To Bring Out the Prisoners

Isaiah 42:5-9 ESV

 

“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.

I am the Lord; that is my name;

    my glory I give to no other,

    nor my praise to carved idols.

Behold, the former things have come to pass,

    and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth

    I tell you of them.’”

 

This is a prophecy concerning Jesus Christ as the Messiah. A similar passage is in Isaiah 49, and another is in Isaiah 61 which Jesus read about himself in the synagogue (Luke 4:14-21). The part about Jesus being the covenant for the people is exclusively about Jesus Christ, but some of the rest of this was given to Paul as his calling (Acts 26:16-18), and to us, too (1 Pet 2:9).

 

And this also represents the gospel of Jesus Christ and the message of our salvation from sin. For Jesus Christ was given to us by God the Father as a covenant for the people and a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. And from Isaiah 61: to proclaim liberty to the captives, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God.

 

For you see, our salvation from sin is all about being set free from our slavery (bondage, addiction) to sin, not just about being forgiven our sins. For by faith in Jesus Christ we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and we are raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. For old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin (Romans 6:1-23; Ephesians 4:17-24).

 

And this was the calling that was given by Jesus to Paul, too: “But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:16-18).

 

So, you see this is the essence of the gospel message that we might be turned away from our sin to the truth and righteousness of our Lord Jesus and to the truth of his word, and that we might be turned away from the power of Satan over our lives and turn to God to now follow him in obedience to his ways. And this is so we may then receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified (purified) by faith in Jesus Christ. So true faith in Jesus Christ involves us dying with Christ to sin and then living to God and to his righteousness (1 Peter 2:24).

 

And this is the message of the gospel which we are to be proclaiming, too. For we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that we may proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). So, again, our salvation is all about being called out of darkness (captivity to sin) and into truth and righteousness and holiness and to walks of obedience to our Lord Jesus. And this is the gospel we are to be proclaiming and that we are to be living, too.

 

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

 

The Prayer

 

Written by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager,

Alberto Testa and Tony Renis

 

I pray you'll be our eyes

And watch us where we go

And help us to be wise

In times when we don't know

 

Let this be our prayer

When we lose our way

Lead us to a place

Guide us with your grace

To a place where we'll be safe.

 

I pray we'll find your light

And hold it in our hearts

When the stars go out each night

Remind us where you are.

 

Let this be our prayer

When shadows fill our day

Lead us to a place

Guide us with your grace

To a place where we'll be safe.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqFCbtRz1Z0

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P.S. This is not an endorsement of the singers other than as musicians