Isaiah 61:3 English Standard Version (ESV) to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.^{[that he may display his beauty]}

Sometimes one passage has so much richness in it that one post cannot cover it. This is a good example of God’s rich blessings to those who believe. We pick up the mantle one more time with oaks of righteousness.

Psalm 1:3 English Standard Version (ESV) He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Comparing man to trees is listed several times in scripture. It was placed in the first psalm with purpose and is connected to our planting. A stream is an unending supply, the water is the evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit, as is the fruits of the spirit.

Romans 8:1 English Standard Version (ESV) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.^[a]

Footnotes ^[a] Some manuscripts add who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit)

That He ^[Christ] may be glorified.^{[that he may display his beauty]}

Is there any blessing that man can receive that is greater than being planted in Christ?

This takes me back to that part of Isaiah 61:3 in replacing the faint spirit.

Psalm 27:13 King James Version (KJV) I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Here I prefer the KJV as the language draws us into remembrance by the Holy Spirit of the connectivity of the scriptures and how they help us understand God’s intentions.

Isaiah 61:3 English Standard Version (ESV) to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.^{[that he may display his beauty]}

Picking up where we left off yesterday and the acquisition of blessings that are written here, the next is the oil of gladness. The Hebrew word for oil here is šemen, pronounced sheh’-men, which is rendered fat.

Isaiah 10:27 English Standard Version (ESV) And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of the fat.”

While this is difficult to understand initially we should look to the sacrifices for understanding.

Leviticus 3:9a English Standard Version (ESV) Then from the sacrifice of the peace offering he shall offer as a food offering to the Lord its fat;

Fat as a sacrifice is fast burning, high heat, and quickly consumed. Our blessing of gladness are an exchange of mourning for a joyful release of energy. What a stark contrast where our tears are changed to something useful and energizing. In the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, it lights our lamps so that we might keep watch for our Lord.

The next blessing received is the garments of praise.

Revelation 7:13-14, 17 English Standard Version

¹³ Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” ¹⁴ I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁷ For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Praise God.