Contributed Source by Jeremy Koh
I consider how ashes have often been the symbol of deep repentance and grief throughout the Bible and ancient practices. I examined several verses that said about ashes as the symbol of deep repentance and grief. In Genesis, it says “for dust you are and to dust you will return” (Genesis 3:19). In Job, tells how Job was righteous man who loved and honored God. Yet he lost everything. It crumbled around him, all he held dear. And he knew without God, he was nothing. And we find him in the beginning of the book of Job, “he sat in the ashes” (Job 2:8). Daniel also spoke of how he and the people had suffered under captivity, he prayed to God on behalf of his people, that God would have mercy. He repented, and confessed his own sin, his deep need for Him. He knew where true strength and help came from, “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes” (Daniel 9:3). 2 Samuel 13 shows how Tamar was had trusted and yet was betrayed. David’s own daughter had been taken advantage of, then’ was left on her own, alone, with no hope for her future, to pick up the broken pieces of shattered life. “And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore. And she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went” (2 Samuel 13:19);
During my today’s reading, I meditated upon the verse that says “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:1-3).
Truly, Jesus came to bring life, freedom, restoration, redemption, healing, favor, goodness, joy. He came to trade our brokenness and ashes for hope and beauty. He will never waste our pain, but will bring His greater purposes from it all. With all that He is as a sovereign God, I trust Him in all easy and difficult days and know that the ashes on my life will fade away but His beauty shines brightly through me.
Is Christ’s Glory beauty shining brightly through you today?
Jeremy Koh is a disabled graduate from Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore – formerly known as Spastic Children Association (1987-1997). He graduated with a Diploma Degree from School Of Ministry In’ Tung Ling Bible College (1999) and TCA College (2003) with Certificate Degree in Bible and Ministry.’ Jeremy did a research work for the keyguard at (these)abilites Pte Ltd handling all KeyGuard Operations for 10 months. Today, Jeremy is an active member, a volunteer & an Inclusion Ambassador in Disabled People Association and YouthCorps Singapore serving in Special Needs Cluster, Friends of Engagement TaskForce and that he does volunteer in multiple places too in the area of disability related contacts.
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