Oaks of Righteousness

"They may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
                                                                                                                                       (Isaiah 61:3)



The timing in which this scripture was penned was during Israel's "Year of Jubilee".  This message was given through the prophet, Isaiah, to a broken and hurting people that were left waiting and longing for God's promises to be fulfilled.  God's merciful heart was revealed and His intent was certain- His children would rebuild, repair, and restore the devastation in their land with God's assistance, as well as the abundance of His provision.

Later, Jesus applied this same passage to Himself in the fourth chapter of Luke.  His meaning was also clear- for those of us who are in Christ, we, too, are living in a spiritual "Year of Jubilee".  This means that Jesus has set us free from bondage, our spiritual debt has been paid-in-full, and we are living in the "acceptable year of the Lord".  We are sons and daughters of the King, anointed with the Holy Spirit, and clothed in garments of righteousness.

God was very intentional when He declared to them that they would be called "oaks of righteousness".  The unfortunate part of this was that they did not feel very strong or distinguished.  It was even possible that they questioned if they were even in right standing with God because of the ravages of war they had experienced.  In spite of this, God delivered His merciful message to a people that desperately needed to hear it. He assured them that help was on the way!

In the book of Genesis, we find another story that references oak trees.  This is the story of Abraham and Sarah, who are found nestled among the "oaks of Mamre".  For many years they had waited and longed for the fulfillment of God's promise that they would bear a child.  The more time that lapsed, the harder it was to hold onto God's promise.  At this critical point in their faith journey, at the "oaks of Mamre", God appeared and told them His promise was about to be fulfilled.

Later, in Abraham's story, when God asked him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, God provides he ram as a substitute.  The Hebrew word ayil can be translated both as "oaks" and as "ram".  In Abraham's story, the ram is evidence of God's provision and mercy.

The word ayil refers to both strength and power.  It can also mean a "pillar", which refers to a strong leader.  The interesting aspect of this meaning is that it is God who brings the strength and power.  In the example of the oak tree, it is something that occurs over a very long period of time.

The more adverse the conditions surrounding an oak tree, the stronger it gets.  It can range in size from the height of a shrub to towering above a hundred feet tall.  Regardless of its' height, it has a root structure that mirrors that which we see.  In other words, if the oak tree is fifty feet tall, its' roots will extend fifty feet into the soil.  This is because it has to go deep to find the water and nutrients it needs to survive.

It typically takes at least twenty years for an oak tree to bear fruit (in the form of an acorn).  In the Torah, God established laws to protect fruit trees and to help them grow.  No one was allowed to eat of them for the first five years and the Israelites were never allowed to cut them down, even in times of war (Deuteronomy 20:19-20).  God, Himself, protects these trees as if they were defenseless people.

Symbolizing life, trees are one of God's magnificent creations that parallel humanity.  They are tall and majestic and strong and their branches reach upward toward heaven.  They have character and provide shelter for many animals and birds.  They are rooted and grounded and cared for by the Master Gardner.

Part of our calling is for us to be "oaks of righteousness".  There will be seasons when God is establishing our root system (which no one else can see).  In these times, we remember how God hid Elijah and Moses and John the Baptist during their times of preparation. This is the tie to really learn who our source of nourishment and sustenance is and how to abide in Him.

There will also be seasons when we are bearing fruit that is not yet ready to be consumed.  It is in this season that we old fast to the promises and exhortations of our God.  As tender fledglings, we focus on Jesus and allow Him to develop our character.  We endure the winds of affliction in order to become more and more transformed into the image of Christ.

When we finally become mature and bear the fruit we were created to bear, we remember that it is solely for His glory and the extension of His Kingdom.  We are the planting of the Lord and the display of His splendor.  Oaks of righteousness are the living representation of the testimony of God's mercy and provision and exist to point others to do the same.

Oaks of righteousness become places of refuge for those who need to be comforted.  They give out what they have first received from Christ.  The Spirit of the Lord rests upon those who give life and truth and love to help others grow into their inheritance in God.  These are those that God calls His "Oaks of Righteousness".


"It is God's work, it is a tree that God has planted.  It could not grow like that if anybody else had planted it.  This man is a man of God's making, his joy is a joy of God's giving."
                                                                                      Charles H. Spurgeon