ISAIAH 61:1-3

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

ISAIAH 61, VERSE 1 (SECOND LESSON) ...

Jesus' first recorded sermon is described by Luke in the fourth chapter of his great Gospel. The "text" Jesus used is found in Isaiah 61. Here's the first verse of the Isaiah prophecy:  "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." Today look with me at just this clause: "The Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek." In Luke's report (King James Version) of Jesus' sermon event these words are found: "He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor." Jesus was an anointed Preacher!  Isaiah's prophecy uses a Hebrew verb for "anointed" which means ("mashach") to smear or spread a liquid upon something or someone.  (Hence, "anoint" in a religious sense!)  One lexicon says: To rub with oil! Now if you will look at that Hebrew word a bit ... mashach ... you might be reminded of an English word that it "gives" to us --- Messiah (The Anointed One of God)! This "oil" is a picture of the Holy Spirit! The verb is used 69 times in the Bible and is translated "anointed" 68 of those times.  (It is rendered "painted" once!  Jeremiah 22:14) This is a "perfect" verb ... meaning that the action is completed! God equipped Jesus fully with the Holy Spirit ("without measure") once and for all! The verb "preach good tidings" is all one word in Hebrew --- "basar" means "to publish, to show forth, to bear news or to announce!"  Strong's word dictionary says it means: To be fresh or full!  To announce glad news! Now that is exactly what the New Testament word for Gospel means:  good news!" (The Greek "euangelion" gives us our words evangelize and evangelist!) Isaiah's "preach good tidings" is a "Piel" stem verb --- indicating that the action is intensive!  Really preaching fervently!  And it is an infinitive meaning that the action here is continuous.  Jesus preached constantly during His days of ministry here. But to whom did He preach?  To the only crowd who will ever listen to preaching about God's good news! To the "meek."  (Hebrew = "anav")  The word means "depressed" or "afflicted."  Bible teachers believe the word is linked to the adjective that means "humble." The proud don't need God's help or God's message ... and they will tell you so rather quickly! The truly meek are glad for a word of "salvation!" Of course by the time the Holy Spirit of God gets through with someone via His ministry of "conviction" ... he or she will be humbled and meek! Is anyone today thankful that someone preached to you the "good news" of Jesus' Death, Burial and Resurrection? Is anyone well aware that true preaching is "anointed" of God?  Again, the Oil of this "anointing" is a type of the Holy Spirit Himself! Is anyone ready to praise God today that He made you "humble" and "lowly" and "meek," convicted of being "lost" and on your way to hell (as a sinner)? I say ... thank God for salvation this Tuesday morning! Let me tell you what I believe.  It is my conviction that Jesus was the greatest Preacher Who ever set foot on this earth (or ever will)!  He was "anointed" as no other!  He "preached" as no other!  He loved the "meek" as no other ever did! I praise and worship Him today!

ISAIAH 61, VERSE 1 (THIRD LESSON) ...

Isaiah 61:1 has a clause that is very enlightening.  It is written prophetically of our Lord Jesus.  First here's the whole verse ... "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound."  (Isaiah 61:1) Today's study involves the words:  "He hath sent Me to bind up the Brokenhearted." Here's immediate proof that Jesus was SENT on His mission.  (Sent by the Holy Spirit!)  This verb "sent" is in Hebrew "shalach" and means "to send ... especially as a messenger!"  It's a "Qal perfect" verb, telling us that this action is already completed.  Jesus, the Sent One, has already come to die on Calvary and will never come again for THAT purpose!  (It IS only through the Cross that He is able to do the things listed in this great verse!) By the way, a "Sent One" in New Testament terminology is an "Apostle!"  This says that Jesus is The Apostle of God!  So does Hebrews 3:1 --- "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus." The next verb is "bind up" and means "to wrap firmly" as a turban or a compress.  The Hebrew "chabash" is only used 33 times in the whole Bible.  It is strangely expressed here as a "Qal infinitive!"  Let me tell you what that means. Watch carefully. Whereas the previous verb, "sent," is a "Qal perfect!" Grammatically that means that though Jesus was only sent once ... in the past ... to die on Calvary (finished action) ... the results of that Death ... such things as binding the brokenhearted and setting captives at liberty are still happening (continuous action)! Glory to God!  This is an important distinction. When I think of this word in reference to Jesus ... I can see the "Good Samaritan" at work!  There is one more outstanding thing about this little verb.  Of its 33 uses in the Scriptures, it is translated "bind up" or "bind" only 14 times.  It IS further translated "to saddle" 13 times and "to govern" 1 time.  The implication is that when Jesus does bind up the brokenhearted (a picture of saving an old lost soul) ... He also "saddles" that soul and puts him or her to use in the Kingdom of God!  He moves into the life He "saved" and begins to "govern" as Lord!  (Wow!  Thank God for dictionaries!) Lastly, the "brokenhearted" are those ("shabar") who have been "broken, crushed, shattered or wrecked!"  What a word!  This is a "Niphal participle" ... indicating that it's in the passive voice and its sense of time is constant ... ongoing.  These "brokenhearted" have been crushed by something other than themselves!  Maybe the devil!  Or just sin itself!  Or one of their so-called "friends!"  (If you associate with sin ... you WILL get hurt!)  And the pain of this suffering is long lasting!  It is eternal if one dies lost and goes to hell! Here are some of the ways our King James translators rendered the word:  break, destroy, hurt, torn, crushed ... and even once "give birth!"  The "give birth" translation is in Isaiah 66:9.  Read it with me.  "Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God."  Now remember, "bring to birth" is the same word we have in our verse for "brokenhearted!"  It actually looks like the REASON God allows "brokenheartedness" may be to "bring forth" life.  Does God sometimes send heart-rending trials to bring someone to the (new) birth?  It certainly seems to appear that way. I sure am thankful this Wednesday morning that our God is able to "bind up the brokenhearted!"  I KNOW He does that so very well!  He has done it for me! Thank you for studying with us this morning.  (I think I'm speaking to some other formerly "brokenhearted" folks who now love the Lord!)

