This chapter has a few themes including a prophesy of Jesus, a commission of God’s people, a song of praise, and a condemnation of sin (specifically from God’s people).
“Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: ‘I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.’ ” (v5-7)
Why does Isaiah remind us of who God is (our Creator)? Probably because God’s people have a very short-term memory, and quickly turn to idol worship (this hypothesis is reinforced throughout the chapter). Why is it important we remember who God is? Because that humbles us, and helps us remember that He is in charge, not us. It’s so easy to fall into the sinful trap of selfishness, choosing our own wisdom and desires over God’s, but God wants us to follow His will over our own (ultimately His will is better for us, we just don’t often see it).
Part of His will is a call for us to be a light to all the nations. We are to be given as part of God’s covenant to all people, to help open the eyes of the blind, and free the prisoners from entrapment and darkness. This (mostly) figurative language means we are to tell people the gospel message so the Lord may set them free of their sin which binds and blinds them.
I encourage us to pray “not my will, but Yours be done, on earth as it is in heaven” on a daily basis. Why did Jesus teach us to pray that way? Because He knows our own worldly wills often trip us up and blind us, so we need to constantly and consistently fight against them, intentionally prioritizing God’s will and leading in our lives.
Father God, our Righteous Lord and Creator, we humbly ask Your forgiveness of our ongoing sin. It’s so easy for us to default to the pursuit of our own wills, but it’s far preferable that we seek Yours. Please remind us daily to hear and obey Your voice, putting our worldly ways to death, and helping build Jesus’ kingdom. Not our ways but Yours be done, in our hearts as it is in heaven. In the powerful and awesome name of Jesus we ask this, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training