Isaiah 61:3 (KJV)
" 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."
How many times have we seen or heard this verse and connected it immediately to God giving us beauty in place of our troubles. Or that when bad things , pain, loss etc. happen to us that God will turn it into beauty.? We tend to often connect this scripture with the scripture that says " What you meant for evil, God has turned around for the good, Genesis 5:20" And I am not saying that that isn't a meaning for this scripture but, let's take a look at another view of it.
The other day as I was reading this verse I felt led to research it and study it more. I happened upon this particular teaching that really stood out to me and I felt led to share it with you. Many times when things go wrong or bad things happen to good people, or innocents are harmed or killed by someone who is evil or being led by evil. We often tend to ask of God; where is the beauty from this ?
The teaching that I found that really touched me was written by: Goodwin Tam Brisbe, and he brings us another view of Isaiah 61:3.
What does it mean when God says I will give you beauty for the ashes? Well, let's first understand the meaning of ashes and where they come from.Ashes come from things that are burnt up. They turn to ashes and become an entirely different substance than it began as. They take on a new state that scientist call "irreversible reaction". Then we begin to realize that our beauty will not come until we are completely burnt up and turned to ashes. When we get to the point of "no going back" to where we came from. His beauty for us will come when all of our trials and tribulations have come to an end and we are completely burnt up.
Now at first when I read that I was a bit confused and unsure of what this was saying. It seemed to me that it was saying that when my life is over and I go to be with the Lord, that He will turn all my trials and tribulations into beauty and I will receive my reward. But, then after bringing it before the Holy Spirit and asking for clarification this is how I understand better. I felt led to read this verse "Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ; never the less I live, yet not I ; but Christ who liveth in me"
Now as I look back on the teachings on Beauty for Ashes , I understand it to mean, when I have completely died to self, all sin is washed a way and my old nature is completely burned up., when I have allowed Christ to transform me into a new creature and the old person has become completely burned up to ashes. Then I will see the beauty from my ashes as I walk in the new person that Christ created me to be.
This is by no means saying that any other way of teaching this is wrong, only that this is another way to understand this verse.
