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.
