This week I am posting a phrase rather than just a word. The phrase is "beauty for ashes". That phrase is found only in Isaiah 61:3:
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. KJV
"Beauty" is the Hebrew word "pe`er". Strong's Concordance says: an embellishment; i.e. a fancy head-dress. "Ashes" is the Hebrew word "eper". The Theological Wordbook says: It is used figuratively for what is without value or loathsome. It signifies misery, shame, humility before God, and repentance and contrition. The James, Fausset and Brown Commentary on Isaiah 61:3 says this: Beauty for ashes. There is a play on the sound and meaning of the Hebrew word p'eer ... 'eeper: literally, 'ornamental head-dress' or tiara (Ezek 24:17), worn in times of joy, instead of a head-dress of "ashes," cast on the head in mourning (2 Sam 13:19.) This whole verse speaks of the Lord doing something for His people to remove them from misery and mourning and to place them in a place of blessing. The Amplified Bible shows this even more:
3 To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion — to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit — that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. AMP
Notice that HE is glorified when this happens for His people! Now, another fun Truth about this verse comes from the verses just before it. Isaiah 61:1-3 from the Amplified Bible:
1 THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, [Rom 10:15.] 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, [Matt 11:2-6; Luke 4:18,19; 7:22.] 3 To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion — to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit — that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. AMP
THIS is the portion of Scripture that Jesus read from in Luke 4:18-21:
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. KJV
Those first verses were fulfilled in their presence that day because He was there, doing that very thing. Verse 3 was fulfilled for the Church at His Resurrection, and for Israel when He returns. It brings Him glory when WE walk in honor, favor and the Anointing! It's not just a list of verses that we stand on, but the promises of the Covenant taken together and enhanced by the study of the Word that ties it all together! I LOVE that! Here is another song from the new Hillsong Worship album. This one is called "Jesus, I Need You". It refers to "beauty for ashes" and shows that it all goes back to Jesus and our reliance on what He has done!
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
