We’ve come to the end of our “Journey
Through the Book of Isaiah!”
In Luke 4:16-22, Jesus spoke in the synagogue of Nazareth, His hometown. He opened up the scroll to Isaiah 61 – perhaps an assigned reading, perhaps chosen by Him – and read from the beginning of the chapter through the first line of verse 2. When He sat down, He simply said today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Jesus is the person described in Isaiah 61:1-3 and He is the one the Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon.
“To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God…” Isaiah 61:2b NKJV
Because
sin is a crime that must be avenged, He will proclaim... the day
of vengeance of our God.
Significantly,
Jesus stopped reading before this sentence. He stopped in the middle of the
prophecy, because to proclaim... the day
of vengeance of our God is relevant to His Second
Coming, not to His first coming. The comma in year
of the LORD, and the day of vengeance has stood for
almost 2,000 years. This shows us something of the nature of Biblical prophecy:
it may “shift gears” and time frames quickly, and without warning.
As
Christians under the New Covenant, we also have an anointing: But
you have an anointing from the Holy One (1 John 2:20).
In the New Testament sense, anointing has
the idea of being filled with, and blessed by, the Holy Spirit. This is
something that is the common property of all Christians,
but something we can and should become more submitted and responsive to.
“Because their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs.”
Isaiah
61:7 NRSV
What life was like for Adam and Eve before they sinned? God Can
Set You Free from Your Shame
Genesis 2:25 tells us that though Adam and Eve were naked in the
Garden of Eden, they were not ashamed. I believe that in addition to indicating
they were without clothes, this Scripture also implies they were totally open
and honest with each other, not hiding behind any masks, not playing any games.
They were free to be themselves because they had no sense of shame. Once they
had sinned, however, they hid themselves (see Genesis 3:6-8).
If not for the work Jesus did on the cross, all of us would have
to live with the overwhelming shame of sin. But because of His sacrifice,
mankind has the opportunity to enjoy perfect freedom with one another and with
God.
Unfortunately, most of us still live with the burden of shame,
even though the Word of God promises us and assures us that we can be free of
it (see Isaiah 61:7).
God can deliver you from shame. Pray and ask Him to set you free
from the shame that tries to build up within you.
But
now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.”
Says
the LORD, who created you... and He who formed you: God
speaks to His people as their Creator. God
has a special and unique claim upon us because He is our Creator. When men
forget or reject God as Creator, they fail in the most basic obligation they
have to God.
Fear
not: This is a command,
accompanied by promises. By
outward circumstances, the people of Judah had reason to be afraid of Babylon’s
army and exile. God points them past the present circumstances to both this
command and promise.
For
I have redeemed you: Not only did Israel have obligation
to God as their Creator, by also as their Redeemer. He
is the one who bought them out of literal exile and spiritual slavery.
The
redeemer bought an unfortunate relative out of their slavery and debt. He
rescued them and paid the slave price or debt they could not pay. When God
calls Himself our Redeemer, it
looks forward to the price that must be paid for our salvation.
I
have called you by your name; You are mine: God twice
owns His people. He has right of ownership both as
Creator and Redeemer. His ownership is personal,
because He says I have called you by your name. His
ownership is certain, because He seals it
by saying You are mine.
Knowing
that we belong to the LORD is a wonderful answer to fear. We can know that He
holds us, protects us, guards us, and cares for us. We can know that He would
not have created, redeemed, and called us unless He intended to finish His work
in us. How can we be afraid when we know this God is for us, is looking out for
our interests?
When
you pass through the waters, I will be with you:
Through any potential obstacle, God will be with us. Deep waters? I
will be with you. Must you walk through the fire?
Then you shall not be burned. When
God is with us, He is for us, and who can be against us?
Israel
had and would have their trials, but we have ours also. Trials are inevitable;
it doesn’t say if you pass through the waters, it
says when you pass through the waters. The
text doesn’t say, “When you walk on a luxurious padded carpet, I will be with
you.” It says God will be with us in the toughest of circumstances. Trials are
varied; sometimes we face waters,
sometimes rivers, and sometimes fire.
Floods overwhelm, fires consume.
“Thus
says the Lord: Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; what is the
house that you would build for me, and what is my resting place? All these
things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the Lord. But
this is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and contrite in spirit, who
trembles at my word.” Isaiah 66:1-2 NRSV
Heaven
is My throne, and earth is My footstool: Here, the LORD puts
things back into proper perspective. We can never understand much of anything
until we understand that the Lord GOD is enthroned in heaven, and that the
earth is under His command – indeed, the earth is His footstool!
Stephen
quoted Isaiah 66:1-2 in Acts 7:49-50, agreeing with Solomon and Isaiah about
the greatness of God the Creator.
Are
you one of those who trembles at God’s word?
“They tremble at the searching power of God’s Word. Do you never come into this
place and sit down in the pew, and say, ‘Lord, grant that thy Word may search
me and try me, that I may not be deceived’? Certain people must always have
sweets and comforts; but God’s wise children do not wish for these in undue
measure. Daily bread we ask for, not daily sugar.” (Spurgeon)
“The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” Isaiah 60:22 NLT
These are two of my favorite passages in the
Book of Isaiah…
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the
past. See I (God) am doing a new thing! (Isaiah 43 18-19a).
God wants to put our eyes on the new work He
will do, so it begins with a reminder to not remember the
former things. If we are stuck in the failure and sin and
discouragement of the past, we will never go forward to the new thing God has
for us.
Every-Day,
Every-Hour, Every-Minute, Every-Second is a chance to start over. Do you need a
do-over? Seek the promises of God!!!
“Arise,
shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.”
Isaiah 60:1 NKJV
“Arise,
shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you.”
Isaiah 60:1 CSB
“Arise
[from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and
brilliance of the Lord]; for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance
of the Lord has risen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1 AMP
Light
has come – so God tells His people to respond to
it, and to arise and shine!
Light
is for rising up. Light is for shining.
When the light has come, we
must respond, and arise, shine!
Let
your Light Shine ✨
Be
Blessed and Be a Blessing!
References:
Enduring Word App
“Life Principles
Bible,” Dr. Charles Stanley e-book
“Old Testament Study
Guide,” Chuck Smith
First Things First with
Christine Caine
“Promises for Your
Everyday Life Devotional,” Joyce Meyer
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