Isaiah 61

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the LORD,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

7 Instead of your shame
you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.

8 “For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed.”

10 I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.


This scripture's beauty was first brought to my attention when Vintage was having an Oaks of Righteousness series. I believe that was either at the time I was in Italy or it was at the time that I had no free time because of school work when I returned. Therefore, I was left with NO TIME to really dig into this scripture passage. Time, time, time; it sometimes seems everything is just centered around that one word, but we can get back to that!
This passage has come to mean more to me in the past couple of months as I try to get more involved with the Plant:Uganda Vision at Vintage21. Not only are great things happening in Uganda but in the city of Raleigh. It has brought me great joy to see the community I am a part of work in our community use their talents to bring people out of darkness. Hope for Hunter, Plant:Uganda, Young Life, and InterVarsity are just some of the ways. I think the desire to comfort those who mourn and provide for those who grieve (v2,3) is a longing Christ put in our hearts so that we may also be fulfilled when we see what we are capable of doing as blessed children of God.
I hope that as I prepare for my trip to South Africa I can be in prayer that God with lead me to those people in South Africa that need comforting and hope. Nerves are rising, and packing has yet to begin! May I be filled up with confidence so I can be prepared to use my talents without hesitation.
Time is flying by as the day of departure arrives. May I use my time wisely as I prepare to leave and while I am in South Africa for good works! I will be given more time than I have when I am in school in Raleigh, and it is my hope that I can use the extra time to volunteer and have time for stillness.

H