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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
61:1-62:12 The Anointed Preacher Renewing the World. The Messiah will preach into existence his new, liberated people, who will pray into existence his new, redeemed world.
61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me. This looks back to 48:16, and thus the speaker is the messianic servant, who creates a new people by his Spirit-empowered preaching (cf. 11:2; 59:21). Isaiah explains the goal of Messiah's anointing with seven purpose clauses. the poor. See 11:4; 29:19; Matt. 5:3. to proclaim liberty. See Lev. 25:10. the opening of the prison. The return from Babylonian exile, but more than that: spiritual freedom from the oppression of sin and Satan. the year of the Lord's favor. A new era of blessing (cf. Isa. 34:8; 63:4; 2 Cor. 6:2). Quoting this text in Nazareth (Luke 4:18-19), Jesus did not include and the day of vengeance of our God because the display of his wrath awaits Christ's second coming (cf. Isa. 5:25-29; 63:1-6; Acts 17:31; Rev. 6:15-17). oaks of righteousness. Grand, fruitful, lasting, and strong (cf. Ps. 1:3).
61:4 They shall build up the ancient ruins. The poor become, through the Messiah, creative restorers of the sad situations that man has had to live with for so long (cf. 54:3; 58:12). Every human ideal falls into ruins in this world of death, but the new culture of life in the city of God will thrive forever.
61:5-7 Regarding the blessings of the Gentiles coming to God's people, see notes on 60:6-7 and references there; Rom. 15:27. the priests of the Lord. At long last, Israel will fulfill its role among the nations (Ex. 19:5-6; 1 Pet. 2:9). your shame. The failure of God's old covenant people (cf. Isa. 54:4). they shall rejoice. Isaiah shifts from one grammatical person to another (from "your" to "they"), in order to change his focus (cf. 1:29; 5:8; 52:14). a double portion (61:7). Inheriting twice what was expected.
61:8 The promises of God are guaranteed by the character of God (cf. 41:13; 42:6-8; 43:3, 15; 44:6, 24-28; 46:8-11; 48:17; 49:26; 51:12-16; 60:16). an everlasting covenant. See note on 54:10.
61:10-11 The speaker is either the Messiah, the prophet Isaiah, or Zion herself. With the Lord God echoing "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me" in v. 1, it is likely that the Messiah is speaking here. as a bridegroom . . . as a bride. The Messiah will lead his people into the romance of eternal salvation (cf. Eph. 5:25-27; Rev. 21:2, 9). As the earth . . . as a garden suggests a bountiful harvest.
62:1-5 The desolation of God's people will be replaced with delight.
62:1 For Zion's sake. That is, for the sake of the redeemed people of God who dwell in Zion (another name for Jerusalem), the city of God. This emphasis on God's acting for the sake of his people lies at the heart of Isaiah's ministry: God will glorify himself in the renewed and increased glory of his people, and that future is worth living for now (cf. 1:26; 2:2-3; 4:2-6; 9:1-3; 10:20-21; 11:11-16; 14:1-2; 25:1-9; 26:1-21; 29:22-24; 30:19-26; 32:1-4, 15-18; 33:5-6, 17-24; 35:1-10; 40:1-5, 27-31; 41:8-20; 42:6-7; 43:1-7, 16-21; 44:1-5, 21-28; 45:14-17, 24-25; 49:5-6, 8-26; 51:1-3, 11; 52:1-10; 54:1-17; 55:12-13; 57:15-19; 59:20; 60:1-22; 61:1-9; 62:1-12; 65:8-10, 17-25; 66:10-14, 18-23). I will not keep silent. The speaker is either the prophet Isaiah, the Lord, or the Messiah. Since the prophetic intercessors of 62:6 "shall never be silent," it is likely that Isaiah is speaking here. The promises of God compel him to pray.
62:2 Your and you are feminine singular, addressing Zion. a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. He alone defines the destiny of his people, explained in vv. 4, 12 (cf. 1:26; 56:5; 60:14, 18).
62:5 Your sons are the loyal inhabitants of Zion (here, the eternal city of God; cf. Psalm 87). shall . . . marry. A poetic image indicating that the inhabitants of Jerusalem will love and cherish their city: the inhabitants of Zion will forever be committed to and delight in their eternal dwelling place, for the Lord's people are there, and the Lord himself is there. Isaiah's poetic imagery leaves an overwhelming impression of joy, delight, righteousness, beauty, safety, and peace. so shall your God rejoice over you. Boldly drawing on a familiar human image of inexpressible joy and delight, God says his delight in his people will be like that of a bridegroom's delight in his bride. Isaiah explains that in God's great plan of salvation, he not only forgives his people, protects them, heals them, provides for them, restores them to their home, reconciles them to each other, transforms them so they are righteous, honors them, exalts them above all nations, and makes them a blessing to all nations, as he called them to be--but more than all these things, he actually delights in his people.
62:6-7 I have set. The speaker is either the Messiah or the Lord. The watchmen were prophetic guardians, like sentries on a city wall, praying and watching for the fulfillment of God's promises (cf. 2 Sam. 18:24; Isa. 56:10; Ezek. 3:17). they shall never be silent. Cf. note on Isa. 62:1. take no rest. Do not cease to cry out to him; see Ps. 132:1-5. give him no rest. Continue to pray to him, call out to him. See Gen. 32:24-28. Jerusalem (Isa. 62:7) is here the new city of God, the place where his people dwell in safety and in righteousness forever (cf. Rev. 21:2, 10).
62:8-9 not again. God disciplined his ancient people according to the curses of the old covenant (cf. Lev. 26:14-39; Deut. 28:15-68; Judg. 6:1-6), but here he swears, with great solemnity, to display his glory through his merciful restoration to satisfy his people.
62:10-12 God invites and commands everyone to enter into the salvation of Zion.
62:10 The people . . . the peoples refers to God's old covenant people Israel plus all others willing to join them (cf. 56:8; 57:19; John 10:16). clear it of stones. Make an easy way of access into Zion.
