“They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendour.”
Isaiah 61:3
Nailed with Jesus to the two pieces of wood that formed the cross or “tree” was the fruit of disobedience and shame of Adam and Eve and through them all humanity that had come from eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. Established in its place was the planting of the new and everlasting “tree” or Covenant rooted in Jesus, in whom humanity can now taste the fruit of life eternal and life lived in all it’s fullness in close fellowship with God that it was once deprived.
In Luke 4 we read that in the synagogue of Nazareth, Jesus’s hometown, Jesus as the Messiah proclaims to those present the fulfilment in himself of the opening verses of the prophecy in Isaiah 61:
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
Luke 4:16-21
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’”
Jesus stops at the beginning of verse 2 but if we read on in the original prophecy of Isaiah 61, we find that the oak tree is used to describe those to whom Jesus as the Lord’s anointed servant is sent to deliver God’s comfort and good news to those grieving or in despair and to release those held captive to sin or in spiritual as well as physical bondage. It says that:
“They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendour.”
Isaiah 61:3
For those of us who find such a hope in Jesus as “the way, the truth and the life”, we carry the living seeds of His glory, presence and power within us watered by the Holy Spirit and nourished in the power of God’s Word and presence; for we are made strong and sturdy oak trees or righteousness, planted by the Lord whom we have received for the display of His splendour!
Did you know that in receiving the warmth and joy of Jesus Christ’s good news; his extended invitation of salvation, healing and restoration of divine relationship to you through an excruciating death and triumphant resurrection, that you, yes you are an oak of righteousness and a seed that has been planted by the Lord for the display of his power, glory and divine majesty.
You are a unique planting of the Lord for his glory, just as you are.
Take a moment to meditate on and think about this. As it dawns on you that you are not only loved but you are significant to God, thank him for what he has done for you and in you and through you today!
Abba's Dearly Beloved 