Oaks of Righteousness (2)

The Planting of the Lord

By William M. Self, Sr.

 

 

Oak trees are very strong

You are the planting of the Lord

To make right decisions

And become a tree of Righteousness

To rebuild the ruins of wrongs

Isaiah 61

 

Oaks of Righteousness

If you grew up poor or ever had your heart broken.

If you felt your life was controlled by others

and you were locked in a room of darkness.

Then Isaiah 61 must have been

 a breath of fresh air to you.

To know God has no intentions or desire for

you to live a life of fear and pain is refreshing.

To know He will…

“Comfort all who mourn,

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.”

That is encouraging.

As a boy, I grew up in poverty,

bullies were attracted to me.

  

I turned the other cheek

and got two black eyes.

Every day I went to school I was afraid.

I thought of myself as weak,

but I became a fast runner.

The scriptures says…

He came to preach good news

Over the years, I have come to realize

the good news was to make me strong.

God’s plan for you and I

is to make us like Oak trees.

The word “trees” in verse 4 means “strong tree”.

Through our relationship with God and His Word…

We will be called…

“Strong trees of Righteousness”

What makes us strong is right decisions.

Those who have learned from God’s Word,

 how to make right decisions in life,

 will grow large like the mighty oak trees.

 

These trees of righteousness are the planting of

the Lord to rebuild the ruins of wrong decisions.

 

  Scripture Reading

Isaiah 61:1-4 NIV

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.