61:2
“To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, and to comfort all who mourn.”
It might seem odd that the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance go together, but that is because of our inadequate understanding. Release for the captive demands vengeance on the unrepentant oppressor. When tyrants are ruling there are many who mourn.
61:3
“And to provide for those who grieve in Zion ..” We should note that the promises in Isaiah are both focused on Zion and on all people. So often in debates about the current place of Israel it seems that we think there has to be a choice between the two. This is unbiblical nonsense. Israel, Zion, is special to God, He has not forgotten about them. God’s plan is way beyond anything we could come up with (Rom 11:33-36), and it involves taking His salvation to the whole world, and will result in salvation for Israel. And all this is despite the sin of Israel, and despite our sin. His plan replaces shaes with beauty, and mourning with joy. Praise instead of despair. Then look at the final outcome: “They will be called oaks of righteousness”. God’s plan is that His people are oaks of righteousness, and all this will be for the display of His splendour.
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