The servant here proclaims the good news that his ministry will restore Zion. The Lord Jesus applied these words to his own mission (Luke 4:18–19).
1NTThe Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me,because the LORDhas anointed Meto preach good news to the poor.He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted,to proclaim liberty to the captivesand freedom to the prisoners,†2NTto proclaim the year of the LORD’sfavor†and the day of our God’s vengeance,to comfort all who mourn,3to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes,the oil of joy for mourning,and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair.So they will be called oaks of righteousness,the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.4They will rebuild the ancient ruins;they will restore the places long devastated;they will renew the ruined cities,the desolations of many generations.5Strangers will stand and feedyour flocks,and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers.6But you will be called the priests of the LORD;they will speak of you as ministers of our God;you will feed on the wealth of nations,and you will boast in their riches.7Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion,and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share;and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,and everlasting joy will be theirs.8For I, the LORD, love justice;I hate robbery and iniquity;in My faithfulness I will give them their recompenseand make an everlasting covenant with them.9Their descendants will be known among the nations,and their offspring among the peoples.All who see them will acknowledgethat they are a people the LORDhas blessed.10I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,my soul will exult in my God;for He has clothed me with garments of salvationand wrapped me in a robe of righteousness,as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress,as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.11For as the earth brings forth its growth,and as a garden enables seed to spring up,so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praiseto spring up before all the nations.
Commentary
Isaiah 61:1
The presence of God’s Spirit ensures the success of the servant’s mission (see 11:1–5; 42:1).
The servant will restore and heal the marginalized poor and the brokenhearted (see 25:4).
Putting ashes on one’s head was a sign of mourning (note the reversal of the judgment stated in 3:16–25). Mourning would be replaced by joy. The words translated crown of beauty and ashes form a wordplay in Hebrew.
joyous blessing (literally oil of gladness): A face covered with oil was a sign of blessing and well-being (see Pss 45:8; 133:2).
The remnant would start out as small offshoots but would grow into great oaks (see Isa 60:21).
Those who belong to the community of God’s people are to imitate the character of God, who loves justice (see Mic 6:8) and hates wrongdoing (Isa 33:15).
Their descendants: The covenant will be effective from generation to generation.
The Lord has blessed them in fulfillment of his promise to Abraham (Gen 12:1–2; see Isa 65:23).
Commentary
Isaiah 61:10
clothing of salvation . . . robe of righteousness: With great joy God will clothe his people with the benefits of his salvation and righteousness (see 51:5; 56:1), like a bridegroom . . . or a bride (see 49:18; 62:5; Jer 2:32; 7:34; 16:9; 25:10; 33:11).