Finding Encouragement from God to face life's challenges: Isaiah 61 &62
The book of Isaiah is a spectacular book about God, about how God's people should live, and about
God’s purposes for His people. Mary introduced chapters 56-66 several weeks back describing these
chapters as the final section of this book. Two themes dominate this final section of the book. First: God
will keep his promises to his people. Especially, He will keep his promise to restore Zion. (C.60) Secondly:
The people of God must live righteously. (Is.56:1) The LORD expects his people to live holy lives by doing
what is right. Mary in her teaching also showed that thematically chapters 60-62 comprise the very heart
of this final section. Both Oswalt and Goldingay acknowledge that these three chapters represent the
centerpiece-the center point of a chiasmus- that functions to structure this concluding section. If this is
true, then what is so significant about what these two chapters along with what has already said in
chapter 60 that disclose to us something about God and his relationship to his people? I believe it is
the theme of Encouragement. God wants to encourage his people. These two chapters primarily seek to
encourage the people of God to find strength to face the challenges that confront them day by day. For
this reason, I find these two chapters very worthwhile for us to study and remember.
Recall, last week's lesson. God promised once again to restore and make Zion great. God promised
to make her people blessed once again. So given this wonderful promise addressed to them, what then is
the problem for the people that needs addressing? Goldingay, in his commentaries on Isaiah1identified
both the main issue facing the people of God then, and their recurring daily struggle. The nagging issue
facing the people of Jerusalem was: God has not fulfilled his promises. The city walls remained broken
and destroyed. Many homes remained in a state of ruin. The temple was burned and destroyed. Fields too
remained barren and unfruitful. The people woke up to see this depressing state of ruin day after day.
The people mentally are in a state of ruin themselves. The people including the leaders are depressed,
discouraged, and crushed in both mind and spirit. They need help. They need resources. They most of
all need encouragement. They need strength to energy to engage and to fight the battle that they face
each day. They need mental and spiritual encouragement to be able to rebuild their homes and their city.
These two chapters 61-62, along with the rest of Isaiah, is aimed at encouraging the people then and
now with hope and strength. Let us take a closer look at these two chapters.
I. The prophet shares his testimony to encourage the people of God to look to and depend
upon the LORD for the help that they need in this desperate time. (vs.1-3). What time is it? The time is
sometime after 540 B.C. after which Cyrus told the Jewish people in Babylon that they could go home. In
the first verses of chapter 61, the prophet has just finished trying to inspire the people with an awesome
picture of what God was intending to do for Zion. In chapter 61 the prophet shares his testimony
regarding God's call and commission to be God's spokesman/His in order to tell his people something!
Remember this is not a foreign concept to them. God's people then and now have a rich history of men
and sometimes women being sent to his people to deliver "a message from their God". This is essential
background for understanding this text. For in these introductory words, the speaker is claiming that he
was sent by God to his recipients to give them a message. The main point of this message is to bring
words of comfort, words of encouragement, and words of hope to God's people. Note the following points
from these three verses.
A. God commissioned and empowered the prophet to speak for him. The prophet is keenly
aware that the message that he speaks is not his own. What he has already said and reported in the
previous chapters are Yahweh's words. It is Yahweh's vision of a restored Jerusalem that he already
1
Goldingay, John Isaiah the New International Biblical Commentary p.349 See also Goldingay Isaiah 56-66 p.22-56
conveyed to them. The promises and demands that he has conveyed to them are not the prophet’s own
making. God gave them to him. The prophet conveys this point explicitly by saying that the “the LORD
has anointed me" and that the LORD had sent him. These two underlined verbs are the only two verbs
in these verses. This conveys his strong sense of being sent by God and set apart by God for a task or
commission. In the O. T. anointing primarily means being set apart for God for a task, not primarily as
most Christians understand anointing as being signifying an act for empowering a task. Kings like David,
even a foreign kings like Cyrus were said to be anointed. Priests too! This prophet testifies that God has
set him apart or anointed for a task. Having acknowledged that God has given him a special assignment,
the prophet also strongly testifies that he has God's breath upon him. The prophet testifies that God has
bestowed His Spirit upon him in order for him to enabled or empowered by God to fulfill his duty. (See C
11.2) What is the purpose of this prophet of God? What is said of his mission? The first three verses
are focused on his mission. These verses are familiar to us, since Jesus used them to define his own
mission.
