The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me

Isaiah 61:1 LEB

1 The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me, he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives and liberation to those who are bound,

Yahweh is here twice. It is the Spirit of the Lord that is placed on us and it is the Lord himself that has done this.

“The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is upon me”

“because Yahweh has anointed me”

But look at the rest of this verse:

“he has sent me to”

We are anointed so we can be sent to do something.

We Are Anointed for a Purpose

God does things for a reason. He has anointed us to do a work in peoples lives that they can’t do for themselves.

Bring good news to the oppressed

The sense here is to announce or convey a message of positive information about recent or important events. And this word translated “oppressed” is also translated as “the poor” in the NKJV and “the meek” in the ASV.

Bring good news

The Abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament בָּשַׂר

[בָּשַׂר] vb. bear tidings — Pi. 1. gladden with good tidings: birth of a son; victory. 2. bear tidings; even of evil. 3. herald as glad tidings: the salvation of God, preach (chiefly exilic usage) the advent of ˊי‍ in salvation; the praises of Yahweh; His righteousness in the great congregation; His salvation daily; the Messianic servant preaches good tidings to the meek. Hithp. receive good tidings.

So, we are the bearer of this news.

The Oppressed

Lexham Theological Wordbook עָנָו

Generally, the noun ʿānāw simply refers to a state of poverty or weakness that accentuates a condition of vulnerability.

So, we might use any of these synonyms: afflicted, poor, humble, meek.

The message to them is that God is delivering them. The battle is over. Jesus has overcome.

Bind up the brokenhearted

The sense behind this verse is to bind up and encourage, or to inspire with confidence, give hope to or courage to.

Bind Up

(ḥābaš). vb. to bind up. Used literally to describe the bandaging of wounds, and figuratively to describe the healing of brokenness.

The term is usually used to describe the binding of materials together. Several authors use the verb to indicate the act of saddling a donkey (e.g., Gen 22:3; Num 22:21; 1 Kgs 2:40). However, the term is also used to refer to the binding of wounds so they may heal; this generally appears in the OT as a metaphor for God’s care for his people (Hos 6:1; Psa 147:3; Job 5:18). Isaiah also uses the term to refer to the figurative binding up of the brokenhearted (Isa 61:1).

Byrley, C. (2014). Healing. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.Proclaim release to the captives

Brokenhearted

This is not just talking about the physical heart, although this word is used that way in other places.

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) 4213 לֵב

4213 לֵב (lēḇ): n.masc.; ≡ Str 3820; TWOT 1071a—1. LN 8.9–8.69 heart, i.e., the blood pumping organ of the body (Ps 38:11[EB 10]; Hos 13:8); 2. LN 8.9–8.69 chest, formally, heart, i.e., the thorax cavity of a creature (Job 41:16[EB 24]); 3. LN 26 heart, mind, soul, spirit, self, i.e., the source of life of the inner person in various aspects, with a focus on feelings, thoughts, volition, and other areas of the inner life (Isa 57:15; Ecc 2:1); 4. LN 83.9–83.17 middle, center, midst, formally, heart, i.e., a position among or in the middle, relatively to other points of space (Ex 15:9); 5. LN 25.288–25.296 unit: (qal) אָבַד לֵב (ʾā·ḇǎḏ lēḇ) lose courage, formally, ruin of heart, i.e., be in a state of hopelessness, lacking confidence in a future situation (Jer 4:9);

Here, we want to focus on two parts of the definition of brokenhearted:

The heart is the source of life of the inner person

A broken heart is a loss of courage, to be in a state of hopelessness, lacking confidence in a your future

Proclaim release to the captives

Proclaim

The Abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament I. קָרָא

I. קָרָא vb. call, proclaim, read — Qal 1. a. call, cry, utter a loud sound; for help; of pleading in court (ב of manner); explicitly בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל; c. אַחֲרֵי pers. b. call, cry, obj. in oart. recta; = utter, speak; of command.

It is to call out loudly. It is to speak out a pleading in a court. It is to speak a command.

Release

Lexham Theological Wordbook דְּרוֹר

(dĕrôr). n. freedom, liberty. This word refers to a proclamation of liberty.

Each of the seven occurrences of the noun dĕrôr in the OT refers to the liberation of slaves. Jeremiah uses this word to describe the act of liberation (Jer 34:8, 14, 17). For example, the law requires the liberation (dĕrôr) of all Hebrew slaves during Jubilee (Lev 25:10).

This is complete liberation and forgiveness of any debt. It is release as in the year of jubilee. It is a time for celebrating and beginning again. It is a new start.

