Isaiah 61: Liberty
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The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim 2022 as the year of the Lord’s favor
and today as the day for God to settle the score,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve--
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
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It may be hard to believe that 2022 is the year of the Lord,
but the year Isaiah wrote this was a tough year too.
God doesn't promise us easy times.
(I know. I've looked. It's just not there.)
God does promise triumphant times.
Times of freedom and liberty.
That freedom will never come in our power.
But we know the One with the power to set us free.
And this is God's year!