ISAIAH 61, VERSE 1 (FOURTH LESSON) ...

As you well know by now, these Pages on drmikebagwell.org are dedicated to Bible study. If you wish to know anything about us personally, about the only place you'll find it is on the "Standing With The Bagwells" Page. Usually there (near the bottom of the Page) is some "news and notes" material.  (The "With a Bible In My Hand" Page contains some personal photos I've made through the months ... but all with a Scriptural emphasis.) This Thursday notice with us another small part of Isaiah 61:1.  It is a portion of the "text" Jesus used in His first recorded sermon (Luke 4).  "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound."  (Isaiah 61:1) We've been studying our way through this great verse and are now at the words: "To proclaim liberty to the captives."  Jesus proclaimed liberty to the captives! The verb "proclaim" is a little Hebrew term "qara" which is used 735 times in Scripture!  It means to utter a loud sound or to make a proclamation.  Some lexicons even say that it means "to accost" a person!  To "accost" someone is to interrupt them and insist upon some particular action!  I just learned something from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary! The verb "accost" is from a Latin background.  Ac-cost fuses two words together. "Ad" (which in English becomes "ac-") means "by or with."  And "cost" is Latin for one's "side!"  It literally means "by one's side."  To come up beside a person and invite them (vigorously) to participate in some plan! Now the reason I went into all that definition is because of its similarity to another Bible word (but in Greek), "paraclete."  It also means "para" (by or with) and "kaleo" (called).  A "paraclete" is one who is called by your side to help and strengthen you! Now the interesting thing is that in the New Testament the "Paraclete" is the Holy Spirit of God!  "Paraclete" is translated in such ways as the "Comforter" or the "Consolation!"  It is also used of Jesus in 1 John 2 where He is called our "Advocate!"  So Isaiah of long ago sure knew exactly what he was talking about, didn't he? But what did Jesus proclaim to these captives?  Liberty! He brings Liberty (in Hebrew "deror").  It means "a flowing" or something that "runs freely!"  It is only used 8 times in the King James Bible ... 7 of which are translated "liberty" and once it's rendered "pure!"  The "pure" usage is found in Exodus 30:23 in reference to "pure" myrrh of the Holy Anointing Oil!  (Another association with the Holy Spirit!) I have noticed in reviewing those 8 references that the expression "proclaim (or proclaiming) liberty" is found several times in the Bible.  It seems to be one of the great preaching themes of Scripture!  And twice it is uses of the "liberty" given to former captives at the Year of Jubilee in Israel!  (Leviticus 25:10 and Ezekiel 46:17) Here one wants to take a "break" and study that great 50th year of Jubilee!  (I'd say that the year Jesus died was THE GREATEST OF ALL years of Jubilee!)  Also let me just add that this "flowing" liberty reminds me of the Hebrew words for doctrine and prophesying --- both of which have the idea of something "dripping, dropping, flowing, or even running!"  (As water does!)  Where does an old sinner learn of the Liberty that's available in Christ Jesus?  Through the Word of God and its preaching! To whom did Jesus preach?  To the "captives!"  "Shabah" is a Hebrew noun that means the ones who have been "led away."  People who have been "taken."  (One text:  To carry away into slavery!)  Jesus sets the slaves free!  The first Bible use of the word is found in Genesis 14:14 where Abraham's nephew Lot was taken "captive." For those of you who want a little more "study," the second use of the word is in Genesis 31:26 where Laban accuses Jacob of taking "captive" his own wife (Rachel or Leah)!  Some critics today accuse Jesus of taking a Bride and making her "captive!"  All I can say is "JOYFUL CAPTIVITY, BLESSED CAPTIVITY!"  Paul constantly called himself a "slave" (servant) of Jesus Christ! We ought today to be so thankful that our Lord Jesus came and set us captives free! I was in bondage to sin ... but now I am "at liberty" forever! John 8:32 says it all:  "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  Jesus is the Truth according to John 14:6!  And the Word of God is the Truth according to John 17:17!

