Clothed

Morning Prayer Exhortation
Is. 61:10-11, Gal. 4:4-7

Isaiah says that God’s salvation is like a garment, like a robe of righteousness, like festal wedding gowns.

Clothing in the Bible represents God’s grace, His blessing for a particular purpose. The priests are the most obvious example of this. But prophets have cloaks, and kings wear royal robes. Brides and bridegrooms have festive garments. In Christ’s parable, even wedding guests are expected to wear a certain uniform (Mt. 22).

When Adam and Eve were escorted out the garden, they were given the skins of animals for clothes. God did not leave them in their shame. While the curses for disobedience still hung in the air, their shame was covered. They walked out of the garden clothed in grace and forgiveness.

Paul says that God sent His Son, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. A few verses earlier, Paul said that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become the curse for us… that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (3:13-14).

Jesus become a curse for us when He was stripped naked and crucified, and they cast lots for His garments. He endured the shameful nakedness of Adam and all his descendants, so that we might be clothed as sons. Though Paul doesn’t say it explicitly here, we know that Jesus had this mind from the parable of the Prodigal Son where the Father said: “Bring out the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet – For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

These are the garments of salvation, the robes of righteousness – they were purchased by our Jesus, and we know we are covered in His righteousness because His Spirit wells up in our hearts teaching us to cry out to the Father of Jesus, Our Father.