FAVORABLE TIME

Isaiah, an 8th century BC prophet wrote,
“Thus says the LORD,
In a favorable time
I have answered You,
And in a day of salvation
I have helped You;
And I will keep You
and give You for a covenant of the people,
To restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages…” Isaiah 49

Paul, an apostle, in his letter to the Church at Corinth, quotes this text from Isaiah with a few changes.
“For he says,
“In a favorable time
I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation
I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6

Paul writes instead of “I answered you,” “I listened to you.” Because the Lord has listened, we have the promised Messiah of Isaiah; the favorable time is now and today is the day of salvation. The Lord answered by listening. Now it’s our turn to listen to what the Lord has done.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” Jesus