Oaks of Righteousness

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." (Isaiah 61:1-4)

Live oaks. That's the local name for these massive trees that dotted the landscape along the Gulf Coast. At first, they're impressive due to their size: they really are huge. We wondered if they might even be considered sacred locals: entire roads are diverted to go around these massive trees rather than cut down the tree to allow the road to go through. After a few days, however, you begin to notice other things: a house that did not get blown away, but got caught by nearby trees and held fast, wedgedin betweenn. Or an entire street devastated by the hurricane, every single house now flat, yet trees still dotting the landscape, seemingly unfazed by the destruction. We saw thousands of buildings damaged beyond repair, yet for the vast majority of these trees, you could hardly tell they had been in a storm. Later, we suspected these diverted roads may have more to say about how impossible it might be to try and kill one of these trees - that it would be easier to curve the road than try and get rid of the tree - than about the local superstitions.

This image, of trees still thriving in the midst of destruction, has stuck with me and brought new meaning into Isaiah 61:4 - "they will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of hissplendorr" the prophet tells us. The kind of oak that is unfazed by the storms of life, no matter how devastating they may be. Whose righteousness is an enduring testament to God's power. When every man-made success-marker, whether fortitude of spirit or financial success or public influence or strength of character - when all these things fall apart in the face of life's crises, these poor, broken-hearted, mourning prisoners will still be standing for the glory of God.