ISAIAH 61, VERSE 1 (FIFTH LESSON) ...

The opening paragraph of Isaiah 61 describes Jesus' goals as a Preacher! (However keep in mind that He is the Son of God also!) Look at verse 1 of the text:  "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound."  Jesus opened His preaching ministry with these very words (at least as far as His "recorded" preaching words are concerned).  This is recounted in Luke 4:16-30. Today we are going to look at the last clause of that great verse:  "And the opening of the prison to them that are bound." Just what does that mean? The expression "opening of the prison" translates one Hebrew (compound) word.  It looks like this: "peqach-qoach."  It is really a doubled from of the same noun! Strong's concordance (dictionary portion) says that it means "a jail delivery" or "a release from a dungeon!"  Then it adds this little fact.  The noun originates with a verb that means: "To open the senses, especially the eyes!"  (When all one's senses are non-functioning ... that man is DEAD!) This gives new meaning to the hymn "Amazing Grace!"  You will remember the words ... "I once was blind ... but now I see!" The word also carries the idea of opening something WIDE!  Completely!  Also note that this word is only used once in all  of Scripture. That obviously occurs right here in our text. Our God can open prisons for the bound! That's a perfect picture of what happens when a sinner gets saved!  He gets "liberated!"  He was a salve to sin and wicked passion ... and the Lord set him free! He could not spiritually hear or see or taste or feel or even smell.  But that has changed and he can now do them all! Watch!  Revelation 2:7 --- "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches"   Next notice Hebrews 12:2 --- "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."  Even taste is mentioned in Psalm 34:8 --- "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."  To "feel" is even illustrated in places like 1 Thessalonians 5:26 --- "Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss."  (Or negatively in 2 Corinthians 6:17 --- "Touch not the unclean thing.")  And smell?  2 Corinthians 2:15 and 16 --- "For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?"  The word "savour" means aroma!  (Wow!)  All five physical senses are re-stated on a spiritual plane! Those verses alone could make a pretty good Bible study!  I was dead.  Jesus gave me life (eternal life)!  Now I can operative with spiritual sensitivity to the glory of God! The verbal "bound" (Hebrew = "asar") means "to yoke something!"  (Or to "hitch" or to "fasten" in any sense!)  The state of being "bound" (a Qal passive) was one that continually existed for the former prisoner until he was set free!  The "passive" voice means he did not bind himself ... but was overpowered (by his own sin)!  The first use of the verb is in Genesis 39:20 where Joseph was "bound!"  (Our greater Joseph was "bound" to a Cross ... that we might be given liberty!) Notice our word as it is used in Psalm 146:7 --- "The LORD looseth the prisoners." Prisoners translates "asar!" We old former sinners (now saved by God's Grace) ought to be praising the Lord today! He came to where we were ... and opened the prison house of sin ... and set us free! In Micah 2:13 Jesus is called the "Breaker!"  It's one of His little known Names!  "The Breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them."  He was a Breaker in all our lives. He came to our "jailhouse" of sin and vile passion and iniquity ... and broke us out of there! Again, Praise His Name!

ISAIAH 61, VERSE 2 (FIRST LESSON) ...

