The Servant Our LORD: Isaiah 61, 62 (7)

Pray Psalm 48.1-3.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised
In the city of our God,
In His holy mountain.
Beautiful in elevation,
The joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion onthe sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
God is in her palaces;
He is known as her refuge.

Review Isaiah chapters 61, 62.

Reflect.
1. How would you describe the salvation the Servant announces in these two chapters? Is this the way you experience the Lord’s salvation? 

2. What do they do who have received such a great salvation from the Lord?

Meditate.
The Servant Who comes to suffer is the Redeemer of Israel. He is God and LORD, the One Who fulfills all the covenant promises of God to His people. He brings a salvation so great that it encompasses all of creation and all nations and peoples, making them into one new City for the glory of righteousness, peace, and joy, for the glory of the Lord.

This vision is no pipedream; it is no mere desperate hope. It is the sure promise of God Who, even as He prepares to send His people off into captivity in Babylon, is preparing for them and the generations that follow a future and a hope that will not disappoint. As surely as sown seed bring forth plants and fruit, the sown word of the prophet will bear the fruit of promises in the Lord’s time, in the last day (Is. 2.1-4), and for the salvation of the world.

There will be much work to do in realizing the full promise of the Lord’s salvation, and it will be up to the people of God to take up that work and carry it through faithfully. God will not be satisfied until truth, righteousness, justice, peace, and joy are established in His City and among His people. So likewise must we be diligent to pursue these marks of salvation and sanctification, for in the salvation of God we find our surest and greatest hope and fulfillment. And we glorify God by laboring diligently to realize the promises of His covenant. 

Prepare.
1. Every believer has a Personal Mission Field within which to pursue the work of the Lord. What should that work look like in your Personal Mission Field each day?

2. How did God expect His people to live toward His promises while they were in captivity in Babylon? How does He expect us to live toward His promises today?

3. What’s your primary takeaway from Isaiah 61 and 62?

For this is salvation, to put a cloak of salvation on one’s soul and a tunic of righteousness. For each one by his deeds that are done according to righteousness puts on his own fine apparel.… For she who is the bride of the Word receives seeds from him and returns splendid and fresh fruit. Eusebius of Caesarea (260-340 AD), Commentary on Isaiah 2.52

Light my path today, O Lord, so that I might live for Your glory as I…

Pray Psalm 48.
See how this psalm spreads out the great salvation of the Lord, which He brings to His City. Ask the Lord to help you grow today in realizing this salvation, and in carrying out the work it requires of you.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 48 (Cwm Rhondda: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah)
Great is God, now greatly praise Him in the city of the Lord. 
Holy she, His lovely mountain, great and glorious by His Word! 
God her King is great within her, He, her Stronghold ever sure! 
He, her Stronghold ever sure! 

Earthly kings, amazed and wond’ring, look upon the Church with fear. 
See them flee in dread and anguish, knowing that the Lord is near. 
For the city of the Savior God will keep forevermore! 
God will keep forevermore! 

For Your grace and lovingkindness we proclaim Your matchless worth! 
As Your Name is, great and boundless, let Your praise fill all the earth. 
Let Your people sing rejoicing for the judgment of Your truth; 
for the judgment of Your truth. 

Walk about the blessèd city, see her beauty, see her power. 
Count her ramparts, filled with glory, look on ev’ry mighty tower. 
Tell her glory to the nations: God will guide her evermore; 
God will guide her evermore!

T. M. Moore

Where do the prophets fit with the rest of Scripture? How can I be a better student of God’s Word? Our course, Introduction to Biblical Theology, can help you gain a better approach to and understanding of the Scriptures. Watch this brief preview video, then register at The Ailbe Seminary and enroll in this free online course.

Each week’s lesson in our study of Isaiah is available as a free PDF download at the end of the week (click here). Get a copy for yourself and send the link for the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Isaiah’s important message.

If you value Scriptorium as a free resource for your walk with the Lord, please consider supporting our work with your gifts and offerings. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button  at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

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).