July 13, 2025 - Isaiah 61-66

The closing chapters of the book of Isaiah are full of hope for the nation of Israel.  And, as usual, the good tidings are wrapped up in the person and work of the Messiah.  In Nazareth (Luke 4), Jesus himself quoted and applied the opening verses to himself:  “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” (61:1,2).

Isaiah is so amazed at what he knows that he exclaims, “From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him” (64:4).  And we look to the Lord because he brings good news and he acts on our behalf.  He says to us:  “This is the one to whom I will look:  he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (66:2).

Hark, the glad sound! the Savior comes,

The Savior promised long!

Let ev’ry heart prepare a throne

And ev’ry voice a song.

He comes the broken heart to bind,

The bleeding soul to cure,

And with the treasures of his grace,

T’ enrich the humble poor.   -- Philip Doddridge (1735)