B. God sent his servant-his prophet to encourage his people. If we look at these verses closely we
can discover seven infinitive phrases that describe the mission that the LORD sent his servant to
accomplish. This one sent by God was commissioned to do the following:
1) to bring good news to the afflicted (the poor)
2) to bind up the broken hearted
3) to proclaim freedom for the captives
4) to proclaim release for the prisoners
5) to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor (acceptance)
6) to proclaim the day of vengeance of our
God 7) to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion.
Now, Goldingay made several great comments regarding this list of what this man who was sent by
God would do! God through this individual was seeking to comfort them. God was trying to encourage
them. How? God was trying to encourage them by the means of the message that God sent him to
convey to the people. The message of the prophet would be the primary means by which God would
bind up or heal those with crushed or broken hearts. I think that this is a fantastic insight by Goldingay
regarding the mission of this one so anointed by God.
C. The Message of this Servant! In light of the extraordinary defined outcomes expected from the
ministry and the teaching of this servant-prophet of God, what was the good news that would encourage
them? What? Look closely at the above list. Except for item #5 which the prophet was called to proclaim,
(the year of the LORD's acceptance), the text does not disclose the content of his good news that he was
sent to proclaim. But we can infer from previous chapters some of the key points that this prophet want
them to know and remember. Key memorable points that I remember are: 1) God has truly forgiven
them. No more wrath. (51) 2) God is present with his people in order to them to help. He is on their side
to help them fight their battles. (40-41) 3) God has compassion on his people. God takes care of his
children. (49) 4) God can be counted upon to keep his promises! This last point was actually an after
thought , but it is upon reflection part of his overall message throughout the book.
II. God keeps his promises. He will make things right for his people. (vs. 4-9) In this central section
of chapter 61 the prophet proclaims what God promises to do for his people and through his people.
A. The people of Zion will rebuild their homes and city. (vs.4) God sent them into exile. God
sent Babylon to capture Jerusalem. God sent Cyrus to set his people free and return to a ruined city. But
God called them to rebuild and renew their renewed homes, land, and cities. Verse four indicates a
transformation that has occurred to their hearts and minds. "They shall build up the ancient ruins...they
shall repair the ruined cities."(vs.4) What has happened to these people? The prophet has been
successful. They have accepted his message. Their hearts and minds have been renewed and
strengthened to face the daily challenge of rebuilding their city. How do we know this? Verse three
implies this transformation by the comment that a change takes place in their minds and hearts that
affects their motivation and mental state. They become strong like oaks. As a result of accepting and
believing the prophet's message they are transformed in their hearts and minds. Instead of morning and
grieving over what was lost. They are full of joy. This joy also shows itself in renewed energy. And this joy
shows itself not only upon their faces and but even in the clothes that they wear. "Instead of ashes...the oil
of gladness." Instead of despair, God will bestow on them a "beautiful headdress" (vs. 3 ESV)
B. God assists them in their efforts to rebuild the ruins! How so? God will not miraculously
rebuild the city. But he will provide resources and people to help them. " You will feed on the wealth of
nations, in their riches you will boast." The necessary money to finance the projected rebuilding project
will in part come from foreigners. Foreigners will also provide necessary labor. While verse 5 speaks of
foreigners working in the fields and vineyards, the previous chapter suggested that they would help in
rebuilding the walls of the city. (Is60:10). Previously it was said that Jerusalem had received " double
calamities" for her rebellion against God. (Is. 51:19) Now God has replaced this with a double portion of
his blessing. (v.7) Indeed, God promises that future descendents of God's people in Zion will be known
and acknowledged by the nations as being " a people the LORD has blessed." (vs.9)
C. The Basis for believing God's promise of restoration. (vs. 8) Why should the people who
hear this promise believe the message? In this pivotal verse the prophet discloses why his recipients
should believe what he is telling them. The LORD their God is just and the LORD their God is faithful!
