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]
Once again we refer to the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and those who mourn for Him. Let’s begin here with Zion. Zion is said to be Jerusalem, by adding Zion to the list we are pointing to the Jews in particular, not just all who mourned.
We can relate to that as we attested to yesterday. Those same blessing granted to those people at that time are ours to claim. In that sense we can now look at each of the items as ours.
“A beautiful headdress; The Hebrews do not appear to have regarded a covering for the head as an essential article of dress. Hats were unknown. The earliest notice we have of such a thing is in connection with the sacerdotal vestments.” Source Smith’s bible Dictionary
This is a reference to our priestly service to the gospel.
Romans 15:15-16 English Standard Version
15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Interestingly when discussing this in emotional terms most of us look at this as the bride’s headdress. In terms of biblical references, the bride had no headdress. The closest we can come to see scripture in relation to marriage is Jacob’s first marriage to Laban’s daughter, Leah. Jacob did not know he was marrying Leah until after the wedding was performed and her veil removed.
Ashes signifies our relationship with death, ashes to ashes, but it is not until the wedding is finished that everyone gets to see who is under the veil.
“But then, we will see Him face to face.”