Captives

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) 8647 שָׁבָה

8647 שָׁבָה (šā·ḇā(h)): v.; ≡ Str 7617; TWOT 2311—1. LN 55.23–55.25 (qal) take captive, take prisoners, i.e., take control of objects or persons and usually carry off as plunder or captives

These did not give themselves over freely, but they were taken. They need a deliverer.

Proclaim liberation to those who are bound

Liberation

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 6495. פְּקַח־קוֹחַ

6495. פְּקַח־קוֹחַ peqach-qôwach, pek-akh-ko´-akh; from 6491 redoubled; opening (of a dungeon), i.e. jail-delivery (fig. salvation from sin):—opening of the prison.

This goes further that release which is just something like indentured servitude or even working in an oppressive job. This is release from prison where you have been completely controlled by the environment you were in.

Bound

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) 673 אָסַר

673 אָסַר (ʾā·sǎr): v.; ≡ Str 631; TWOT 141—1. LN 18.12–18.23 (qal) bind, tie up, i.e., bind objects together, and so be in a confined position (Ge 42:24); (qal pass.) be tied up, be bound (2Sa 3:34; 2Ki 7:10); (nif) be tied up (Jdg 16:6, 10, 13+); 2. LN 37.108–37.110 (qal) take prisoner, capture, i.e., be taken into custody (Jdg 15:10); (qal pass.) be confined (Ge 39:20); (nif) be kept in prison (Ge 42:16, 19+); (pual) be captured, be taken prisoner (Isa 22:3+);

These are those that were in custody, in prison, bound up, tied up, confined.

Lets look at these words in a different way.

These are action words. These are encouraging words, healing words, supportive words.

But it doesn’t end her, it goes on in

Isaiah 61:2–3 LEB

2 to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor, and our God’s day of vengeance, to comfort all those in mourning, 3 to give for those in mourning in Zion, to give them a head wrap instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit. And they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, to show his glory.

We are anointed to minister life and take people from oppression, and despair, and bondage and imprisonment and bring them into a new and full life. We are anointed to bring people into an experience of joy and hopefulness and optimism.

They Will Be Called Oaks of Righteousness

When we do what God has called us to do, there will be fruit. There will be change in peoples lives and we will see it in

Isaiah 61:3–5 LEB

3 to give for those in mourning in Zion, to give them a head wrap instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit. And they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, to show his glory. 4 And they shall build the ancient ruins, they shall erect the former deserted places. And they shall restore the devastated cities, the deserted places of many generations. 5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your farmers and vinedressers.

They will build. They will be productive. They will be full of joy. They will live in righteousness.

Isaiah 61:6 LEB

6 But you shall be called the priests of Yahweh, you will be called servers of our God. You shall eat the wealth of the nations, and you shall boast in their riches.

But you will be called the priests

You will be called the servers of our God

Isaiah 61:7 LEB

7 Instead of your shame, a double portion, and instead of insult, they will rejoice over their portion. Therefore they will take a double portion in their land; they shall possess everlasting joy.

They will be blessed in their land.

I Will Rejoice In My God

Isaiah 61:10 LEB

10 I will rejoice greatly in Yahweh; my being shall shout in exultation in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns himself with a head wrap like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewelry.

When he sees me, he sees Jesus.

Colossians 1:12–14 LEB

12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you for a share of the inheritance of the saints in light, 13 who has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have the redemption, the forgiveness of sins,

He Has Anointed Me

The anointed one is

The Lexham Cultural Ontology Glossary Anointed One

A person that had been chosen and anointed for a specific purpose or office.

2 Corinthians 1:21–22 LEB

21 Now the one who establishes us together with you in Christ and who anoints us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.

Anointing

The Lexham Cultural Ontology Glossary Anointing

A ritual of pouring or smearing oil on a person's head or forehead. The ritual was often done to install someone in a new office or role of authority.

The ritual was often done in the old testament to install someone in a new office or role of authority.

In the New Testament, it is God that gives us Hie Holy Spirit.

1 John 2:20 LEB

20 And you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.

1 John 2:27 LEB

27 And as for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you do not have need that anyone teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you reside in him.

We can take our example from Jesus who

Hebrews 1:9 LEB

9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; because of this God, your God, has anointed you with the olive oil of joy more than your companions.

Jesus loved righteousness

Jesus hated lawlessness

And the anointing he walked in when on the earth was “the oil of joy”.

What a great experience it is to help someone come into a right relationship with God and begin to live free from oppression and bondage