Isaiah 61:3 …and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Today’s verse was written by the prophet Isaiah to the Jewish exiles who were returning to a devastated and destroyed Jerusalem after spending decades in captivity in Babylon. They not only faced the destruction of their homes but also their temple, leaving them distraught and emotionally destroyed. Discouragement was high but God spoke through Isaiah to give them hope and spiritual restoration amidst the future rebuilding process.
In this message of hope, God promised divine restoration to His people. Their grief and despair would be replaced by garments of beauty, joy, and praise. Their lives were going to be rebuilt and their honor restored. This would happen for the individuals, and more so, for the Israelites as a nation.
I love the imagery in this verse. He promised to take grieving people and replace the negatives of ashes, mourning, and despair with a crown of beauty, oil of joy, and garments of praise. We have heard the phrase beauty for ashes and we see it promised in this verse.
And more than that, He said they would be called oaks of righteousness. Oak trees are known for their strength and endurance. But they were more than just oaks. They were oaks of righteousness for His splendor. They would be planted in righteousness for his glory. I don’t know about you but I would love to be viewed as a person that is solid in righteousness, who brings Him glory and is planted for His splendor.
But this verse is even more than this amazing restoration and promise. It is the passage Jesus read when visiting His hometown of Nazareth – Isaiah 61:1-2. He read the passage from the scroll of Isaiah in Luke 4:16-21 and declared,“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
By doing this, Jesus was making the claim that He was the one anointed by the Spirit to bring the promised comfort, freedom, and restoration to the brokenhearted. This extends beyond the Israelites down through time to you and me. He brings restoration and comfort to anyone hurting or brokenhearted. And this restoration strengthens us and we are able to bring glory to Him through righteous living.
Today let’s thank Him for taking our brokenness, our pain and despair, and transforming it into things of beauty. Praise Him for making you as strong as the oak and filled with righteousness. And walk in that righteousness the rest of your days.
Prayer: Lord, I want to be a strong oak of righteousness that lives for You and Your glory. Fill me with Your restorative power and renew my brokenness with Your healing touch. Amen
Be the first to comment