六十章啟始就是一個命令，對錫安說：「起來！照耀！」因彌賽亞耶穌是世上榮耀的大光，驅散所有黑暗，祂是得勝的王帶來救贖，得贖的人將與祂同住在祂所治理的聖城中。耶穌基督的榮光在耶路撒冷，她必歡喜快樂（60：5~11，16~17）。猶太人和外邦人也因信耶穌成為真以色列人，他們手牽手心連心的，一起重建修飾耶路撒冷。耶路撒冷曾經因犯罪惹上帝的怒氣，成了荒蕪之城（60：10，15），但現在這城中居住了上帝所栽種的枝子（羅11：17~24），他們都是公義之人，使城充滿喜樂（60：5，10），他們藉耶穌釘十字架，使他們的靈魂經歷了上帝救贖的大能，上帝也因此得榮耀（60：21，61：3）。

        彌賽亞榮耀之統治是和平的，以致耶路撒冷的城門外不需關閉，使各地之人都能來歸向上帝（60：11~12，18），就是以前敵對耶路撒冷的人，現都尊敬她；以前耶路撒冷是軟弱、微小的，但現在是剛強屬上帝的城（60：14，22），當時機成熟，上帝要照祂所應許的成就一切預言（60：22）。

        六十一章以賽亞更多的介紹這位治理榮耀天國的耶穌；耶穌也一再印證了自己就是先知所預言的那一位（路4：16~21），「上帝的靈降臨在耶穌身上」（42：1），這一節經文有力的證明了上帝是三位一體的上帝，也正因如此耶穌大有能力的傳揚好信息，也就是祂道成肉身的信息。耶穌曾被膏，這是祭司和君王才有的儀式，因此知曉祂是君尊的祭司和最偉大的君王（利8：12；撒上15：1；16：13；來4：14；5：6；提前1：17；6：15；啟19：16）。

        上帝看到困苦的人（心中溫柔謙卑的）和心靈破碎的人（願悔改認罪的），需要救世主來纏裹和醫治他們的傷口，他們也需要耶穌成為他們和上帝的中保（59：16）；人們所需的自由，只有藉著耶穌的福音才能獲得，這自由可解釋為上帝悅納人時的禧年（上帝的恩年），也就是奴隸被釋放得自由的「大赦年」（利25：9~10）；耶穌救贖的工作是要拯救在罪中被困的人，使他們得以自由。

        有趣的是，當耶穌在拿撒勒城的會堂中讀預言時，祂只讀了一半便合上聖經，對眾人說「今天這經應驗在你們耳中了」（路4：21），耶穌並沒有繼續讀下半段──「上帝報仇的日子」，因這日子還未到，要等到耶穌第二次再來時才實現。耶穌救贖人的恩典現行持續，祂赦免人的罪，使我們的靈魂得以自由。上帝審判邪惡的世界之後，耶穌要安慰體諒因信心存留下來的人，使他們歡喜快樂，因上帝的公義代替了他們的罪，使他們像一棵樹，堅固的栽種在上帝裡面。

        重建的新耶路撒冷城中的居民，都熱烈歡喜的讚美上帝（61：4；60：10），他們接受從上帝來的榮耀且被稱為「君尊的祭司」（彼前2：9；出19：6）；以前與上帝子民為敵的人，現在都服事尊敬他們（61：5，9）。上帝對祂所揀選的人，有豐富的預備，因救主已成為他們最美的裝扮，並且有永遠的喜樂。在聖靈的啟示之下，以賽亞畫出了一幅很美的圖──在那將要來的一天，相信耶穌的人，要謙卑的承受上帝的祝福，且在全地讚美祂。

