Mar 24 2008
Joy for Crankiness and Hope for Despair
I started to leave a comment on this post from Gabrielle, and then it turned into something long enough that I wanted it here.
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And because of this, even when our lives are pathetic and cranky, Jesus intercedes and redeems those things that are pathetic and cranky.
He gives us:
Beauty for ashes
An oil of joy for mourning
A garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness.
And He sometimes gives us hope for despair as well. Praise the Lord He is risen in power.
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion– to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
(Isaiah 61:1-3)
