Verses 1-3 refer to the ministry of Christ as the Anointed of Jehovah in His two comings. As indicated in Luke 4:16-22a (see notes there), vv. 1-2a in this chapter refer to Christ in His first coming, in which His ministry was to announce the gospel of grace. Verses 2-3 refer to Christ in His second coming, in which His ministry will be to avenge Israel that they may be restored. The prophecy concerning Christ as the Anointed of Jehovah was fulfilled as a foretaste at Christ’s first coming, for the age of grace as the acceptable year of Jehovah, the New Testament jubilee (see note Lev. 25:10¹, par. 2), resulting in the producing and building up of the church. This prophecy will be fulfilled as a full taste at Christ’s second coming, for the restoration of Israel unto the new heavens and new earth (Isa. 65:17; 66:22).

Christ’s coming is of two parts and at two times. In His first coming, Christ came to minister, to dispense, Himself into His followers. In this way He carried out the New Testament ministry to dispense the Triune God into the disciples under His ministry, most of whom were Jews. This ministry in Christ’s first coming laid a solid foundation for His second coming. When He comes the second time, He will come mainly in an outward way to rescue Israel from their circumstances and to bring in their restoration (Zech. chs. 12—14). This restoration will be expanded to include all things created by God (Isa. 2:2-5; 11:6-9; 30:26; 35:1-10; 65:25). It will last for a millennium, for the thousand-year kingdom (Rev. 20:2-7).

In the eyes of God, Christ’s two comings are two aspects of one unique coming of Christ from God to mankind. Hence, in Isaiah’s prophecy these two comings are like two mountain peaks which, when viewed from a distance, seem to be one peak. For this reason Isaiah viewed Christ’s first coming and second coming as being together.

The Spirit of Jehovah was upon Christ in His first coming (Matt. 3:16; Luke 4:18a) and will be upon Him in His second coming. When the Lord Jesus comes the second time, the striking significance will be that the Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon Him, the word Lord being especially added here by Isaiah.

The acceptable year is toward God’s people (cf. Luke 4:18-19); the day of vengeance is toward the enemies of God’s people. When Christ comes again to Israel, that will be the acceptable year to them and also the day of God’s vengeance over the enemies of God’s people, Antichrist and his followers (Rev. 19:11-21).

In the restoration Israel will be priests of Jehovah (see note Isa. 2:3²), the ministers of their God, and the Gentiles will be the laborers to serve Israel (vv. 4-9).

According to the reading of some MSS and the ancient versions; other MSS read, in the burnt offering.