Isaiah 61:2-3 – Beauty For Ashes
We all have griefs and hardships in this world. There’s an even greater mourning, however, that only comes to some people. That is mourning over sin and shame, mourning that comes when the Spirit begins to work upon them, and they are convicted of their sin. There’s even mourning for those who, by grace, have already looked to Jesus and lived. There is much we see in our own lives that grieves us. We also mourn over the carelessness and lukewarmness of other believers or churches. We grieve over the hatred of our Christ by the world. But Christ proclaims comfort for all who mourn. He is the One to Whom we must look if we will have any comfort in this life or eternity. For you who are miserable and mourning sinners, from this covenant of redemption comes what Peter calls great and precious promises of forgiveness and new life. For the believer, you have the assurance that all will work for your good. You who are discouraged by your remaining sin, God has given to us an assurance in Romans 6:14 that sin shall not have dominion over you. As you grieve also over all the faithlessness within the Church of Jesus Christ and all the enemies outside, you must look to Christ for comfort, Who says in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Further, not only do we have many promises, but Christ has given us another Comforter to bring to us His words. This other Comforter, the Holy Spirit, lives within us and is empowering us to be holy, giving us comfort, and weaning us away from that which makes for a mournful life.
It may well be that God, through Isaiah, was looking ahead to the destruction of Jerusalem. They were grieving because of the destruction, grieving because of the sin that had led to this, grieving at the temporary triumph of the wicked. At times we, too, feel like this. Jesus says here in Isaiah 61 that He has come to give beauty for ashes. The word for beauty in Hebrew is a diadem or a little coronet. It’s a special crown that itself is beautiful and makes a person who wears it look beautiful. Jesus promises here a beauty or a coronet traded for ashes. What does this have to say for those who are yet in their sins? Turn away from these things that merely come to ashes. Turn to Jesus Christ who promises an everlasting crown. There shall yet be, for the people of God, beauty for ashes. Let us be putting our hope and our joy and our trust there!
Question
- What has Christ come to do?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks that Christ comforts those who mourn.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.