Isaiah 61

Isaiah 61:1

Isaiah: God controls the nations God’s promises to his special people An EasyEnglish Bible Version and Commentary (2800 word vocabulary) on Isaiah chapters 58 to 66 www.easyenglish.info Norman Hillyer This commentary has been through Advanced Checking.

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Chapter 61 This chapter shows how God will achieve his great purpose for all the nations. His agent is *Messiah (verse 1-3a). The benefits that *Messiah’s people will receive will follow in verses 3b-7. (Note: ‘verse 3a’ means the first part of that verse. ‘Verse 3b’ means the second part.) In verses 8-9 God declares that his desire from his *covenant people is right behaviour. Verses 10-11 show the effect that right behaviour has on all the nations. God’s Servant brings good news v1 The spirit of the *Lord God is with me. God has especially chosen me to be his Servant. He has sent me to bring good news to ordinary people. To cure those whose hearts are sad. To announce freedom for those that enemies have *seized. And to give liberty to those who are in prison. v2 The *Lord has sent me to announce that the time has come to show us his great kindness.

That is, to announce the day when our God defeats all our enemies. And he has sent me to comfort all those who have been very sad. v3 And to give those who are miserable about the fate of *Jerusalem, bright flowers instead of ashes. And a crown (display) of joy instead of a weight that causes hopeless despair. And clothes for a happy party instead of a heavy (sad) heart. Then such people will be called ‘Trees of God’s Goodness’. The *Lord planted them to display his wonderful power.

v4 People will erect again the buildings that enemies ruined long ago. They will rebuild cities that enemies knocked down in former days. v5 Foreigners will be your servants. They will feed your animals. They will farm the land for you. They will look after your *vines. v6 People will say that some of you are ‘the *Lord’s priests’ and ‘servants of our God’. You will enjoy the best food of the nations. You will be proud to possess the riches that once were theirs. v7 My people have suffered a double amount of shame and insults. Now they will receive in their own land a double amount of wealth. And their joy will last always.

Verses 1-3

In the synagogue (meeting room) at Nazareth, Jesus chose to read these words as he began his public work (see Luke 4:16-22). This action by Jesus provides our evidence that Isaiah’s words refer to God’s agent, *Messiah.

Verse 1

It is God who has sent his Servant to bring the good news. So the Servant has authority to speak for God.

 The ‘good news’ is about true freedom, in every way that *Jews and *Gentiles alike may need it.

Verse 3

‘Trees of God’s Goodness’ is a word picture. This phrase expresses what God can do.

 Trees have life inside them. That life causes them to grow and to develop. As a word picture, ‘trees’ remind us about the nature of God’s free gift to his people. He gives them a life of beauty and growth and value.

Verse 4

The *exiles come back to rebuild the towns and villages that the *Babylonians ruined a century earlier. (See Isaiah 49:19 and 58:12 for similar declarations.) That is the primary meaning, but Isaiah also refers to God’s future plans for his people.

Verse 6

The *Lord will appoint some of his people to these jobs (see Isaiah 66:21).

Verse 7

This is the result of God’s actions to replace the people’s earlier pain and loss of land. The *Lord takes care of his own people v8 ‘I am the *Lord. I love my loyal people because they practise *justice. They deal fairly with other people. But I hate thieves and all who act wickedly. I will truly reward my loyal people by a *covenant with them that will never end. v9 Foreigners will greatly respect my people’s future families. And all nations will recognise that the *Lord has acted towards his people with special kindness.’

Verse 8

The *Lord loves *justice because he himself acts fairly (see Psalms 105:7). He works for *justice for all who suffer pain from enemies (see Proverbs 16:11 and Isaiah 45:21).

 But the opposite is also true. The *Lord punishes wicked behaviour.

Verses 8-9

The *covenant that God made with Israel included his promise of favourable actions for his people (see Isaiah 44:3 and 65:23). Other nations noticed. It changed their opinion both of the *Jews and of the *Jews’ God. He was clearly powerful. Shout for joy! v10 The Servant is bursting with joy as he praises the *Lord. Because *Jerusalem is now as a bride who is wearing beautiful clothes. Or, *Jerusalem is as a bridegroom who dresses like a priest. And *Jerusalem’s clothes are called ‘Goodness’ and ‘Security’. v11 The earth causes seeds to grow and to produce beautiful flowers in a garden that everyone can enjoy. So the *Lord will cause goodness and *justice to grow. And all the nations will praise God.

Verses 10-11

A bride and bridegroom dress carefully for their wedding. They wear special clothes to show their character and serious intention.

 Another translation of verse 10 is, ‘I am now bursting with joy as I praise the *Lord. Because I am now as a bride who is wearing beautiful clothes. Or, I am as a bridegroom who dresses like a priest. And my clothes are called “Goodness” and “Security”.’ Isaiah uses these word pictures to suggest that God specially prepares his Servant for a most important task.

 But Isaiah’s words also describe *Jerusalem and its inhabitants. The city’s situation was hopeless. Enemies had ruined it. The city seemed like a widow who wore dark clothes to show her sad feelings. But God would make the city like a beautiful bride again. He would provide it with goodness and security. This would bring about great joy. People everywhere would consider this a good reason to praise God.

© 2007, Wycliffe Associates (UK)

This publication is written in EasyEnglish Level B (2800 words).

October 2007

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