Speaking to those who find themselves in exile, effectively cut off from life and hope and peace; who hunger and thirst for relief; who live as those among the dead, whose joy has all but evaporated in the barren wilderness, whose songs have faded to but faint echoes of memories … to these, Isaiah writes:
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor; and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion –
to give a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
so that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord,
for the display of his glory. (Isaiah 61:1-4)
Jesus came preaching to those who felt as exiles in their own land, whose dream of life and hope and peace was kept tantalizingly out of their reach, just beyond their power; who felt trapped, helpless and alone, longing for relief. His sermon on Isaiah chapter 61 in its entirety as recorded by Luke:
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Come then, as those who have been granted a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit, as those who have been planted with Christ to be raised up with him as mighty oaks of his righteousness, let us gather together, lift our arms and our voices, and sing out the wonders of his glory for all the world to hear.