Devotion: Love
Love
Please read the scripture from the weekend: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11.
Who are the “they” referred to in Isaiah 61:3 as “oaks of righteousness?” Prior to that line, the chapter speaks of the poor, the brokenhearted, prisoners, and those who mourn and grieve. But so many Old Testament prophecies, that we sometimes read as directed at all believers, actually refer to specific tribes, groups, or faith leaders at the time of writing. Which is why I found myself reading the opening verses of the chapter multiple times, thinking maybe I had missed the subject of the “oaks of righteousness” title. But no; in addition to prophesying that Jesus’s work is to free and bring hope to the oppressed, this chapter also proclaims that these oppressed, downtrodden groups will display the splendor of God.
Jesus’s lifting up of the oppressed is an essential part of His work, and one that should be remembered at Christmastime. Mary’s beautiful song of praise, her response to being pregnant with Jesus, echoes Isaiah 61 when she sings “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.” And the birth of our Savior taking place in such a humble manner is no coincidence. The angels proclaiming his birth didn’t appear to nobles or authority figures, but to shepherds, laborers. And Jesus came into the world the child of an unmarried young woman who wasn’t able to find a place at an inn. Mary was the sort of person Jesus came to comfort and lift up, an oak of righteousness.
As Christians, we know that Christmas is much deeper and more spiritual than the flashy, superficial holiday our society often celebrates it as. But even Christians can forget that an important part of the Christmas story and the prophecies surrounding it involves comforting the brokenhearted, freeing the prisoners, and bringing good news to the poor. This Christmas season, let us not forget how central this work is to Christ’s birth.
Holy God, give us a spirit of humbleness this season. Remind us how important justice is to You, and how it’s a vital part of the Christmas story. Thank you for always being with us, and making us Your oaks of righteousness. Amen.
Written by Preston Thiemann
Preston Thiemann and his wife, Rachel, live here in Lincoln. He is the Web Content Coordinator for the ASEM Marketing team at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he’s worked since April 2015. At Sheridan, he also plays guitar with the Praise Band and is active in Sheridan’s 20s & 30s group called Second Quarter. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching movies and spending time with friends.