This forms the beginning of a section (chaps. 61-63:1-6) which embraces Jehovah-Messiah in His first as well as second advents for the blessing and glory of Israel and the destruction of their enemies. We have the Lord's own warrant in Luke 4 for declaring that the early portion He read applies to His then presence in grace here below. It has been often and justly observed how He stopped after the first clause of verse 2, closing the book, and in due time saying, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. He cites what portrays His character as it was (or about to be) displayed on earth at that time in ways of divine mercy, but forbears even to close the sentence where the part following alludes to His exercise of judicial wrath. Such was in no way the object of His first coming; and so, if strange in appearance, with divine wisdom, He read no more. “The day of vengeance of our God” awaits the epoch of His appearing in power and glory.
It is not that mercy will not then be the spring of God's way with Israel. For the Lord, while He executes earthly judgment, will comfort those that mourn, especially mourners in Zion, giving them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, “that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” (Ver. 3.) Restoration of past decayed places shall go forward (ver. 4); strangers shall serve Israel (ver. 5), who shall themselves be named the priests of Jehovah. (Ver. 6.) For their shame they should have not merely re-instatement of what had lapsed but double, like Job; and the Lord who loves judgment will make an everlasting covenant with them; so that all who see acknowledge that they are indeed the blessed of Jehovah. (Ver. 7-9.) Nay more, Jehovah Himself becomes the center of all joy and the giver of all beauty, causing righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. (Ver. 10, 11.)
The Spirit of Christ is importunate in intercession for Zion, as we see in the beginning of chapter 62. “For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.” (Ver. 1 -.4.) Land and people are bound up in the plans and affections of Jehovah. And this will prove a divine ground of patriotism for Israel. “For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” (Ver. 5.) And as the Spirit of Christ working in the prophet bears witness of the unceasing cry to the Lord to effect His glorious counsels as to Jerusalem (ver. 6, 7); so the Lord on His part “hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast labored: but they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.” (Ver. 8, 9.)
Hence the animation of verse 10: “Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.” The day of the Lord is there; He the Messiah is there, the salvation of Zion's daughter—His reward with Him, and His work before Him. So the Lord proclaims to the end of the world as His message to her. (Ver. 11.) On the other hand, “they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.” (Ver. 12.)
“Happy is that people that is in such a case; yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord.”