1 The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of Yahweh's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified. 4 They shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. 5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. 6 But you shall be named the priests of Yahweh; men will call you the ministers of our God: you will eat the wealth of the nations, and you will boast in their glory. 7 Instead of your shame (you shall have) double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be to them. 8 "For I, Yahweh, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Yahweh has blessed." 10 I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Yahweh will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
This chapter, in its design and structure, is intimately connected with the preceding. That it refers to the Messiah will be shown in the notes at Isaiah 61:1-3, and the main scope and design of the chapter is to show some of the glorious results of his coming.
The chapter may be regarded as divided into the following parts, namely:
I. The public address or proclamation of the Messiah, stating the design for which he had been appointed to his office, and the consolatory nature of his message Isaiah 61:1-3.
II. The happy effects and privileges of his coming Isaiah 61:4-9.
1. The effects of his coming in restoring the old wastes, and in building up the long-fallen ruins Isaiah 61:4-5.
(1) The aid of others would be called in for this.
(2) The sons of foreigners would become tributary to them, and feed their flocks and plow their fields, and dress their vines - that is, the pagan world would become subject to the church.
2. The privileges which would result from Ms coming Isaiah 61:6-9.
(1) Absolutely. They would be named friends of God, and enjoy the wealth of the pagan world.
(2) Comparatively. Their state would be far more than a recompence for all they had suffered.
(3) In the honor which would be put upon them. Their name would be known abroad, and their children be honored as the blessed of the Lord.
III. The occasion of rejoicing which the church would have in this Isaiah 61:10-11.
1. In the beauty and honor with which she would be clothed.
2. In the abundant increase of righteousness and purity.
The subject of the preceding chapter is continued in this; and to give it the greater solemnity, the Messiah is introduced describing his character and office, and confirming the large promises made before, Isaiah 61:1-9. In consequence of this the Jewish Church is introduced, praising God for the honor done her by her restoration to favor, and by to accession of the Gentiles, which is beautifully described by allusions to the rich pontifical dress of the high priest; a happy similitude to express the ornaments of a restored nation and of a renewed mind, Isaiah 61:10. Certainty of the prophecy illustrated by a figure drawn from the vegetable kingdom, Isaiah 61:11.
INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 61
In this chapter both Christ and the church are introduced speaking, in their turns. It begins with the words of Christ, describing his work and office; his qualifications for it; the several parts and branches of it; and the ends to be answered by it; Isaiah 61:1, the reparation of the church; the feeding it by strangers; its being a holy priesthood; its enjoying the riches of the Gentiles; its having honour and joy, instead of shame and confusion; its prosperity in the work of the Lord, and the continuance of its spiritual offspring among the Gentiles, are prophesied of in Isaiah 61:4, and then the church is represented as rejoicing in the Lord, on account of her being clothed with his righteousness, so ornamental to her, Isaiah 61:10 and the chapter is concluded with a promise of her righteousness and glory appearing before all the nations of the world; of which the following chapter is an illustrious prophecy, Isaiah 61:11.
(Isaiah 61:1-3) The Messiah, his character and office.
(Isaiah 61:4-9) His promises of the future blessedness of the church.
(Isaiah 61:10, Isaiah 61:11) The church praises God for these mercies.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.