ISAIAH CHAPTER 61

OBSERVATION STAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The purpose of the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the normative rules of language, context and logic which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Isaiah. This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.

Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.

I) [Isa 61:1-11]:

A) (ISA 61:1-2) ISAIAH DECLARED, "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD GOD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE THE LORD HAS SENT ME (1) TO PREACH GOOD TIDINGS TO THE POOR," [IN THE SENSE OF PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL OF ETERNAL LIFE IN THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGH AN ATONING SACRIFICE FOR SINS VIA A MOMENT OF FAITH IN A COMING MESSIAH / SAVIOR], (2) TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED [IN THE SENSE OF THE LORD HEALING ONES SPIRITUAL BROKENNESS DUE TO SIN FOR THOSE THAT BELIEVE], (3) TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES [IN THE SENSE OF THE LORD PROCLAIMING FREEDOM FOR THOSE THAT HAVE RECEIVED ETERNAL LIFE FROM THE CONDEMNATION OF ONES SINS], (4) TO PROCLAIM AND PERFORM MIRACLES BY THE ONE PROCLAIMING - BEGINNING WITH RESTORING SIGHT TO THE BLIND], (5) TO DECLARE THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD [IN THE SENSE OF THAT TIME IN WHICH THE LORD DECREED TO FULFILL HIS PLAN OF ETERNAL SALVATION], AND THE DAY OF RECOMPENSE, [I.E., THE JUDGMENT OF OUR GOD UPON ALL UNBELIEVERS] AND TO COMFORT ALL WHO MOURN [IN THE SENSE OF THE LORD COMFORTING THOSE WHO HAVE MOURNED THEIR SINFULNESS - THEIR LACK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, IMPLYING THAT THEY HAVE BECOME BELIEVERS]

****** EXCERPT FROM ISAIAH 49 *******

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[Isa 49:1-13]:

(ISA 49:1-3) THE LORD'S SERVANT TO ALL MANKIND DECLARED HIMSELF TO MANKIND THROUGH THE PROPHET ISAIAH. HE WAS BORN OF A WOMAN, CALLED BY THE LORD FROM THE WOMB, EQUIPPED TO PRONOUNCE JUDGMENT UPON ALL MANKIND, PROTECTED AND HIDDEN BY THE LORD UNTIL HIS TIME, NAMED "ISRAEL" - AN INDIVIDUAL NOT A GROUP OF ISRAELITES - IN WHOM THE LORD WILL MANIFEST HIS GLORY

(ISA 49:4-5) THE LORD'S SERVANT DECLARED HIS LABOR IN VAIN, HIS STRENGTH SPENT; YET HE DECLARED THAT HIS REWARD WAS WITH THE LORD, HIS WORK WITH "MY GOD." THE SERVANT THEN DECLARED THAT THE LORD WHO FORMED HIM FROM THE WOMB - CONFIRMING HIS HUMANITY - TO BE THE LORD'S SERVANT TO BRING THE TRIBES OF JACOB (ISRAEL) BACK TO HIM. THE SERVANT OF THE LORD - AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON CHOSEN BY THE LORD "SHALL BE GLORIFIED IN THE EYES OF THE LORD, AND MY GOD SHALL HAVE BEEN MY STRENGTH"

(ISA 49:6-7) THE LORD DECLARED THAT NOT ONLY WAS HIS SERVANT TO RAISE UP THE TRIBES OF JACOB - TO RESTORE ISRAEL - BUT THE SERVANT WAS TO BE A REVELATION TO ALL MANKIND OF THE LORD AND OF HIS SALVATION. THE LORD, THE REDEEMER, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, HAD SAID TO HIS SERVANT - TO THE ABHORRED ONE OF THE GENTILES, TO THE SERVANT OF THE RULERS OF THE WORLD: "KINGS WILL SEE, AND PRINCES WILL RISE UP TO BOW DOWN TO THE SERVANT BECAUSE OF THE LORD GOD WHO IS FAITHFUL. ISAIAH WROTE TO THE SERVANT, "THE LORD CHOSE YOU" TO RESTORE ISRAEL AND PROVIDE ETERNAL SALVATION TO ALL MANKIND

(ISA 49:8) IN THE TIME DECREED BY THE LORD FOR EFFECTING HIS ETERNAL PLAN OF THE REGATHERING OF ISRAEL TO HIMSELF, THE RESTORATION OF THE EARTH AND THE PROVISION OF SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE FOR ALL MANKIND; THE LORD DECLARED TO HIS CHOSEN SERVANT THAT HE WILL HAVE ANSWERED HIM, HELPED HIM, PRESERVED HIM AND GIVEN HIM AS A COVENANT TO ISRAEL HIS PEOPLE TO RESTORE THE EARTH FOREVER - ESPECIALLY ISRAEL'S PROMISED LAND INHERITANCE

