Isaiah 61:10 - Meaning and Application

Some take this as a song of joy and praise spoken by the prophet in the name of Jerusalem, celebrating the happy change in her condition after the promises just given. Others understand it as Christ speaking for the New Testament church, which rejoices in the grace of the gospel. We can take both views together, since the first points forward as a picture of the second.

Here we are taught to rejoice with holy joy, to God’s honor, in the beginning of this good work, when the church is clothed with righteousness and salvation (Isaiah 61:10). Because of this, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord.” Those who rejoice in God have good reason to rejoice deeply, and we do not go too far when God himself is the source of our joy. The first gospel song sounds much like this: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47).

There is full reason for this joy, and it all ends in God. Salvation and righteousness have been worked out and brought in, and the church is clothed with them. The salvation God gave the Jews, the righteousness he showed in defending them, and the reform that appeared among them, made them look as honorable in wise eyes as if they had been dressed in royal robes or wedding clothes. Christ has clothed his church with an eternal salvation, which is truly great, by clothing it with the righteousness of justification, that is, being accepted as right with God, and sanctification, that is, being made holy in daily life.

The clean linen is the righteousness of saints (Revelation 19:8). Notice how these two are joined together. Those, and only those, will be clothed with the garments of salvation hereafter who are now covered with the robe of righteousness. These garments are rich and splendid, like priestly clothes, which is the sense of the word here. The brightness of the sun itself is compared to them (Psalm 19:5). He is like a bridegroom coming out of his room, fully dressed.

Such is the beauty of God’s grace in those who wear the robe of righteousness. By Christ’s righteousness they are brought into God’s favor, and by the Holy Spirit’s work they have God’s image renewed in them. They are dressed like a bride ready to be joined to God and brought into covenant with him. They are also dressed like a priest, set apart to serve God and brought into fellowship with him.

We are also taught to rejoice in the progress and lasting nature of this good work (Isaiah 61:11). It is not like a day of celebration that is glorious for the moment and then gone. No, the righteousness and salvation with which the church is clothed are lasting clothing (Isaiah 23:18). When the church delights in the righteousness and salvation that Jesus Christ has given her, she can rejoice that these priceless gifts will rise up in future ages and spread to far-off places.

They will spring up through the ages, like the fruits of the earth that appear year after year, from one generation to the next. As the earth, even common ground, brings forth its buds, and as a garden makes what is planted in it grow in its season, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up steadily, powerfully, and for people’s good, by the covenant of grace, just as he does other blessings by the covenant of providence. The promised gifts are righteousness and praise, because those who are clothed with righteousness will show the praises of the One who clothed them. These blessings will grow under the dew of divine grace.

Even if it seems like winter in the church, when these blessings appear to fade or are hidden, their root remains fixed. A springtime will come, and when the coming Sun of righteousness shines again, they will flourish once more. They will also spread far and spring up before all nations. The great salvation will be published and proclaimed throughout the world, and the ends of the earth will see it.