The Servant Our LORD: Isaiah 61, 62(3)

Pray Psalm 66.1-4.
Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
Say to God,
“How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
All the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name.”

Read Isaiah 61.8, 9.

Reflect.
1. For what will the people of God be known among the nations?

2. The first word of these verses connects them to the previous passage. In what way?

Meditate.
Why does God intend for His people to do a work of restoration? Because, restoration brings justice and truth to the world, and God loves justice and truth (v. 8). Justice refers to the practice of God’s love between neighbors and in communities. Truth refers to all of God’s Word as it guides His people in exercising dominion for restoration. Thus God’s people will realize the promises of His everlasting covenant (v. 8).

This work and covenant are not for a brief moment in time. God intends to bless generations of their offspring, and to continue His work of restoration for many years. This is what we have seen ever since the first Christian Pentecost, when the Spirit came to begin the promised work of restoration, beginning in the souls of God’s people (v. 9). The Light has come and continues to spread (1 Jn. 2.8); and the good works of God’s people continue to bear witness to His restoring grace.

This work and covenant will not be done in secret. God’s people will be “known among the Gentiles” because they will be scattered throughout the world in all kinds of occupations and places. Wherever they are, they will do the work of justice and truth, restoring the goodness of God to the world. Thus they prove that the blessing of God is upon them (v. 9), and they shine with the Light of God before the world.

Prepare.
1. How do you expect the justice and truth of God to be visible in you today?

2. How should we work to make sure the next generation of believers continues this work of restoration?

3. As we do the work of restoration, we “shall be known among the Gentiles.” Does this mean the “Gentiles” will always be glad about this? Explain.

In the conclusion of the verse he assigns the cause of the stability. It is because God is pleased not once only to stretch out his hand to them, but to be the continual guide of the journey. And the true support of our perseverance is, that he deigns to enter into an everlasting covenant with us, in which he voluntarily makes himself our debtor, and freely bestows upon us all things, though he owes us nothing whatever. John Calvin (1509-1564 AD), Commentary on Isaiah 61.8

Use me today, Lord, to bring restoration of Your goodness to…

Pray Psalm 66.
This psalm seeks the reviving grace of God for the world. Let it guide you to think of God’s saving work in your life, and to renew you in your witness to the people in your Personal Mission Field.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 66 (Regent Square: Angels from the Realms of Glory)
Shout for joy to God, all people, sing the glory of His Name!
Give Him glorious praise and say, “How great Your pow’r and great Your fame!
All the earth shall worship gladly as they praise Your glorious Name!”

Great and awesome is our Savior in the works which He has done.
He the sea and river dried to let His people cross as one.
Then our joy was great to worship Him our mighty, sovereign One.

He the nations watches ever – all you rebels, humbled be;
bless our God, all men and nations, praise His Name eternally!
He preserves our souls, and He will keep His paths beneath our feet.

You have tried us, Lord, as silver, and have brought us into nets,
made us carry heavy burdens, let men trample o’er our heads.
But through all Your grace sustained us and has brought us through to rest.

To Your house we come with off’rings, what we vowed, Lord, help us do.
O, receive our praise and homage as we give ourselves to You.
Come and listen, all who fear Him: hear what this great God can do!

When we cried to You, You answered, filled our mouths with highest praise.
Let not sin abide within us, lest we languish all our days.
Bless the Lord, Who hears our pleadings and preserves His love always.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).