Isaiah 61:3 English Standard Version (ESV) 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.[that he may display his beauty]
Picking up where we left off yesterday and the acquisition of blessings that are written here, the next is the oil of gladness. The Hebrew word for oil here is šemen, pronounced sheh’-men, which is rendered fat.
Isaiah 10:27 English Standard Version (ESV) And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of the fat.”
While this is difficult to understand initially we should look to the sacrifices for understanding.
Leviticus 3:9a English Standard Version (ESV) Then from the sacrifice of the peace offering he shall offer as a food offering to the Lord its fat;
Fat as a sacrifice is fast burning, high heat, and quickly consumed. Our blessing of gladness are an exchange of mourning for a joyful release of energy. What a stark contrast where our tears are changed to something useful and energizing. In the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, it lights our lamps so that we might keep watch for our Lord.
The next blessing received is the garments of praise.
Revelation 7:13-14, 17 English Standard Version
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Praise God.