(ISA 49:9-13) THE LORD'S CHOSEN SERVANT WILL COMMAND ALL ISRAELITES TO RETURN FROM CAPTIVITY TO THE PROMISED LAND AS WELL AS ALL MANKIND FROM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD TO GO BEFORE HIM - TO EXPERIENCE UNPRECEDENTED PROSPERITY. NO ONE WILL EVER SUFFER HUNGER, THIRST, SCORCHING WINDS, OR HEAT OF THE SUN - AN ETERNALLY BENEFICENT WORLDWIDE CLIMATE AND TOPOGRAPHY IS IN VIEW. PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WILL COME TO RECEIVE BLESSINGS FROM AND THE SALVATION OF THE LORD. THE LORD DECLARES FOR THE HEAVENS TO SING, THE EARTH TO BE JOYFUL, THE MOUNTAINS TO SING BECAUSE HE WILL HAVE HAD MERCY ON HIS AFFLICTED - REFERRING TO ISRAEL. THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF GOD IS IN VIEW!

****** END OF EXCERPT FROM ISAIAH 49 ******

(A cont.) (ISA 61:1-2) ISAIAH DECLARED, "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD GOD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE THE LORD HAS SENT ME (1) TO PREACH GOOD TIDINGS TO THE POOR," [IN THE SENSE OF PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL OF ETERNAL LIFE IN THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGH AN ATONING SACRIFICE FOR SINS VIA A MOMENT OF FAITH IN A COMING MESSIAH / SAVIOR], (2) TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED [IN THE SENSE OF THE LORD HEALING ONES SPIRITUAL BROKENNESS DUE TO SIN FOR THOSE THAT BELIEVE], (3) TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES [IN THE SENSE OF THE LORD PROCLAIMING FREEDOM FOR THOSE THAT HAVE RECEIVED ETERNAL LIFE FROM THE CONDEMNATION OF ONES SINS], (4) TO PROCLAIM AND PERFORM MIRACLES BY THE ONE PROCLAIMING - BEGINNING WITH RESTORING SIGHT TO THE BLIND], (5) TO DECLARE THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD [IN THE SENSE OF THAT TIME IN WHICH THE LORD DECREED TO FULFILL HIS PLAN OF ETERNAL SALVATION], AND THE DAY OF RECOMPENSE, [I.E., THE JUDGMENT OF OUR GOD UPON ALL UNBELIEVERS] AND TO COMFORT ALL WHO MOURN [IN THE SENSE OF THE LORD COMFORTING THOSE WHO HAVE MOURNED THEIR SINFULNESS - THEIR LACK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, IMPLYING THAT THEY HAVE BECOME BELIEVERS] (cont.)

1) [Compare Isa 62:1-63:6 with an excerpt from Isa chapter 40]:

a) [Compare Isa 60:1-7 ]:

****** EXCERPT FROM ISA 40 ******

(ISA 40:1-5) IN VIEW OF THE IMMINENT RETURN IN ANCIENT TIMES OF ISRAEL FROM BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY TO A JERUSALEM WHICH WOULD BE REBUILT, A VOICE OF A PROPHET CRIED OUT TO THE PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM TELLING THEM IN A FIGURATIVE / SPIRITUAL SENSE, NOT A LITERAL SENSE, THAT IN THE WILDERNESS THEY WERE ALL TO PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD IN THE SENSE OF MAKING THE WAY OF THE LORD RIGHTEOUS; AND IN THE SAME SENSE, MAKE A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY FOR OUR GOD IN THE DESERT, AND LIKEWISE HAVE EVERY VALLEY LIFTED UP, EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL LEVELED, AND UNEVEN GROUND BECOME SMOOTH AND ROUGH PLACES A PLAIN, I.E., SO THAT THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WOULD BE CHARACTERIZED AS HAVING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THUS HAVING REMOVED THE SPIRITUAL HINDRANCES WITHIN THEMSELVES TO THE COMING OF THE LORD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS SO THAT ALL MANKIND WOULD SEE THE GLORY OF THE LORD WHEN HE COMES TO RULE OVER HIS EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON THE EARTH, AS DECLARED BY THE PROPHET TO BE TRUE, FOR ISAIAH DECLARED THAT THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HAD SPOKEN IT TO HIM. SO THE TIME OF THE LORD'S RULE WOULD BEGIN WHEN EACH ONE OF NATIONAL ISRAEL, TO WHOM THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHET CRYING OUT WAS EXCLUSIVELY DIRECTED, RESPONDED TO IT EVIDENTLY VIA A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN THE COMING LORD ALONE TO DELIVER ONE FROM ONE'S SINS SUCH THAT EACH ONE WOULD BE PROVIDED WITH THE GIFT OF GOD'S PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHIN ONESELF UNTO ETERNAL LIFE AND BY THAT PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD TO COME TO RULE OVER HIS EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON THE EARTH THROUGH HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL. NOTICE THAT THIS REPENTANCE CANNOT MEAN DOING GODLY WORKS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE REMISSION (FORGIVENESS) OF SINS IN ORDER TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AS SOME CONTEND; BECAUSE DOING GODLY WORKS CANNOT ERASE SINFUL DEEDS. NOR CAN REPENTANCE MEAN TO TURN FROM SIN IN THE SENSE OF NOT COMMITTING SINS ANY MORE; FOR THAT IS A TASK WHICH IS NOT POSSIBLE GIVEN THE SINFUL NATURE OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL. ISAIAH INDICATED PREVIOUSLY THAT THIS OUTCOME WAS TO BEGIN WITH A CHILD BORN SUPERNATURALLY OF AN ISRAELITE MAIDEN / VIRGIN - A SON AND CHILD OF ISRAEL, WHO WOULD BE DECLARED WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE WHO WOULD COME TO ESTABLISH HIS EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF HEAVEN RULE OVER THE WORLD UPON THE THRONE OF DAVID FROM JERUSALEM THROUGH HIS PEOPLE, ISRAEL AS BOTH GOD AND MAN