We have been investigating the Isaiah text of Jesus' first recorded sermon!  The last clause Jesus read (according to Luke 4:17-20) is found in our verse for today! "To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn"  Isaiah 61:2 The only part of the verse Jesus read and exegeted ("to lead out" the meaning of a passage) is:  "To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,"  Jesus actually stopped His text at a "comma!" (This so far has been a 2,000 year comma!)  It represents the time span between the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of His vengeance! The term "acceptable year of the Lord" is believed by many to be a technical expression referring again to the "Year of Jubilee."  The Spirit Anointed Preacher of Isaiah 61 (fulfilled in Jesus) would bring liberty to the captives in the sense of declaring a Year of Jubilee (freedom) for the slaves! The adjective "acceptable" (Hebrew = ratzson") means: pleasant, delightful, favorable or filled with good-will (grace)!  It comes from a verb that means: to be pleased with ... or more specifically; to satisfy a debt!  Did you hear that?  "To satisfy a debt!" If Jesus on the Cross satisfied our (sin) debt (which He did) ... then He is our "Kinsman-Redeemer!"  The Year of Jubilee Scriptures also discuss the Kinsman Redeemer concept (in back-to-back paragraphs)!  See Leviticus 25. The word "year" is interesting.  It is derived from a verb that means "to fold over" or just "to duplicate."  It represents some period of time that is repeated occasionally. It became the term the Israelites adopted for a "year," a revolution of time that recurred every 12 months! The "preaching" verb here --- "to proclaim" --- is the Hebrew root "Qara."  It means to call out loud!  It's a pretty strong verb, too!  It carries the idea of approaching a person and demanding a hearing!  Strong's Exhaustive Concordance has a word dictionary in the back ... which says our word means "to accost" someone!   To halt him (or her) in his (or her) path and expect a response to the message! Notice that the Grace time ("Acceptable Year of the Lord") lasts longer than the Judgment time ("Day of Vengeance").  Our God is a God of love!  BUT He will judge the wicked and they will suffer eternally if they reject God's Grace! Now back to that "Year of Jubilee" concept for a minute ... since that's exactly what our text is mentioning.  It occurred every 50th year for Israel.  (After 7 series of Sabbatical Years)  During the year of Jubilee all land reverted to its original owners ... and all slaves were set free! (Back then land could be taken as a result of bad debts!  People also could "work off' unpaid debts by being servants of the one to whom they owed such money!)  But that servitude and poverty was "broken" on the year of Jubilee and releases had to be given for all property and people!  The only exception I can see to this (again, based upon Leviticus 25) is when a "Kinsman Redeemer" arrived on the scene.  He could "redeem" (buy back one's possessions or set the slave free) anytime ... provided he paid the price required! (If he had the money ... was related to the victim ... and was willing to spend ... He could "redeem" them early!)  Just as Boaz was the Kinsman Redeemer to Ruth ... Jesus IS our Kinsman Redeemer! (By the way, back on the clause "to proclaim liberty to the captives," the word "liberty," in Hebrew ... "deror," is another technical term that refers to the Jubilee Release Program!  See Leviticus 25:10 and Jeremiah 34:8 and 15 and especially Ezekiel 46:17!) This I know ... when Jesus found me I was a slave to sin.  I had lost all to iniquity and degradation.  But He REDEEMED me!  And I've been praising Him ever since! (I believe that through His Holy Spirit and real God-called Preachers ... Jesus is STILL preaching "the acceptable year of the Lord!") Someone listen today!  He will save (deliver) you!

ISAIAH 61, VERSE 2 (SECOND LESSON) ...

We have been studying the text Jesus used in His first recorded sermon.  He preached from Isaiah 61. The Lord's sermon is recorded for us in Luke 4. He either stopped His reading of His text in Isaiah 61:2 at the comma (after the word Lord), or Luke only recorded the text that far (using a literary procedure called an ellipsis). Either way, here are the first 3 verses of Isaiah 61.  "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."  Isaiah 61:1-3  One of the most unusual clauses in the passage is today's Home Page focus.  "To proclaim ... the day of vengeance of our God."  Luke did stop the printed text just before these words ... BUT Jesus DID preach that day (again, based on Luke 4) on God's judgment or vengeance! The noun used for "vengeance" is a Hebrew word, "naqam."  It means "revenge!"  It is derived from a root verb that means "to grudge or to punish!" Now don't misunderstand me.  I am just defining the term.  God NEVER has sinned and NEVER will! This "vengeance" of His is not wicked in any way.  The Lord's wrath is NOT based upon any selfish motives or impure responses.  BUT God will some day exact the right payment from sin for all the damage it's done!  God will punish rebels who refuse to repent! Jesus had quite a bit to say (in His public ministry while on earth) about the coming times of God's judgment.  He even mentions it in the Luke 4 sermon! This "day of vengeance" is often called the "Day of the Lord" in the Old Testament. Hear me well. Jesus preached about Heaven ... and about Hell! He offered Salvation ... but warned of Damnation to those who refused His offer of Grace! By the way, the first Bible use of "vengeance" was an act of grace!  Genesis 4:15 says --- "And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him."  (Wow!) Our word vengeance is translated "punished" twice in the King James Version. Those examples may be found in Exodus 21:20 and 21.  But the first use of the word in Scripture IN THIS VERY FORM is in Deuteronomy 32:35 where we are told that vengeance belongs unto God!  He OWNS it! Still today the love and grace of God need to be preached ... but right along with His righteousness and judgment! I am so glad that Jesus was a "balanced" Preacher!  In fact, He was (better make that IS) a Perfect Preacher!