Scripture Reading : Isaiah 61
Theme : Beginning of a New Life
New Life through Messiah (1-9).
This chapter continues the larger theme of comfort within chapters 40-66. This section describes Jesus’ two comings in one context without any clear distinction. When Jesus came the first time, He quoted only vv. 1-2a in Luke 4:18-19 because His first coming is about saving people spiritually, not about wrathful, righteous judgment on sinners or ushering in the physical Messianic Kingdom on earth. These await His second coming. When Jesus comes the second time, He will make Israel and the whole world righteous. Israel will finally fulfill God’s original purpose by becoming priests to the world (Ex. 19:6). The Messiah will comfort Israel and the world with righteousness.
New Praise to Messiah (10-11).
Most likely this section is a personification of Israel when it has received salvation from God. Israel is referred in first person, singular form. Israel will be clothed with salvation. Clothing of righteousness refers to an imputed salvation/righteousness because it is not from the sinner, but from God. Israel will respond to God in praise for this imputed/alien righteousness.
Praying the Scripture
It is important to understand that our spiritual strength comes from delighting in God and praising His goodness to us. Sorrow over our failures should function to lead us to God and then cause us to rejoice in our Lord because He has covered our guilt and continues to give grace to us in order to conform us into the image/character of Jesus. Sorrow is not the source of our strength, joy in the Lord is (Neh. 8:10). Sorrow is just the beginning of the journey, not the final destination. The proper, concluding response to God’s salvation and goodness is praise, not sorrow. Nehemiah prevented the people from grieving when they were supposed to rejoice in God’s grace. Let us rejoice in the Lord daily and live for Him out of our thankful hearts. Let us not wallow in our sorrow.
经文：以赛亚书61
主题：新生命的开始
靠着弥赛亚的新生命（1-9）。
这个篇幅延续了第40-66章中安慰的主题。这段经文则一次形容了耶稣两回降世，没有作明显区别。当耶稣首次来临时，祂在路加福音4:18-19只引用了这里第1-2节上的经文，因为祂首次降世的目的是要拯救人的灵魂，并非对罪人降下愤怒、公义的审判或在地上建立肉眼能见的弥赛亚国度。后者要等耶稣二次降世才能应验。那时候，祂将使以色列及全世界入公义。以色列终于会履行神原来为他们打造的角色，作世人的祭司（出19:6）。弥赛亚将以公义安慰以色列及全世界的人。
全新颂赞归给弥赛亚（10-11）。
这段经文大有可能描述的是以色列被神拯救时的回应。这里的第一人称指的是以色列，是单数的。以色列将以拯救为衣。公义的袍指的是被披上的拯救或公义，因为这不是罪人所拥有的，乃从神领受的。以色列会因着被披上的公义赞美神。
用经文祷告
我们必须明白：属灵力量是因喜悦于神，赞美祂对我们的良善而来。对自己失败的忧愁当领我们转向神，接着使我们在主里喜乐，因为祂已遮盖我们的众罪，并继续向我们施恩，叫他们更能效法耶稣的模样与性情。忧愁不是我们的力量；靠耶和华而得的喜乐才是我们的力量（尼8:10）。忧愁仅是一段旅程的开始，不是终点。我们对神的拯救和良善当有的最后回应是赞美，不是忧愁。当以色列应该在神的恩典里喜乐时，尼希米阻止他们心里感伤。让我们天天都要在主里喜乐，凭着感恩的心为祂而活。让我们不沉溺于自己的忧愁中。
