The Year of Favor

UTOPIAN visions never succeed. “Communism ends with 40 million dead. Closer to home, the … pursuit of happiness seems on its way out.” Isaiah 60 portrays a utopian world. Still the promise-keeping God says, “In its time, I will hasten it.” But not yet. It can only be built by the One who ushers in the “year of the Lord’s favor; and the day of vengeance of our God.” v.2 MESSIAH SPEAKS vv.1-7 The LORD God is Sovereign, Savior and Judge. The Spirit rests upon the speaker. He is anointed (Christ-ed), he is sent. Three streams flow through Isaiah – divine King Isaiah 9:6, divine Messenger of peace Isaiah 40, and the Suffering Servant Isaiah 52-53. They come together in vv.1-3. We are blessed to live in the year of the Lord’s favor, begun by a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. At the end, he will be wrapped in God’s glory. (Matthew 24:30) “Today there is a stay of execution for humanity.” In the Year of Jubilee, debtors who have nothing are free. We have nothing with which to repay our debt to God. MEEKNESS can be defined as being “HAPPY FOR OTHERS TO THINK OF ME THE WAY I CONFESS TO GOD THAT I REALLY AM. I SAY I AM A SINNER. I MAY NOT WANT YOU TO CALL ME A SINNER, BUT IF I AM MEEK, I DON’T MIND.” As we become “oaks of righteousness”, it is all of God. Then we will all be priests serving under the Great High Priest, who brings us into the presence of God now and forever. But we don’t want it yet; we want the day of his favor to last as long as possible. HOW CAN GOD BE JUST AND FORGIVE ME, UNDESERVING OF FORGIVENESS. In Christ, the recompense for our sins becomes a reward in vv.8-9. The controversy over vv.10-11 is worth exploring.