March 28, 2011
A KEY--OUR GREATEST POSSESSION
Isaiah 61
Ashley Remmert
Central Truth
The greatest possession we have is the Lord's truth that brings those lost in the darkness of death to His light of life, and the greatest thing we can do with that possession is share it.
Key Verse | Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners.
(Isaiah 61:1)
Isaiah 61
The Year of the LORD's Favor
1
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
1
61:1
Or afflicted
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;
2
61:1
Or the opening [of the eyes] to those who are blind; Septuagint and recovery of sight to the blind
2
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3
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.
3
61:3
Or that he may display his beauty
4
They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
5
Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
6
but you shall be called the priests of the LORD;
they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;
you shall eat the wealth of the nations,
and in their glory you shall boast.
7
Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;
instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;
therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;
they shall have everlasting joy.
8
For I the LORD love justice;
I hate robbery and wrong;
4
61:8
Or robbery with a burnt offering
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9
Their offspring shall be known among the nations,
and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge them,
that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed.
10
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to sprout up before all the nations.
Dive Deeper | Isaiah 61
This passage really unpacks how the Lord restores, renews, and grows His people. Jesus Himself quotes Isaiah 61:1-2 in Luke 4:18-19 about the year of the Lord's favor and goes on to say in Luke 4:21 that the Scripture is fulfilled by His presence in the world. Jesus brought all believers under God's favor in His first coming; however, His wrath is yet to come when Jesus returns, and the world will be judged on that day of vengeance of our Lord. We must be diligent in spreading His truth in preparation of His return.
Verse 3 says, "[T]hey will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." We are the display of God's splendor as His followers. Thinking about ourselves in this context, I ask, Are we deeply rooted like an oak tree in our understanding of Him? Are we, like the trunk of an oak, built on a solid foundation of truth by being in His Word and living by it? Like the massive tree, do we display a big beautiful canopy by means of His light shining through us in how we live, the choices we make, and how we bring truth to others? Under the old covenant, only priests ordained by God stood between Him and His people. This chapter tells us of the new covenant that was to come in Jesus making all believers priests of God, reading His Word, understanding and applying it, and bringing this good news of salvation to others.
We hold the key that can unlock the door and release the prisoners of darkness and restore, rebuild, and save lives. The greatest thing we can do with that key is be intentional in unlocking all the doors we can by sharing God's truth with the world. The Lord is just, and the day of His vengeance will come. But we proclaim life everlasting as oaks of righteousness by the grace that He freely gives us through faith in Christ Jesus.
Discussion Questions
1. What are we called to do with this truth?
2. When was the last time you were intentional in sharing God's truth with strangers? How about a friend or family member?
3. Does spending time in God's Word as a means to deepen your understanding of who He is and be better equipped to share His truth take precedence over other things in your life? If not, what are the things that prevent you from spending time with Him?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
ISAIAH 61-65 (MAR 28-APR 1)
Read Isaiah 61:1-3.
Who is this passage about? Go read Luke 4:18-21. How great is that!
What did Jesus come to do?
Activity: Family Relay
Needed Items: hat, cup of vegetable oil, and a sweat suit.
(The hat represents a crown of gladness; the cup of vegetable oil, oil of gladness; the sweat suit, garment of praise.) Put on the hat and the sweat suit, and carry the oil as you run to and around a tree in your front yard. Run back and have the next family members in order put on the hat and sweat suit and carry the oil as they run around the tree and back. Repeat until everyone has run. Time yourselves and see how quickly you can do it.
After the activity: Discuss how God's grace is a crown of beauty, forgiveness is an oil of gladness, and salvation is a garment of praise.