The Prophecy of Isaiah - Lesson 48: “Good News for God’s People” (Isaiah 61:1–11)

The Prophecy of Isaiah: A Bible Study
“Good News for God’s People” (Isaiah 61:1–11)*

1. God’s Spirit-Led Anointed One (Isaiah 61:1–3)

• The Anointed One’s Source of Strength (Isaiah 61:1a)

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,... (Isaiah 61:1a, NIV)

• The Anointed One’s Task and Ultimate Purpose (Isaiah 61:1b–3)

¹ ...because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, ² to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1b–3, NIV)

• The Anointed One’s Identity

¹⁴ Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. ¹⁵ He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. ¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” ²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. ²¹ He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:14–21, NIV)

2. Israel’s Rebuilt Cities (Isaiah 61:4–9)

• Ruins Rebuilt (Isaiah 61:4)

⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. (Isaiah 61:4, NIV)

• Foreigners Employed (Isaiah 61:5)

⁵ Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. (Isaiah 61:5, NIV)

• People Sanctified (Isaiah 61:6–7)

⁶ And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. ⁷ Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. (Isaiah 61:6–7, NIV)

• Covenant Realized (Isaiah 61:8–9)

⁸ “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. ⁹ Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.” (Isaiah 61:8–9, NIV)

3. Israel’s Exultation (Isaiah 61:10–11)

¹⁰ I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ¹¹ For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. (Isaiah 61:10–11, NIV)

*The outline for this lesson is drawn from Bryan E. Beyer, Encountering the Book of Isaiah: A Historical and Theological Survey, Encountering Biblical Studies (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2007).