Liberty to the Captives - Isaiah 61

Isa 61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

This verse is one of the most powerful prophecies fulfilled by our Lord Jesus Christ, when he came from heaven in the form of a man to deliver us from our sins. As he spoke, we who are in him may speak this as truth. The spirit of the Lord is upon me. The KJV does not capitalize Lord, so it refers to Jesus. The Holy Spirit from Jesus, is upon me; because the LORD (Father God) hath anointed me to preach good tidings (the gospel) unto the meek. I suppose the first application of this was to the prophet Isaiah, who preached the good tidings of a coming savior and his kingdom. Yet, Jesus himself fulfilled the prophesy as the anointed one; Messiah means anointed one and we as his followers are anointed by the Holy Spirit to continue his work of preaching to those who will hear: to the meek and humble. He hath sent us to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives; those both in physical bondage and those souls held captive by satan and personal sin. The opening of the prison to those who are bound. No one can be forgiven of sin, but through the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Another verse I have used with this one for those who are in bondage:

1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Our Lord promises those of faith in him, that he will provide a way of escape from temptation and trials. I have shared these verses many times in witnessing and many upon believing were set free from years of bondage in a matter of weeks. Give all glory and praise to God, who keeps his word. His word is true and powerful and it destroys the work of the devil.

Isa 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

No man knows the day of the LORD but the Father, but now is the day of salvation, now is the time to receive Jesus and be free of sin and bondage. We forgive those who have sinned against us as we are forgiven from Jesus. Vengeance is of the Lord, he will make all things right in his time. At his coming he will destroy all evil and at the judgment all must give account for what they have done. Those of us who have been delivered and given grace shall not be under the wrath of God.

Jesus read Verses 1 and 2 to those of his home town:

Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Luke 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
Luke 4:23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
Luke 4:24 And he said, Verily, I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

Many would not believe in him; but to those who do believe, they are made sons of God.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

He takes away sorrow, shame and depression, giving us a purpose; to glorify God with our lives wherever we are planted.

Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

The work of God continues: Those of Zion, the chosen of God who mourn shall be comforted. They will be given beauty for ashes, a beautiful heart after our Lord Jesus Christ. They will receive the healing oil of joy, a fruit of the Holy Spirit. A garment is given, something to cover us, the garment of praise. Praise covers and protects from the spirit of heaviness and depression. Forget your medications for depression, instead put on praise.

Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Praise glorifies the Lord, not praise to self, but to the LORD; praise that gives him honor and glory. That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. He will make us as trees planted by the living waters as in Psalm 1.

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Isa 61:4 And 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.

My first thought was to repair the United States, to it's original foundation on the word of God. To once again pray and teach the true reason for our counntry in our schools: to learn the Bible and to be a free people seeking righteousness and goodwill.

In the final years of the Babylonian captivity, seventy years had passed and it was time to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls of the city.

Ezra 9:9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem was rebuilt at the time of Ezra and destroyed again after the death of the Messiah. Jesus came to restore souls and to be the atonement for our sins; now is the time of the Gentile church. A remnant of the Jews are being saved. Already Israel is in it's land, restoring the waste places, but when Jesus comes again, he will restore the earth. During the Millennium things will be as they should be with Jesus as king over the earth and it's life. Jesus is a life giving savior, full of grace and truth.

Isa 61:5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
Isa 61:6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

We, who are in Christ shall go to him and be changed into our glorified bodies. We will return at his second coming to earth and rule them him as Priests and kings.

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Isa 61:7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

We will be given back what was taken from us, through captivity and sorrows. All will be restored in abundance. We have this purpose now; to help to restore those who will trust in Jesus and to keep them from falling away.

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

God will give back abundantly to those who have suffered loss for his sake.

Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Mat 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Isa 61:8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

I will make an everlasting covenant with them. (A future promise) The New Covenant in the blood of Jesus had not yet come about. The LORD loves judgment and truth. No offering given is worthy if the heart is not in it. Jesus gave his body as an offering.

Phil 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

King David would not give an offering that did not cost him something.

2 Sam 24:24 ... neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing...

Isa 61:9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

The people of God should shine and be known as the blessed of the LORD.

Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Two beautiful gifts given to those of the New Covenant: the garment of salvation, being clothed in white linens, cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, and a robe of righteousness. A royal robe identifying us as the royal children of God, in Christ Jesus and fellow heirs of his blessings.

Isa 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Jesus shall rule in righteousness to the praise of all who follow. He will make all the earth to flourish, for he is the creator.

Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

The presence of the King on earth will bring his righteousness as ruler and all will offer praise to the Most High King, the Son of God. No false worship and no dying again. Cry Hosanna, the eternal king lives and we are his people of righteousness.

Mat 21:9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Jesus brought and will bring restoration and freedom from sin's captivity and punishment. His grace gives to us a new born again spirit and we are become sons and daughters of God our Father. He is our Savior and our King bringing God's kingdom to earth and restoring earth to it's original beauty as it was in the garden of Eden. He has delivered us from our sins.

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.