Bad things happen, and we suffer loss and personal disaster when they do. We look for hope and meaning in our time of darkness. Where is it?
"To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory." Isaiah 61:3. NLT.
These beautiful words of hope and promise come from Isaiah. They were a promise to a select people, but now we understand the One True God loves all people, and He may grant blessings to whomever He will.
HE WILL GIVE
We look for comfort, but it is not found in our efforts. Instead, it comes when we bring God into view. We start with the awareness that God is purposeful and his purposes are good.
ASHES
Ashes symbolized extreme sorrow. It was the ancient custom to toss ashes onto one's head during grief. The Lord says he will exchange the ashes of sorrow for a crown, meaning the time of mourning will be gone. Instead of mourning, it will be a festival party of honor.
RIGHTEOUSNESS
We cannot make ourselves righteous, but God gives it. The great oak is a wonderful picture of strength, beauty, and purpose. When we come to God to receive the blessing of righteousness, we also find these other blessings.
BLESSING
This Bible verse illustrates God's desire to bless, comfort, and heal. We are in a sinful world of rebellion and are far from God, but he sent a message of hope through the prophet Isaiah.
COME TO BLESSING
We cannot reach up and find God, but he did what we could not do and sent his Son to do for us what we could not do ourselves.
Centuries after the verse was written, the fulfillment began; Jesus came to show the way to the blessings of God. Christ said, "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full."* He also said, "I am the truth, the way, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me."* Paul the Apostle said of him, "There is only one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus."* When we come to God through Jesus, we come to new life and blessing
"To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory." Isaiah 61:3. NLT.
These beautiful words of hope and promise come from Isaiah. They were a promise to a select people, but now we understand the One True God loves all people, and He may grant blessings to whomever He will.
HE WILL GIVE
We look for comfort, but it is not found in our efforts. Instead, it comes when we bring God into view. We start with the awareness that God is purposeful and his purposes are good.
ASHES
Ashes symbolized extreme sorrow. It was the ancient custom to toss ashes onto one's head during grief. The Lord says he will exchange the ashes of sorrow for a crown, meaning the time of mourning will be gone. Instead of mourning, it will be a festival party of honor.
RIGHTEOUSNESS
We cannot make ourselves righteous, but God gives it. The great oak is a wonderful picture of strength, beauty, and purpose. When we come to God to receive the blessing of righteousness, we also find these other blessings.
BLESSING
This Bible verse illustrates God's desire to bless, comfort, and heal. We are in a sinful world of rebellion and are far from God, but he sent a message of hope through the prophet Isaiah.
COME TO BLESSING
We cannot reach up and find God, but he did what we could not do and sent his Son to do for us what we could not do ourselves.
Centuries after the verse was written, the fulfillment began; Jesus came to show the way to the blessings of God. Christ said, "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full."* He also said, "I am the truth, the way, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me."* Paul the Apostle said of him, "There is only one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus."* When we come to God through Jesus, we come to new life and blessing
(c)Adron Dozat 7/22/13
Isaiah 61:3.
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