I was blessed with the bible study last week, We had a guest bible study leader from the 2IC group and her topic was growing in Christ.
One of the verses that we went to was Isaiah 61:3b They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. It is addressed to all who mourn and those who grieve in Zion, verses 2-3. So I have to look it up, what is in an oak tree that believers are likened to it. Oak trees are a type of hardwood tree that are known for their strong wood and beautiful leaves with an average lifespan of 400 to 600 years old. So this tree is strong, beautiful and enduring. The word oaks occurs four times in the bible - Ex 15:15 and Ez 17:13 refer to mighty men, Is 60:7 rams and Is 61:3b trees, each one denoting the concept of strength and stability.
Isaiah wrote this passage to God's people mourning in Zion but this is also applicable to us in the present time. We can take comfort in this message of hope that when we grieve over our sin (repent), turn away from our wicked ways and allow Christ to rule our lives, we become strong and firm, we become oaks, able to weather the storms and difficulties of life because we are rooted in the one sure foundation, Jesus Christ. We will become like a tree planted by streams of water, Ps 1:3, which yields its fruit, Gal 5:22-23 and become a blessing to others. Of course, a tree does not grow big and strong overnight. It needs nurturing and at the same time exposure to the elements. Same with us, we need to nurture our souls through God's Word and fellowship with His people. At the same time, we have to weather the storms and droughts of life so we can learn to rely on our Jesus Christ and in the process become strong Christians, like mighty oaks. We have to remember that God is greater than our difficulties. Even though we experience intense pain, overwhelming sadness, crippling anxiety, or discouragements, we have to remember that our life trials are all momentary. We are anchored and rooted in God, our Rock. He holds us steady and he keeps us in his loving hands John 10:28.
Mai