Isaiah 61:2 English Standard Version (ESV) to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

The Hebrew puts an emphasis on the year by proclaiming it acceptable. It is duly noted that the Lord shows favor upon this time period but shifting the attention to the Lord lessens the impact of the conditions surrounding just what the word year means in context to His acceptable favor.

In one sense a year is one measure of time. It is considered to have a beginning and an end. Since a year is as a thousand years to the Lord in His realm perhaps we should look at a year in another way.

A year is divided up by seasons, spring, summer, fall and winter. Interestingly enough the year begins with winter and yet many of us think in terms of the year beginning in the spring. That too can be significant because of our understanding of change. Seasons change and the most pleasant seems to be spring and blossoms.

The time in which the Lord’s favor is shown is the time in our lives when we accept change, to be born again, to reset the times of our lives by the seed that was sown emerging in newness of life.

The day of vengeance refers to God’s justice. He has placed the guilt of our sins upon His Son to pay the debt of our sins which held us captive.

Matthew 20:28 English Standard Version (ESV) even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Romans 6:3-4 English Standard Version

³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Isaiah 61:1 English Standard Version (ESV) 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;^{[blindfolded]}

Continuing where we left off it is time to address the other issues presented.

We know that only the Lord captivates the heart of the lost but the words are given here to “me” which is a personal activity. Binding up of those who were imprisoned is a matter of us, as a church, the bride of Christ, to provide a safe place, a sanctuary.

Exodus 15:17 English Standard Version (ESV) You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.

Once again we must emphasize the establishment of what the Lord created, not that which man has built.

We cannot offer sanctuary to anyone if we do not abide there ourselves.

Proclaiming liberty does not set a prisoner free. It only gives them the key to the door and it is up to them to put that key in the door and leave their prison behind. Jesus is at the door and faith is the key.

Revelation 3:20 English Standard Version (ESV) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

It is sin that has held them captive.

Romans 7:23 English Standard Version (ESV) but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

When those blindfolds are removed and the captives see the light for the first time there is the instinct to cover their eyes because of the brightness of the light. That is an instinctive reaction of the flesh. The flesh still wants to protect itself from the truth.