Mighty Oaks of Righteousness
Now Think On This
Steve Martin
“He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season
and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:3, NASU)
One of the awesome sights in God’s creation, in the colorful northern hemisphere fall season, is the mighty oak tree, with its beautiful golden brown, orange and deep red foliage. Especially the one that is standing tall, with over 50 years of branches, leaves, acorns, and a root system below, typically larger than the tree you actually see above ground.
Standing tall, providing much for many, the mighty oak tree is one that will inspire joy for the human spirit. A grateful soul will acknowledge the Lord’s goodness shone about us.
I found this interesting bit of documentation on these displays of the Lord’s glory, that of oak trees.
Oak trees can live 200 or more years. The largest oak tree on record was in Maryland's eastern shore in the U.S.A. It is believed to be more than 400 years old, and it measures 32 feet in circumference. It is 105 feet tall with a crown spread of 158 feet till high winds blew it over a few years ago.
There is one in Lewisburg, Mandeville, Louisiana reputed to be 37 feet and 2 inches in circumference. It is estimated that it is more than 1,000 years old!
Then we have the major oak at Sherwood Forest, Nottingham in the UK. It is the actual tree Robin Hood is said to have hidden in while escaping the Sheriff of Nottingham if you have heard the legend. It is estimated to be 10000 year old. (Yahoo! Answers)
If I was to be a tree, I would want to be an oak. Being it is a very hard wood species, it is great for making a home beautiful, used for living room flooring and wall/ceiling trim. During the cold winter season, the blaze of oak logs in a roaring fireplace delights one’s sight and heart.
The oak, having many varieties, will stand strong against tough winds that may come against it, as it towers over the landscape, giving life to birds nesting its branches, and cool shade to livestock grazing beneath.
Because it lives a long time, it usually takes at least 20 years to grow to maturity. It is not an overnight sensation. Nor is it here one year and gone another. The mighty oak is one you can count on to be there, when you need it to be there.
In Isaiah 61, the Lord speaks of those who will be called oaks of righteousness, because of the character they possess within, and the strength given to them by the Lord God of Israel. They will be the ones planted by the Lord Himself. They will be the one glorify His Great Name.
These oaks of righteousness will rebuild the ancient ruins, raise up the devastations all about, and repair ruined cities. Much of what has been desolated after generations of lies and unrighteousness will be part of their restorative mission. You can believe that those of the oak mindset will be the ones many will look to in and during times of trouble that are coming upon the earth, especially in these end of days.
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up the former devastations; and they will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, and foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers. But you will be called the priests of the Lord; you will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.
Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs.
For I, the Lord, love justice, I hate robbery in the burnt offering; and I will faithfully give them their recompense and make an everlasting covenant with them.
Then their offspring will be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples. All who see them will recognize them because they are the offspring whom the Lord has blessed.
I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. (Isaiah 61, NASU)
Those who know the Lord, the Mighty One, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the great God of Israel, have been raised up to be His oaks of righteousness. We are ready, awaiting His command to go. For many of us, we have endured the decades of training, the painful years of character building, the rejection and ridicule that have brought others down.
We are now fully equipped with His spiritual gifts and weapons of war, knowing how to use them at the proper time, and with full skill and ability.
We have already withstood the gates of hell many times, the gale winds of deception blowing hard in the nations, and the rampant evil that seeks to overtake the generation following behind us.
We are now available to show them the way, side by side, together battling the demons of destruction and the hordes of evil.
The mighty oaks of righteousness, empowered with the awesome fire of the Holy Spirit, have been prepared. We can say, “Bring it on Lord. We are standing with You and will fight to the death, upholding the eternal Word you have placed in our hearts.”
We are among those who have believed the beginning words of His eternal written Word, and have read the end of the book.
We are ready!
Now think on this.
With the love of our Lord,
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People, Inc.
P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
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Now Think On This #214 - “Mighty Oaks of Righteousness” - Saturday at 6:45 am in Charlotte, NC.
All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This
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