Spiritual Fruitage That Glorifies God

The Jews who return from Babylon realize that Jehovah has performed a great deed in their behalf.  Their mourning as captives turns into exultation and praise because they are finally free.  Thus, Isaiah fulfills his prophetic commission, that is, "to assign to those mourning over Zion, to give them a headdress instead of ashes, the oil of exultation instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of the downhearted spirit; and they  must be called  big trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, for him to be beautified."-Isaiah 61:3.

In the first century, the Jews who accepted release from bondage to false religion also praised God for his great deed in their behalf.  Their downhearted spirit was  replaced with a "mantle of praise" when they were delivered from a spiritually dead nation.  Such a change was first experienced by Jesus' disciples when their mourning over his death turned to rejoicing over their anointing with holy spirit by their resurrected Lord.  Soon after, a similar change was experienced by 3,000 meek individuals who responded  to the preaching of those newly anointed Christians and got baptized  at Pentecost 33 C.E. (Acts 2:41) How good it was to be confident of having Jehovah's blessing!   Instead of "mourning over Zion," they received holy spirit and were refreshed by "the oil of exultation," which symbolizes the exultation of those who are richly blessed by Jehovah. -Hebrews 1:9.

Jehovah blesses his people  with "big trees of righteousness."  Who are these big trees?  In the years following 537 B.C.E., they were individuals who studied and meditated on God's Word and cultivated Jehovah's righteous standards.   (Psalm 1:1-3; Isaiah 44:2-4; Jeremiah 17:7, 8) Such men as Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, and High Priest Joshua proved to be outstanding "big trees"-stalwarts for truth and against spiritual pollution in the nation.

Next time: Continue with Spiritual Fruitage That Glorifies God

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001