The Robe of Righteousness
Isaiah 61:10: "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."
The nation of Israel had suffered God's judgement. They went from living in the land of glory, the land of promise, to living in the land of Babylon as exiles. Their land had been taken; the temple of the Lord had been destroyed; and their hope had been shattered. It was into this place of destitution and desperation that Isaiah prophesied that their miracle-working God would intervene on behalf of his people. The hope expressed here was that God would restore his people, restore them in his glory.
Years ago, I heard a great teaching on Isaiah 61 entitled "The Sacred Exchange." In his mercy and grace, the sovereign Lord would swoop down to rescue the Israelite exiles. The poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, the grieving, all those broken by the Babylonian defeat would experience the Lord's comfort and healing. Their garments of shame would be exchanged for joy. God's light would shine in their darkness and that light would bring justice upon those who had harmed God's people.
Here, Isaiah prophesied about them wearing the garments of salvation, a robe of righteousness, and a beautiful headdress. The Lord would lift the robes of despair, shame, sin, and exile and allow his people to be decked in his adornment, his glory, his righteousness. They would be made beautiful once again! The language used sounds much like a wedding ceremony. In Isaiah's day, the wedding was one of the most glorious and grandiose celebrations among the people. God would call his people to celebrate once again. The old would disappear and the new would come - new life, new hope, new garments.
As God's new covenant believers, we now wear robes of righteousness. In our confession of faith, the Lord removes our shame and guilt, washes us in the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ, and then covers us in the robe of righteousness. When the Lord looks upon us, he does not see our sin but the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We have been made like him.
Do you find your hope in that robe of righteousness? Have you the Lord to make the sacred exchange of sin, guilt, and shame to salvation, forgiveness, and righteousness? It is an amazing gift that we have been given through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Let's adorn ourselves in him today, throwing off the old to embrace the new.
Reflection:
Think through the sacred exchange the Lord has made for you and spend some time meditating on that exchange, on the glorious gift you have been given, and on how you can freely wear this robe of righteousness.
The nation of Israel had suffered God's judgement. They went from living in the land of glory, the land of promise, to living in the land of Babylon as exiles. Their land had been taken; the temple of the Lord had been destroyed; and their hope had been shattered. It was into this place of destitution and desperation that Isaiah prophesied that their miracle-working God would intervene on behalf of his people. The hope expressed here was that God would restore his people, restore them in his glory.
Years ago, I heard a great teaching on Isaiah 61 entitled "The Sacred Exchange." In his mercy and grace, the sovereign Lord would swoop down to rescue the Israelite exiles. The poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, the grieving, all those broken by the Babylonian defeat would experience the Lord's comfort and healing. Their garments of shame would be exchanged for joy. God's light would shine in their darkness and that light would bring justice upon those who had harmed God's people.
Here, Isaiah prophesied about them wearing the garments of salvation, a robe of righteousness, and a beautiful headdress. The Lord would lift the robes of despair, shame, sin, and exile and allow his people to be decked in his adornment, his glory, his righteousness. They would be made beautiful once again! The language used sounds much like a wedding ceremony. In Isaiah's day, the wedding was one of the most glorious and grandiose celebrations among the people. God would call his people to celebrate once again. The old would disappear and the new would come - new life, new hope, new garments.
As God's new covenant believers, we now wear robes of righteousness. In our confession of faith, the Lord removes our shame and guilt, washes us in the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ, and then covers us in the robe of righteousness. When the Lord looks upon us, he does not see our sin but the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We have been made like him.
Do you find your hope in that robe of righteousness? Have you the Lord to make the sacred exchange of sin, guilt, and shame to salvation, forgiveness, and righteousness? It is an amazing gift that we have been given through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Let's adorn ourselves in him today, throwing off the old to embrace the new.
Reflection:
Think through the sacred exchange the Lord has made for you and spend some time meditating on that exchange, on the glorious gift you have been given, and on how you can freely wear this robe of righteousness.
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