" I the LORD love justice I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness, I will reward them." On one hand,
the prophet appeals to the fact of God's faithfulness. Remember, this was his line of argument in chapter
51. In that chapter remember the prophet appealed for his listeners to wait for God to keep his promise
to comfort Zion- by appealing to the example of Abraham and Sarah. God promised them a son and many
descendents. Look! God kept his promises to them. It took time. They waited for many years for God to
keep his promises. But God was faithful! He kept his promises to them. He will keep his promise to
restore and endow Zion with splendor. Secondly, the prophet appeals to God's sense of justice. God
always does what is just. He loves justice. He will make things right for his people. Indeed, the prophet
says that "he will reward them." I see this as a promise that God will one day vindicate or make things
right for his people. This is very encouraging news to them and it should be for us too.
III. Concluding words of testimony. (vs.10-11) The previous verses have recounted the testimony of
the prophet concerning God's call upon him to proclaim God's message. Overall it was aimed at
encouraging the people of God to depend upon God to keep his promises. From these two closing verses
we gain insight to the prophet's own response to the message that he was compelled by God to proclaim.
What is his response? He is not only encouraged himself; but he breaks forth in praise to God. He is
overcome with joy! "I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices my God." (vs10) Two ideas are going
on here. Goldingay2 is credited for these ideas. The prophet fully believes his own message that he will
proclaim to his listeners. He not only believes it, he is overcome with joy in believing it. Goldingay
comments "The preacher (prophet) models a response to which the whole people is called. They are to be
like the prophet. The people of Zion are to be encouraged and filled with joy just like he is.
Both the people and the prophet need to believe and trust God to fulfill what he their LORD has
2
Goldingay, John Isaiah p.349
promised. The people of God need to offer this response (just like the prophet) before the event actually
happens... the symbolism of the words (and actions) with reference to the adornment of bride or groom
suggests that the response by him also has the resonances of a sign an act which expresses and effects that
which it signifies."3 Now that is some mouthful.
But let me attempt to simplify, what I think Goldingay insightfully sees. The prophet fully believes
what he is commanded to pass on to the people. God is going to consummate the salvation of his people.
He is going to restore Jerusalem and make her great again. He is so excited and fully embraces this
promise because he knows God is faithful and just. God is not only going to make this happen, the prophet
see that the reality of the promise is already happening. God has planted the seeds for this promise to
come true. While looking at Jerusalem now, the people back then see only bare ground-no flowers. But just
wait! God will cause Zion to grow and prosper again, just like Bostonians have been waiting to see tulips
spring from the snow covered ground only two weeks ago. And God their Sovereign LORD4 will make this
happen. Thus he concludes that this eventually will cause an awareness of God's righteousness and
praise for him to spring up among the nations. (vs. 11)
IV. Encouragement not to quit, but to daily seek God's help to face our struggles and challenges.
(Is. 62)
Remember my introductory remarks! Previously, I stated that chapters 61 and 62
constitute the heart and center of the third and final section of the book called Isaiah. It is therefore
perhaps the most important part of the whole section. At the very least, it holds the entire final section
together and draws attention to something that the prophet wanted his listeners to know and remember.
Yet, upon a quick reading of this chapter the average reader once again says "Really!" or seriously! For
here again, upon a quick reading, the average reader might conclude that this is still another of a series of
rambling thoughts by Isaiah or an unnamed prophet of the 6th century to a bunch of discouraged,
defeated, and broken people. A careful and reflective reading of this chapter suggests otherwise! This is a
continuation of the themes and messages of the previous chapter(s). Overall the chapter contributes to
both intensifying the main points that he has made already. God is faithful. God will keep his
promises. God will vindicate Zion. And because this is what is going to happen, the prophet himself
does not give up. The prophet does not rest or stay silent until God fulfills the destiny promised for his
people and that the people themselves are transformed to being and becoming the holy, transformed, and
oaks of righteousness that God called them to be.
