THE LORD IS CLOSE TO THE NEEDY

Reading: Isaiah 61:1-3

Recently, during our sermon series, “THANKfull,” Pastor Jeff used Psalm 107 as the text for “A Thankful Life is a Resilient Life.” I began smiling as I listened to the familiar verses, thinking, “Hey, this is ‘my’ psalm!” It has been “mine” since June 8, 1983, when I made my first of many margin notations throughout the years. I was curious to see how Pastor Jeff was going to use these verses to show resiliency. He did it brilliantly by highlighting 4 areas of difficulty and the final outcomes of each:

• ·         Lost travelers – finally reach their destination
• ·         Prisoners – set free at last
• ·         Sick people – healed from near death
• ·         Helpless/overwhelmed – rescued in nick of time

We see that in each of these problems, people were able to bounce back because they chose to be thankful (see vs 8, 15, 21, 31). But I wondered how they were able to get to this point of thanks, what led them to being resilient. I noticed that after every description, there was a recurring refrain that happened after each group was “at their wits end (vs 27).”  “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distresses (see vs 6, 13, 19, 28).”

I realized when reading today’s verses in Isaiah 61, there is a similar structure and theme, only it is more from God’s perspective rather than ours as needy people. That is, He speaks first from what He does for people in their need:

• ·         He brings good news to the afflicted
• ·         He binds up the broken-hearted
• ·         He proclaims liberty to captives
• ·         He gives freedom to prisoners
• ·         He provides comfort to all who mourn

Then, centuries later, Jesus applied these verses to himself when he was speaking in the temple (see Luke 4:16-20), especially verse 1, which says that Christ was anointed by the Lord God and given His Holy Spirit to be and do all these things! Hallelujah – What a Savior! He sticks close to us to give us all we need to navigate through life. So no matter how we are down and out (afflicted, broken-hearted, etc), Jesus is there to bring exactly what we need to stand tall.

In verse 3, we are called “Oaks of Righteousness” by God, standing tall, as “a planting of the Lord – that He may be glorified!”

Lord, I am so thankful that you are always by my side, rescuing me from myself and anything that comes my way. Help me grow into the name you have given me, “Oak of Righteousness” that I may reflect your glory more each day. Amen.