Isaiah 61:1b-3a
There’s such a thing as “bad news” people. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, but they have one common characteristic: they leave you feeling worse. After interacting with a bad news person, you’re confused, frustrated, discouraged, angry, depressed, or simply depleted.
Fortunately, there are also “good news” people. If a Hall of Fame exists for such persons, the prophet of Isaiah 61 merits inclusion. He’s a one-man cheering squad and spiritual Santa Claus for dispirited Israel. Now that their expectations of a quick resurgence of their national fortune have been dashed, the prophet arrives with a message of incredibly good news for these oppressed, brokenhearted, captives of grief.
The prophet doesn’t have all the answers they seek, but he brings the good news that God remembers them and has a blessed intention for them. He declares God’s promise to bind up their wounds and offers liberty, release, God’s favor, restitution, comfort, gladness and praise.
Discouragement, of course, is still with us and happy-face hucksters of false hope are everywhere, actively peddling their wares. But the trustworthy good news we need in every hour is found only in God and in God’s promises for us and for God’s world. Through this good news, we embrace a future healed by the presence of the Invisible.
“This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.”
We are “anointed” and commissioned to be “good news” people. By God’s grace we glimpse the Invisible and are being changed by that vision. Our attitudes, actions, and even faces may declare a confidence in God that transforms despair.
Consider
Who might be in deep need of your being a “good news” bringer?
Pray
God of great promises, help me day by day to draw my life from your promises. And help me this day to be a conduit of your hope to someone. Amen.