        主耶穌！感謝您潔淨了您家鄉的會堂，使人能認識您，今日求您幫助我們，能和我們所遇到的每個人分享您的福音，因這福音實在太好，以致我們無法自己獨享。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        Chapter 60 continues the train of thought from chapter 59. It begins with a command for Zion (Jerusalem) to "Arise, shine", for Jesus the Messiah, the Light and glory of the world has dispelled the darkness and has come as a victorious King to bring His redeemed ones to dwell with Him in the new and truly Holy City from where He will reign. Isaiah prophesies that because of the Light of Jesus over Jerusalem, many people will hastily flock to her, including Gentile and Jewish believers, and she will enjoy the resources of all the nations around her (60:5-11, 16-17). Jews and Gentiles, who together will have become the true Israel by faith in Jesus, will work hand in hand to beautify and restore Jerusalem. She who was once left desolate because of God's wrath upon her sinful people (60:10b, 15) will now "swell with joy" (60:5,10) as she is inhabited by the righteous, whom God calls "the branch of My planting" (cf. Rom. 11:17-24) and "the work of My hands" because their souls have experienced His powerful work of redemption that Jesus procured on the cross of Calvary. The reason for their "planting" and redemption is so that God "may be glorified" (60:21; 61:3b).

        The Messiah's glorious reign will be so peaceful, that Jerusalem's gates will never need to be closed, for there will be no nation in existence that is not subject to God (60:11-12, 18). Even those nations that had previously opposed Jerusalem will now pay her homage, since she who was once weak and small will become a strong nation, for she will be the City of the Lord (60:14, 22). When the time is ripe, the Lord will bring all these things to fulfilment, just as He promised (60:22).

        In chapter 61, Isaiah introduces more fully the One that will rule in the glorious Kingdom described in chapter 60. The Lord Jesus has identified Himself as the speaker of this prophecy (Luke 4:16-21); there is no need to speculate. The first verse powerfully attests to the trinity and the deity of Jesus, upon whom is the Spirit of God (42:1), so that He might be empowered to "preach good tidings" (i.e. the Gospel), which was the reason for His incarnation. He was "anointed", which was for priests and kings, for He was the great High Priest and King (Lev. 8:12; 1 Sam. 15:1; 16:13; Heb. 4:14; 5:6; 1 Tim. 1:17; 6:15; Rev. 19:16).

        God saw that there were the "poor" (those who are meek and humble) and the "brokenhearted" (those who are repentant, being of a contrite spirit) who needed the Messiah to bind up and heal their wounds; they needed Him as their Mediator (cf. 59:16), and they needed the liberty that only He could provide for them through His Gospel message. This liberty was to be proclaimed in the "acceptable year of the Lord", which refers to the year of Jubilee when every Israelite slave was to be freed (cf. Lev. 25:9-10). Jesus' work of redemption sets free the captives bound to sin.

        Interestingly, when Jesus read this prophecy in the synagogue of Nazareth, He stopped in the middle of the sentence and closed the Book; then He proclaimed: "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21). He did not continue to read the latter half of verse 2, which speaks of "the day of vengeance", since this day of the Lord was not to come until His second coming. He proclaimed that His ministry of grace was now in effect, as it still is today, wherein He provides forgiveness,and sets free our souls which were once bound by sin. After the day of His vengeance in judgment upon the wicked world, the Lord Jesus will provide comfort, consolation, beauty, and joy for the remnant of faithful believers. Because of His righteousness imputed to them, they will become like trees that are firmly grounded in Him.

        While praising the Lord with joy and zeal, these new inhabitants of the New Jerusalem will begin rebuilding the "former desolations" (61:4; 60:10), and they will receive honour and be named "Priests of the Lord" (cf. 1 Peter 2:9; Ex. 19:6). The "strangers", who were formerly enemies of God's people, will now serve them and respect them (61:5, 9). God's elect will be abundantly blessed and have "everlasting joy" because of the salvation of the Lord, which will adorn them like the most beautiful garments. What a beautiful picture Isaiah painted under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and how wonderful it will be in that coming day for the humble who remain faithful to God, for they will inherit these blessings and live to proclaim His praises before all the nations.

        Lord Jesus, thank You that You made it clear in Your hometown synagogue that Isaiah spoke directly about You. Help us"** ta,share Your good news with everyone we meet. It's tdO'goud to keep 40 •• ourselves!