“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, 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, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 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 61:1 – 3

We are nearing the end of the prophetic words of Isaiah, through whom God is speaking to all mankind.  After admonitions and challenges, together with encouragement and faith, the voice rings out clearly.

These are the words of Jesus, words that describe his calling.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me. Jesus is God in the flesh.  That sets him apart from all sons of man.  That Spirit that drives him is the Spirit of God Almighty.

He has anointed me to proclaim the good news to the poor.  God loves all mankind, but the poor seem to receive special attention. Is it because all of us must bring to God, not our abundance, but our poverty?

To bind up the broken-hearted. That cuts across all classes.  Who among us does not experience the broken heart, broken dreams? Jesus is for us.

To proclaim release from the darkness of the prison. Satan binds.  Jesus sets free.  This is the testimony of all saints now and always.

To comfort all who mourn, those who grieve in Zion.  I find it interesting that there is not a word of hope here for the self-sufficient, the well-off, the seemingly happy souls. The Spirit can only bless those who are needy, actually needy.

To give them crowns of beauty instead of ashes, the garment of despair.  The Spirit of God transforms everything he finds willing to be changed. Those who despair are the ones who will wear the crown of beauty.

The planting of the Lord.  How about that?  We are, by repentant faith, the special orchard or grove of the Lord, rejoicing in his goodness and producing fruit of righteousness for the nations.

Let us embrace this word of truth as we close out 2015 and welcome 2016!