Isiaih 61:7 says, For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. God said that for the shame that the Jews had suffered in captivity, which was caused by their own failure to trust God, that they would be given double what they lost when they returned after repenting and putting their faith in Him once more. I don’t believe this meant twice the material wealth, since their houses nor the Temple were as great as they were before, but it means they were spiritually blessed so much more than before. God also said they would rejoice in their portion. We should always rejoice in the Lord when He meets our needs and never desire what someone else has been blessed with. This was to be everlasting joy, no matter what their portion might be. As followers of Christ, we should have everlasting joy, because we have been given everlasting spiritual life with God.
Verse eight adds, For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. God said He loved judgment, which I believe means righteous judgment. Other people may try to oppress Christians, but we don’t need to be their judge. God is, and one day He will pass His judgment on those who refuse to accept His gift of salvation. God is the God of truth, so sacrifices made just for show or for ones own glory will never be acceptable to Him. Then, if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ, He enters into an everlasting covenant with us. Once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, God seals us as His forever.
Verse nine continues, And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. God said that the Gentiles who saw the Jews would acknowledge that they were blessed by God. This would be true of their descendants as well. This was when they had returned to God and were being obedient to Him and not just because they were descendants of Jewish parents. God never intended for the nation of Israel to be declared better than other people because of the fact that they were born into the nation of Israel, but they were to be made better because of their relationship with Him. We as Christians are not better than anyone else based on our own goodness, since we are all sinners saved by grace, so we should never feel that God loves us more than anyone else.
Verse ten says, I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. Isaiah said that he would greatly rejoice in the Lord and be joyful in his God, and so should we as followers of Christ today. This is made possible because we are covered by the robe of righteousness of Jesus Christ. He is the Bridegroom and we as the church are the bride.
Verse eleven adds, For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. God said He was going to cause righteousness and praise to Him to spring forth like the seeds or buds that were planted brought forth new life. As Christians, we are to be rooted in our relationship with Jesus Christ and we should bring forth fruit as we reach out to the whole world with the gospel of Christ.
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