Oaks of Righteousness

In Isaiah 61:3, the prophet mentions that the restored people, Israel, would return from their mourning and be planted as “oaks of righteousness.” As I ponder the image of an oak tree I am overwhelmed with a sense of awe. That God can and will take us from a state of brokenness and raise us up into something so mighty as an oak.

The oak tree has throughout history been a symbol of strength, morale, resistance and knowledge. The oak is a life-affirming symbol since the average life span is well over 300 years. It is said that an oak tree grows for 300 years, rests for 300 years, and then gracefully dies for 300 years.

At Texas A&M University, where I went to college, there stands a live oak tree called the Century Tree. The tree (picture above) was planted some time after 1876 when the university was founded. There is an Aggie tradition that says if a couple walks together underneath the Century Tree, they will eventually marry — and if a marriage proposal takes place under the tree, the marriage will last forever. My beautiful wife, Michelle, and I didn’t walk under the tree as a couple nor did I propose there, but I like the symbolism. It is a reminder to invest your relationship in things that last and not in something that is here today and gone tomorrow. Marriage is not easy but having strong and faithful people around us in our lives that model good marriages have helped us.

“Oaks of righteousness” are people who have experienced hardships yet have been so rooted in their faith that they have endured the tests of time. The oaks of righteousness are plural. They are oaks growing together. Believers do best when they believe with others. Some of us enjoy solitude, but we are not meant to be alone. Being with others straightens us, encourages us to reach higher, and empowers us to grow deeper.

Join us this Sunday at 8:30 & 10:45 AM as we explore how we can “Proclaim a Year of the Lord’s Favor” by becoming “oaks of righteousness.”

In God’s grip,

Pastor Chuck Church