Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 61:4-9

"And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers. But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. Instead of your shame [ye shall have] double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them. For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Jehovah hath blessed." — Isaiah 61:4-9 (ASV)

Promises are made here to the Jews who returned from captivity, which extend to all those who, through grace, are delivered from spiritual bondage. An unholy soul is like a city that is broken down and has no walls, or like a house in ruins; but by the power of Christ's gospel and grace, it is made fit to be a dwelling place of God, through the Spirit. When, by the grace of God, we attain to holy detachment from the affairs of this world; when, though our hands are employed with them, our hearts are not entangled by them but are kept entirely for God and His service, then the sons of the alien are our ploughmen and vine-dressers.

Those whom He sets at liberty, He also sets to work. His service is perfect freedom; it is the greatest honor. All believers are made, to our God, kings and priests; and they should always conduct themselves as such. Those who have the Lord for their portion have reason to say that they have a worthy portion, and to rejoice in it. In the fullness of heaven's joys, we shall receive more than double for all our services and sufferings.

God desires truth and therefore hates all injustice. Nor will it justify anyone's robbery to say it was for burnt offerings; and that robbery is most hateful which is under this pretense. Let the children of godly parents be such that all may see the fruits of a good education; an answer to the prayers for them, in the fruit of God's blessing.

Regarding Isaiah 61:10-11: Only those shall be clothed with the garments of salvation in the life to come who are covered with the robe of Christ's righteousness now, and by the sanctification of the Spirit have God's image renewed upon them. These blessings shall spring forth for ages to come, like the fruits of the earth. So fittingly, so constantly, and with such advantage to mankind, will the Lord God cause righteousness and praise to spring forth. They shall spread far; the great salvation shall be published and proclaimed to the ends of the earth. Let us be earnest in prayer, that the Lord God may cause that righteousness to spring forth among us which constitutes the excellence and glory of the Christian profession.