[Compare Isa 7:14-16]:

[Compare Isa 9:6-7]:

[Compare Isa 6:3 NKJV]:

****** END OF EXCERPT FROM ISA 40 ******

(A cont.) (ISA 61:1-2 cont.) ISAIAH DECLARED, "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD GOD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE THE LORD HAS SENT ME (1) TO PREACH GOOD TIDINGS TO THE POOR," [IN THE SENSE OF PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL OF ETERNAL LIFE IN THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGH AN ATONING SACRIFICE FOR SINS VIA A MOMENT OF FAITH IN A COMING MESSIAH / SAVIOR], (2) TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED [IN THE SENSE OF THE LORD HEALING ONES SPIRITUAL BROKENNESS DUE TO SIN FOR THOSE THAT BELIEVE], (3) TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES [IN THE SENSE OF THE LORD PROCLAIMING FREEDOM FOR THOSE THAT HAVE RECEIVED ETERNAL LIFE FROM THE CONDEMNATION OF ONES SINS], (4) TO PROCLAIM AND PERFORM MIRACLES BY THE ONE PROCLAIMING - BEGINNING WITH RESTORING SIGHT TO THE BLIND], (5) TO DECLARE THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD [IN THE SENSE OF THAT TIME IN WHICH THE LORD DECREED TO FULFILL HIS PLAN OF ETERNAL SALVATION], AND THE DAY OF RECOMPENSE, [I.E., THE JUDGMENT OF OUR GOD UPON ALL UNBELIEVERS] AND TO COMFORT ALL WHO MOURN [IN THE SENSE OF THE LORD COMFORTING THOSE WHO HAVE MOURNED THEIR SINFULNESS - THEIR LACK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, IMPLYING THAT THEY HAVE BECOME BELIEVERS (cont.)]

(1 cont.) [Compare Isa 62:1-63:6 with an excerpt from Isa chapter 40] (cont.):

b) [Compare Isa 34:1-8]:

B) (ISA 61:3-11) ISAIAH 61:3-11 GO ON TO DESCRIBE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HERETOFORE HAVE NEVER OCCURRED AS STIPULATED - THEY ARE YET FUTURE. THE PASSAGE ELABORATES UPON THE ETERNAL BLESSINGS WHICH WILL REPLACE THE TEMPORAL CURSINGS UPON INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY ISRAELITES, AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF AND THEIR ENTRANCE INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF GOD, IMPLYING THEIR POSSESSION OF ETERNAL LIFE THEMSELVES. IN VIEW ARE THOSE WHO ARE ISRAELITES WHO HAVE BEEN ADORNED WITH THE GARMENTS OF SALVATION - HAVING BEEN COVERED WITH THE GIFT OF THE ROBE OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WILL BE INDICATIVE OF THEIR GODLY RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER GIVEN TO THEM INDICATING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN MADE WORTHY BY GOD THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN THE MESSIAH / SAVIOR UNTO ETERNAL LIFE IN THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF GOD.

1) [Compare Isa 58:12]:

2) [Compare Isa 60:10]: