THE BRIDE BEAUTIFIED

Part 1

Jack Davis

“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD GOD IS UPON ME; BECAUSE THE LORD HAS ANOINTED ME TO… GIVE UNTO THEM BEAUTY FOR ASHES” ISA. 1:1,3.

We may understand from this portion of Scripture that by the Spirit of the Lord, there will be marvelous changes for the regeneration of a believing remnant of God’s chosen nation. They will enjoy as a new creation glorious changes – exchanging ashes for beauty. But also in this Church Age there is a beautification taking place in the lives of yielding believers. The ashes of the old being exchanged for a glorious beautification in the new life. It is hard to understand why any of us would want to hang onto, or keep around the ashes. When we think of ashes we think of that which has all the beauty, and moisture of life burned out of it. Whatever we count loss in order to go on all the way with our Lord can be sill seen as ashes. 

God has provided from the love of our Lord Jesus Christ an awesome beautification into His radiant glory. This work is available for every believer that remains available, like clay in the potter’s hand – Col. 1:20-23. The Thessalonian saints received the Word with much affliction, but also with the joy of the Holy Ghost. There were some Saints the took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, because they knew in them selves, they had in heaven a better and enduring substance. As we are available to His hand, our afflictions of the moment are working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Are not these beauty for ashes?

“For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beatify the meek with salvation” – Psalm 149:4. Are you glad to know of the pleasure he takes in us? What a wonderful beauty tip. This is God’s work to be done upon and for any meek enough to realize their need for His great salvation. Thank God there are some in this age aware of their need of His salvation not the uttermost, and depend upon Him to take them on all the way. Meekness expresses the attitude that excepts all of God’s dealings with us a good. Blessed are the meek. God’s most beautiful Son was indeed the most meek. He invited us to come unto Him as such – Mt. 11:28-30. His first advent was somewhat characterized with that lamb=like meekness, that never indicated weakness. I think Paul showed the same in I Cor. 15:10.

Peter spoke of the manner of life of believing wives, that their attitude could be so attractive so as to attract others to Christ. He points out that it wasn’t their outward adorning, but rather let it be the “Hidden man of the heat, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” – I Pet. 3:4. This should be active in true men of God as well. The Lord doesn’t seem to be as impressed with the outward appearance as we are – Mt. 23:27-28. Yet that doesn’t mean that we are more Spiritual by trying to look shabby.

“Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth” – Psalm 110:3. Here is another beauty tip, and trait, “willingness.” They will have given an eternal yea, when asked “will you go.” Their willing attitude will have long been on record before He has girded on Hi sword and put down all rule and authority opposed to Him. His people do well to see themselves as free will offerings – Rom. 12:1-3. Then He bestows upon us His comeliness favor and honor. This has begun in an earlier day, “from the womb of the morning.” They will have been spiritually renewed and refreshed, with the dew of His eternal youth.

“Honor and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Give unto the Lord the glory die unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the lord in the beauty of holiness…” – Psalm 96:6,8,9. This is why he is doing such marvelous things in us, and for us, so that we worship Him in the beauty of holiness. Let us sense there a refined condition, an elevated realm of the Spirit, also translated, “the glorious sanctuary.” Is he able to make such of us? Has He made the light of the knowledge of his glory shine into our hearts? Has He put the Christ life treasure into earthen vessels? Is He able to make the life of Christ manifest in human beings? How about the life of Christ being magnified in our bodies?

“Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us…” – Psalm 90:17a. It first, of course must be within. It is evident that He enjoys such request from believing hearts. “Lord, you have provided for it, now we are expecting you to produce it, make it happen. What do we require of Him? He is pleased that we are wanting no other attractiveness. We sing the chorus; “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in  me.” We think of Esther’s preparation in order to be pleasing to the King. She required nothing but what the keeper of the women (representative of the Holy Spirit) appointed. Are we allowing Him to do the purification in our lives to prepare us to reign with Christ?

Part 2 will be in the next issue.