Psalms 8:1 and 16:2, “In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified,” and Psalm 31:1-4
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Isaiah. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind on a phrase in verse 3:
Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
The phrase that caught my attention is “The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” I immediately thought of the garment, the covering, Jesus promised to the overcomer: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels” (Revelation 3:5).
I thought of Joseph’s coat of many colors (Genesis 37:3), which set ablaze the embers of envy that lurked in his brothers’ hearts. The “garment of praise” is the vestment one wears as a praise to God, and at the same time, is a garment worn to praise. It displaces mourning.
A “garment of mourning” would be sackcloth, often accompanied by ashes (Esther 4:1; Isaiah 58:5; Jeremiah 6:26; Daniel 9:3; Jonah 3:6; Matthew 11:21 with Luke 10:13). Jesus has come to give beauty for ashes, and praise for heaviness. He offers the heavy-hearted a garment of praise, but some cling to their sackcloth, seeming to prefer mourning to gladness. Perhaps they think themselves unworthy of happiness. If you wait till you are worthy, you will never receive His gift of the garment of praise, and you will never deliver to Him genuine praise while wrapped in a garment of mourning.
The spirit of the saint in communion with the Spirit of Christ, the sanctifier, hates the “garment” spotted by the flesh (“Hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” (Jude 23)). Rejoice, for your Lord, like a husband that loves his wife, “Gave himself for [you]; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
Along the still waters, I pondered these things. So long as I am in this flesh, evil is present with me, and it often seeps to the surface to spot my garments (Romans 7:21). I must regularly seek the washing of the water of His word and the cleansing power of His blood (1 John 1:7-9). I long for the unspotted garment of praise, when I am clothed upon by His immortality, transforming this vile body, receiving a body like unto His glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Corinthians 5:2-9). Meanwhile, I will desire to don the garment of praise daily washed and cleansed so that “whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him” (2 Corinthians 5:9).
In the valley, shadowed by His Cross, I heard my Shepherd call me to His side there, saying, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23), while He assisted me in fitting my cross. I am always surprised by how light is the burden and how easy is the yoke when I confess my weakness and yield the weight of the cross to His strength. And He whispers: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” And I respond as did Paul: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Jesus endured the cross for the “joy that was set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). I’ll wear the garment of praise while I bear the cross for Him (Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 2:120).
At the table, after some communion there on matters personal and pastoral, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed as we went into the harvest.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap:
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