July 12, 2024 - Isaiah 61-66

Isaiah:  “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified” (61:1-3).  Jesus in the synagogue:  “And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him.  He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.’  And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down” (Luke 4:17-20).

Wow, talk about a mic-drop moment!

Hark, the glad sound! The Savior comes,

the Savior promised long!

Let every heart prepare a throne,

and every voice a song.

He comes the pris’ners to release,

in Satan’s bondage held;

the gates of brass before Him burst,

the iron fetters yield.

He comes the broken heart to bind,

the bleeding soul to cure,

and with the riches of His grace,

to enrich the humbled poor.

Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace,

Thy welcome shall proclaim;

and heav’n’s eternal arches ring,

with Thy beloved Name.   --Philip Doddridge (1735)