To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV)
No matter how valuable and important it is, whatever is burnt to ashes becomes useless and loss.
So ashes mean loss, and uselessness. The Lord Jesus Christ came to give us beauty for ashes. Instead of an existence and experience of uselessness and loss He has given us a new life full of meaning and value.
We now in Christ live fully accepted and pleasing to God. Ephesians 1:6.
We are the Father’s Beloved sons and daughters made right and holy in Christ. Ephesians 1:4 (AMPC) Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.
During Bible days whenever people were in grief and mourning due to tragedy, sin, loss, or hopelessness, they would put on sackcloth and ashes on their bodies especially on the head. When Jesus came and bore all our sins on the Cross He carried all our grief, loss, and hopelessness due to sin.
He gave us His beauty, which is His Salvation. The beauty that the Lord has given us in the place of the ashes of sin and it’s consequences is Salvation.
Psalms 149:4 (AMPC) For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation and adorn the wretched with victory.
Know that you’re loved and lovely in Father God’s eyes. He has saved you, He has beautified you. Live and walk as one who is already well-pleasing and a delight to your heavenly Father.
