Possession and Joy

One of the most amazing passages, to me, is Isaiah chapter 61. Unpacking everything in this chapter would take too long for this blog so I'll only mention a couple of things. Throughout the first half of the book of Isaiah, there has been great judgment pronounced by the Lord to the nation of Israel. Historically speaking, “rebuilding the ancient ruins” was a great comfort to Israel since their city (nation) laid in ruin. Although the physically restoration comes in the form of Israel becoming a nation again, the spiritual promise to all of God’s people of becoming “oak(s) of righteousness” and “priest” and “ministers of our God” (v. 6) is of eternal value.

The imagery of restoration is that of wealth, possession, and affluence in verse 6b-7 also points to signs of not only prosperity in this present life but also for the one to come. If the pre-fall world and 2nd coming of Christ world show the same types of imagery of affluence for God’s people then it stands to reason that God wants to bless us in some capacity in order to catch glimpses of the eternal. This also further displays God's grace in kindness towards His people. Although sin ran rampant throughout the nation of Israel, it did not reign in God's deep desire to bless His people.

Another point in the opening chapter the Lord says, “For you will be like an oak whose leaf fades away or as a garden that has no water” (Is. 1:30) because of the unrighteousness and injustice practiced among them (1:21). But now we arrive to chapter 61, one of the most amazing passages of restoration and transformation from “an oak whose leaf fades away” to becoming “oaks of righteousness” (61:3). How is this possible? It’s possible because it is the Lord that does “the planting, . . . that He may be glorified.”

If you were to ask some of my close friends how to describe me they probably wouldn’t use the phrase, “oak of righteousness.” I’m fully aware of my shortcomings daily and, at times, it could get extremely frustrating. But remember, it’s the Lord’s work and He’s not done and He promises to finish and give us garments of “salvation” and “righteousness” (61:10) and the judgment due to us will be lifted. This of course is looking to the future work of Christ in the New Testament. But the fact that it is being mentioned here in the Old Testament, I find amazing.

In affirming that the Lord does the work in us in no way frees us from our personal responsibilities. In trusting divine sovereignty we do not neglect human responsibly. Oswalk puts it this way:

Most of us want God’s power for holy living while retaining a firm grip on the steering wheel of our lives. We would like to be “better” Christians but are unwilling to become bond-slaves. God’s awesome power to be loving when we are not loved, to be kind in the midst of cruelty, to be clean in the midst of filth, to be self-forgetful when everything around us says to “take care of yourself at all costs” is not available to those who would use it for their own ends.

Passages in the New Testament also confirm the tension between our acts and God’s power:

Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:13-14)

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? (James 2:14)

May our conduct and works reflect the power of God that works within us.