lord’s favor. After the reading, Jesus sat silent for a moment while “the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.” Then he said, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Jubilee had come! Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Berry Kercheville