This is sort of an encouraging passage, in a riddle ridden kind of way I guess.
What does he mean by "In the time of my favor, I will answer you"?
Does it mean God will answer when he feels like it?
I know it is in God's will he does and does not, but it does seem like we are helpless and has no say or free will.
Or does it mean when you are in his "realm" of will, or if you are in his kingdom, that he will let his presence known?
But does he not "judge" you on the day of salvation? Or as for people in his "realm" of will, or kingdom, it will be the day of "help"?
Which ever it might be, what is encouraging is the fact it is written, that on that day "...those in darkness 'Be free!'" and will find peace.
And as he called us, the people walking in his path, "the afflicted" will come out and rejoice.
"8 This is what the LORD says:
"In the time of my favor I will answer you,
and in the day of salvation I will help you;
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people,
to restore the land
and to reassign its desolate inheritances,
9 to say to the captives, 'Come out,'
and to those in darkness, 'Be free!'
"They will feed beside the roads
and find pasture on every barren hill.
10 They will neither hunger nor thirst,
nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them.
He who has compassion on them will guide them
and lead them beside springs of water.
11 I will turn all my mountains into roads,
and my highways will be raised up.
12 See, they will come from afar—
some from the north, some from the west,
some from the region of Aswan."
13 Shout for joy, O heavens;
rejoice, O earth;
burst into song, O mountains!
For the LORD comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones."
