Oaks of Righteousness

The title of this post sounds like some sort of men's fraternal order or something. "Oaks of Righteousness" has a majestic ring to it that's even better than 'Order of the Elk' or whatever. I got the title from the passage that I'm reading today. Check it out here;

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

² to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness

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.

⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins

and restore the places long devastated;

they will renew the ruined cities

that have been devastated for generations.

I'm continuing with my readings for the Advent Season from The Revised Common Lectionary. In reading this passage, there are some things that just jump out at me.

First, correct me if I'm wrong but... this is Jesus talking, right? In Isaiah, the Old Testament. Now I don't say that to imply that He wasn't there but rather to prove that He IS there, always has been. And in this passage, Jesus is speaking of His mission. We read the same words in the New Testament coming from the mouth of Jesus. Some people would say that when Jesus spoke these words in the NT, he was quoting from Isaiah. But if Isaiah is quoting from Jesus... that Jesus is quoting himself. That just boggles the mind!

Anyway, in the very first verse (v1) I see that The Trinity is clearly referenced. "The Spirit", "Sovereign Lord" and "me" (Jesus). For those who say The Trinity is a man-made invention and isn't clearly represented in scripture, I say 'ha!'

The next thing that got my attention was "release from darkness for the prisoners." It's possible that I haven't been paying attention but this seems different to me. You see, I've read this same thing in Luke 4:18-19 but there is a subtle difference. In Luke, Jesus says "proclaim freedom for the prisoners..." I've always read that with a bent towards people behind bars. But here, I see now it is not about chains of iron at all, it's about the chains of sin. It's about being freed from the darkness of our own depravity, it's about shining HIS light into the farthest reaches of our soul to lay bare every secret and chase out every demon. I recognize this as my own liberation.

Next, 'to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor', I'm reading as when Christ came into the fullness of his mission on earth. I also see this as a watershed moment. Christ came to 'preach good news', to 'bind up the brokenhearted', to 'proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.' Do you see that it's all past tense? But this sentence 'to proclaim' has a more present tense to it. And everything that comes after it, is all future tense. "Was, Is, Will Be"

Now I know that in Isaiah, v3-4 are about the nation of Israel but once again, I'm claiming birthrights into that tree by way of adoption. So for all those who await His coming, all those who suffer oppression and persecution in His name till His return, they're going to get a crown and oil to lift their spirits and beautiful garments instead of earthly rags. But they're also going to get a new name '"Oaks of Righteousness" a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.'

I like the thought behind that. Namely that we believers have been planted by The Lord. We're going to grow in Him not into pretty flowers but into a great stand of oaks, a forest. And we, as his believers, as his creation, as a result of his power, mercy and grace will display HIS splendor. Think about it, God can take the most messed up person imaginable and totally turn that person around. From useless to useful. From an eye-sore to HIS SPLENDOR.

Folks, I was a parasitic weed! God picked me up from toxic soil, transformed me and replanted me in fertile soil. I'm certainly no oak of righteousness right now but I know that one day, on THAT day, I will be. And I know too that I'm going to be surrounded by my brothers and sisters in Christ. We'll be a great forest for the display of HIS splendor.

Sapling,
Carl