Moreover, "lift up thine eyes round about, and behold, all these gather themselves together, and come to Thee. "As I live," saith the Lord, "thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind on thee, as a bride doeth." (Isaiah 49:18)
In the past, we have spoken often of believers in Jesus being clothed with the garments of salvation, and covered with the robe of righteousness. Why is this important? Because the prophets foretold of the time that would come wherein the Seed would be known among the Gentiles, "and their offspring among the people; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed." (Isaiah 61:9)
And again, " .... for they are the seed of the blessed Lord, and their offspring with them, and it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:23)
But being covered with the robe of righteousness and clothed with His garment of salvation does not stop there. David reminds us that we are clothed with righteousness too. So much so, that we saints should shout for joy.
"Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of Thine anointed ... I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout for joy ..." (Psalm 132:9,16)
In Revelation, Jesus refers, as well, to the few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments, "and they shall walk with Me in white for they are worthy ... he that overcomes the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels ..." (Revelation 3:4-5)
And then later, Jesus speaks of the moment, in the twinkling of an eye wherein He comes again to gather His people, saying, "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (Revelation 16:15)
In other words, keeping our garments carries with it encouragement to continue watching for the coming of the Lord.
However, in contrast, James also speaks of garments, in relation to those who are lost. For example, "Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust other shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire, Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields which is of you kept back by fraud, cries; and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth [ hosts]. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton: ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just, and he doth not resist you." (James 5:2-6)
" ... his enemies will I clothe with shame ..." (Psalm 132:18)
"Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at Mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against Me." (Psalm 35:26)
Nevertheless, as it most often is within His Word, there is a "but" that allows believers to quickly move forward in the grace and kindness of our Lord God and Saviour, without ever looking back. A "but" which turns even the bad things into good for those who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. The but that includes letting them shout for joy, and being glad, that favour His righteous cause; yea, let them say continually, "Let the Lord be magnified which hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servant, and my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness and of Thy praise all the day long." (Psalm 35:27-28; Romans 12:15)
It is in this context, that no matter what is happening all around us, we are encouraged to be patient therefore brethren, "unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until h/He receives the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold, the judge stands before the door.
Take my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the Name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful [persevering] and of tender mercy."
In prophecy, Joel goes in a slightly different direction, writing, "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repent him of the evil." (Joel 2:13)
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for all the world to see, so that we whom believe in Jesus by faith can come unto the lord Jesus -- for He is our all in all. He is the One and Only King -- He is both our Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36-38; John 17:17; I Timothy 3:16)
And we rejoice in Him, for He alone cans save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)
Thus, "I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places." (Habakkuk 3:18; Isaiah 41:6)
Stand in the offering plate.
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