The Scroll

Isaiah 61

We find ourselves jumping into the tail end of a message delivered by God through his prophet to the nation of Israel, a message of hope in the midst of reeling from national trauma. Way back in the book of Deuteronomy, God’s people were warned that should they choose to turn from Him, they would be sent into exile, albeit not forever. Then, at the start of the book of Isaiah, God gives another warning as they are headed straight down this path. “You regularly rebel against me, you embrace idolatry, and you abuse the poor and vulnerable.” See, if you were poor—that is, not only financially destitute, but more broadly socially outcast—God’s kingdom was meant to be a beacon of hope. Instead, Israel had become just as terrible a place to live for the vulnerable as anywhere else. God puts it bluntly: “I cannot tell the difference between you and Babylon.” So their rebellion meets its logical conclusion: Israel and Babylon become one and the same, their nation is taken over, and God’s people are sent into exile.

Now in the back half of the book, God’s people have come back from exile—just as God had promised! And what’s more, Isaiah looks forward to a future where a coming Savior will restore the people of God not just to their former glory, but better. He envisions a coming One who would be anointed by God’s Spirit, and would once and for all end the curse of sin, bringing good to the poor, hope for all nations, and life for anyone who would turn to God.

Prayer:

God, though I constantly give myself to sinful desires, I am never too far from your grace. Thank you that in Jesus, I always have hope for forgiveness and new life.

Question to consider:

Does Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for you feel like “good news?” If it often begins to feel unimportant to you, why do you think that is?