“God sent me to announce the year of His grace…to comfort all who mourn…to give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.
Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness” planted by God to display his glory.
I will sing for joy in God, explode in praise from deep in my soul!
He dressed me up in a suit of salvation, he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo and a bride a jeweled tiara.
For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, so the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations.”
Isaiah 61:1-3, 10, 11 MSG
The mighty oak. The tree that takes a beating and still stands tall. Maybe a few scars from the pelting hailstorms, whipping winds and thunderstorms…but nevertheless…it stands.
They are the trees that we marvel at as we drive by open fields and there, in the distance, appears a single mighty oak. Beautifully gnarled. Reaching for the sky. Thick trunk. Deep, deep roots.
Well, the Major Prophet, Isaiah, calls us “Oaks of Righteousness”. We, the people of God, and because of His grace, are renamed “Oaks of Righteousness”.
God’s gracious goal is to plant a healthy and more wind-resistant forest of mighty oaks so that future storms are less devastating.
Why? “To display His glory”! To show that His fingerprints are all over these “Oaks of Righteousness”! He has outfitted you in a “suit of salvation” and a “robe of righteousness”! No wonder you can weather the storms!
His Salvation Suit and Righteousness Robe comfort you…”make you sing for joy in God and explode in praise.”
And as the Spring comes, you, Oak of Righteousness, are prolifically budding, ready to burst out in full foliage…just like the earth is at-the-ready to display wild flowers and cascading blossoms of garden color.
How can you do all this? How can you weather the storms? Beautifully bud in spring? Full-leaf beauty in summer? Keep standing when the driving winds are taking their toll?
Remember, you’re not any old oak. You are an “Oak of Righteousness”. Planted by God, Himself for a purpose. His purpose! To display His glory.
So stand tall. You have on His healthy and wind-resistant clothes of salvation and righteousness. The winds may beat against you but He buffers it so He can “put you on display before the nations.” When all is said and done, you, oh, Oak of Righteousness, are still standing…only by His grace.
