BC Devotion #18 - Freedom to Captives

In Isaiah 40-66, at least fifteen different Hebrew words are used to express the concepts related to the captives, the prisoners, and the oppressed, in at least twenty-three different Scripture references, including prophetic references to Jesus himself. Apparently, the captive is on God’s heart. In the historical context, these passages deal with the return of the displaced exiles of Israel back to their homes and communities. But here as elsewhere, Scripture speaks to universal human experiences. Nowhere is this more evident than in Jesus appropriation of Isaiah 61:1 … “He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to prisoners” in his first public preaching in Luke 4:18. The first reference to prisoners and captives in our passage of study (Isaiah 42:6-7) immediately follows the passage that Matthew cited in reference to the ministry of Jesus (Matthew 12). “I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, and as a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who dwell in darkness from the prison.” Note the combination of images of light/darkness and freedom/captivity.

In ministry to the downtrodden, it is powerful share the prophets’ expression of God’s concern for those who are going through hard places in life. The prophet speaks to people who have been taken from their communities, their homes, and their way of life, people who have lost everything. The prophet rehearses God’s concern and offers hope “I know the plans that I have for you, plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, also expressed to the exiles).

Equally important is God’s expressed interest in stirring leaders to act on his concern. Through the prophet, God at once expresses his concern for the captive and his agenda of deliverance. “This is a people plundered and despoiled … hidden away in prison; they have become prey with none to deliver them, and a spoil with none to bring them back” (42:22), or similarly of Cyrus the deliverer, “I have aroused him in righteousness ... he will build my city and will let my exiles go free” (45:13). In Isaiah 58, the prophet speaks of the ministry of deliverance as a form of worship, “Is this not the fast (i.e. worship) which I choose ... to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free?” (v. 6)

Nor does God neglect to encourage the oppressed to fight for their own deliverance … “Shake yourself from the dust, rise up, O Jerusalem; loose yourself from the chains around your neck” (52:2).

Among these references, the one which I consider to be most powerful at once touches the deepest despair of imprisonment while expressing an unwavering hope in God’s faithfulness, while touching also on God’s concern for the most basic human needs ... “The exile will soon be set free, and will not die in the dungeon, nor will his bread be lacking (51:14).

Take a moment to consider that awesome promise. My prayer is that we can embrace even a glimmer of God’s heart for the captive, and somehow represent in our ministry his agenda of deliverance.