Do you really know that this is how God has worked in the past, and how He continues to work and move and inspire and strengthen today?
Isaiah 61 and Luke Chapter 4 – “The Spirit intervening variable of the sovereign Lord is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor – He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted.”
After all the rather hard and harsh truths which Isaiah was given to proclaim during his lengthy prophetic ministry, God places these words in his heart.
We are reading here of how God would intervene spectacularly.
As we approach this season which many call ‘Advent’ – in a year which has been like no other – we so need the comforting grace of our gracious God and the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit – and where better to open our hearts than to the truth and truths of Scripture.
Isaiah senses that the Spirit of the Lord God was upon him.
Isaiah knew he was anointed by God – that can make a man speak out boldly and courageously – that can also make a man tremble. When you do speak out you tremble – and when you do not speak out you tremble.
Without the Spirit of God we would not have any live living message to preach – and without the Spirit of God we cannot receive and embrace the word which is preached and proclaimed.
The good news of God needs the Holy Spirit’s anointing.
There came a time in Isaiah’s ministry when he had to do something new and say something fresh – and for these tasks God gave Isaiah the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
It all appears so remarkably simple and straight forward at the first reading.
The good news was to the poor – to those people who had been taken off into captivity – and who had been driven from their homes – because of their sin, and the sins of their parents.
They became broken hearted, and God sent Isaiah with a healing soothing uplifting and encouraging word – and it was also a word of freedom – and a word of hope and strength.
God had not forgotten His people – He never will.
Verses 1 to 5 – Those who had been prisoners by the Rivers of Babylon were going to be liberated and released and delivered from this prison – and blessed. Isaiah is standing tall here.
This is our God – always wanting to bless His people – but dealing with those who oppose Him too. Those who were sad, and mourning, were going to be comforted and strengthened.