In English, we have many sayings related to clothing. For example: When I need to get work done, I “roll up my sleeves.” When I put on my best outfit, I say I’m “dressed to the nines.” If I don’t have a plan but am making it up as I go along, I’m “flying by the seat of my pants.” If I desire to understand and show empathy to someone, I’ll try to “walk a mile in their shoes.”

In Isaiah 61, clothing is also used figuratively, but here it indicates spiritual transformation. It’s part of the ministry of the Messiah. In “the year of the Lord’s favor,” He will proclaim good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners (vv. 1–2). Jesus quoted these verses when He began His public ministry, announcing, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (see Luke 4:16–21).

Christ’s gospel turns the bad news of the Fall into the good news of redemption (vv. 2–3). Mourning is turned to joy. Ashes become a crown of beauty. The “spirit of despair” is replaced by a “garment of praise.” While some of the promises that follow (vv. 4–9) were fulfilled in the return from exile and the rebuilding of the Temple, other fulfillments still lie in the future, from our perspective in time.

As the Bride of Christ, we have been clothed with “garments of salvation” and dressed in “a robe of his righteousness” (vv. 10–11). When the Bridegroom returns—”the day of vengeance of our God” (v. 2)—all will rejoice that the wedding day has at last arrived! Paul also wrote of this truth: Because of Christ’s victory over death, the perishable will be clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality (1 Cor. 15:53–54).

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