One more thought from Isaiah 61, and a thrilling one at that!

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.” Verse 10, King James Version

This is saved (converted, born-again) Israel sharing her testimony.

The expression “greatly rejoice” is interesting, in Hebrew at least. The string there reads “sus” followed immediately by another “sus.”

What does it mean?

“Sus” is a Hebrew noun meaning most often “horse!” As a magnificent prancing, leaping, “joyful” animal! And from that “word picture” (of the exuberant horse) is derived “sus” as “displaying” great joyfulness!

And when it is doubled, used twice in a row as in our Text, that means GREAT joy! DOUBLE excitement!

And when the accompanying verb “shall be joyful” is added (in Hebrew “giyl”) the meaning is yet intensified again! “Be joyful” as “spinning round and around!” Literally!

Wow!

Happy in Jesus!

But why?

Because God had “clothed them in garments of salvation!” No longer were they wearing “filthy rags!” (As was the case in Isaiah 64:6 … “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.”)

And furthermore because God had “clothed Israel with the robe of righteousness.” A word picture used later in the New Testament, in Revelation 7:14 … “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Amazing!

Yes, Isaiah 61:10 sounds a lot like the Gospel!

In fact, it is!

Is anyone reading here today “saved?’

“Clothed” and “covered” in the Blood, the Righteousness of Jesus the Saviour, our Saviour?

If so … we too should, like the horse, jump up and down for joy!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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