A. The prophet promises that he himself will be faithful. (vs.1-7) The first verse introduces us
to the main thought of the chapter- the vindication of Zion as God's people and city. The restoration of the
city has been mentioned several times in the final section of the book. God will keep this promise. And
God will also vindicate which both to show something to be in the right or to in this case to disclose to the
whole world that Zion claim to be both the city of God and the people of God is true. In this first verse
the prophet vows not to rest not to remain quiet until this happens. "For Zion's sake, I will not keep silent.
for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like
a blazing torch." (vs.1) This is a double faced promise. On one hand the prophet is promising to persist in
encouraging the people of Zion to see what God is offering to do for her. Once again in spite of not seeing "
a glorious splendid renewed city, the prophet will not quit encouraging the people to get busy themselves
and do the work of rebuilding the city. (Is. 61:4). Yet these first five verses persistently model what the
3
Goldingay Ibid. p. 349
Did you catch how the prophet reminds us of the dominant theme of God being sovereign which was so prevalent in the early
chapters.
4
prophet has and will remind them concerning God and his purposes for his people. They may think they
are abandoned by God, but this is not true. God already calls them Hephzibah. The LORD takes delight in
them. They will become a crown of splendor in his hand. God according to verse rejoices and (takes
delight ) in his people as a bridegroom marries and takes delight in his bride. (vs. 4) " As a young man
marries a young woman so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will
your God rejoice over you."5 The prophet vows not to give up until this happens. He will not give up until
his listeners get it as will. Now is the day of Salvation. Now is the day of God's Acceptance and favor.
Yet Goldingay, once again, gets it right. Not only will the prophet not be quiet with regard to his
commission to the people, but he will not remain quiet in his prayers to God. The prophet models by his
own life what God calls him and others to do- remind God of his promises. "You who put the LORD in
remembrance take no rest and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes her a praise in
the earth." (Is. 62:6-7) Here the ESV rather the NIV which has call on the LORD gets the sense of the
Hebrew text right. 6 Furthermore, verses 6-7 suggests that God not only raised up prophets like Isaiah
and this prophet, but other men and women through the centuries like Moses, Hannah, and pastors like
Dr. Hugenberger and others to remind us of God and for them to pray to God on our behalf.
B. Get ready and get busy! For the LORD is coming to his people. (10-12)
These final three verses bring to a closing climax this very important central section(60-62) of this
final section of the book. Briefly and emphatically, the prophet makes a few closing points that he wants
his listeners to know and remember. They are the following: 1) Behold " Your Savior comes!" 2) God is
faithful. He will keep his promise to redeem and restore Zion and his people. 3) God's people must be
ready and busy for the LORD until he comes.
1) The final main point that they must take to heart and remember is: the LORD is coming to
save his people. This was the keynote sounded back in chapter 40. "You who bring good news to
Zion....lift up your voice say to the towns of Judah "Here is your God!" See, the Sovereign LORD comes
with power...See his reward is with him. and his recompense accompanies him, ..." The main point in both
chapter 40 and in these two chapters that we have studied today is the fact of God's promised coming to
save his people. This chapter ends once again sounding this message. God is coming. He is coming to
consummate the salvation that he is already in the process of bringing to this earth. “Behold your
salvation comes."
2) He is faithful. He can be trusted to fulfill his promises. We have heard this before. He will
vindicate his people. He will vindicate their faith in Him. Others will see that their claim to know God was
true. God will not abandon them. He will achieve his purposes for them. They will become the Redeemed
and Holy people of God-the faithful city-a city and people of righteousness. (Is. 1:26)
3) God can be counted upon keep his promises. God's people must be faithful to him. These closing
verses assert that in the time before he comes back they must be ready. God's people must prepare the
way for his coming. " Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people." How? " Build
up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. And make a banner -send a signal-for the nations." What is
going on here? While the text certainly implies that the people must get ready by removing obstacles and
build a highway in order that God coming to his people is realized. But this is not the main point! The
main point is that by word and deed the people who are already living in Zion remain faithful and do the
work of " making a banner" and " a highway so that others-the nations are able to come to Jerusalem and
5
This is the latest NIV translation of Isaiah 62. 4 which makes sense of what previously had been a confusing translation by previous
translations of the NIV. See Biblegateway.com
6
Hebrew word ZCR means to remember or specifically the tense of the verb implies to cause God to remember something.
partake of the same promise of salvation that the people of Zion already enjoy. Let us be that kind of
people today. Let us be people that hear him say" Well done good and faithful servant"! This is our
highest reward. This is our recompense! This is what I hope all of us want.