THE ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

MeditationsInLight.BlogSpot.com by Larry Doyle Crenshaw

The Prophet Isaiah sees the righteous people of the earth in the last days and records, “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, …..” (Isaiah 61:10)

This week’s meditative prayer asks the Lord for the protection proffered by the robe of righteousness for us in our day and time of need.  In the same verse noted above these sacred articles of clothing are also called “the garments of salvation.”  Whether or not this clothing is to be taken literally or figuratively, it is clear from many other passages of scripture that vestments of purity and power are required for entry and membership into God’s Kingdom.

If literally interpreted, then we might well ask, “Where do we find such royal and holy apparel today as part of our worship and preparations for life in God’s Kingdom hereafter? After all, according to the Apostle Peter, we will one day enter God’s Kingdom and become royalty.  “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” (1 Peter 2:9) So, if we are to become royalty and apparently be ordained to the priesthood, and if we are to be appropriately attired, where do we find the authority to wear such royal and priestly attire?  Who is authorized to invest us with these robes?”  Historically, investiture of future prophets and priests and kings was done only by those having authority and were accompanied by ritual and solemn ordinances, generally conducted in a temple.  Do these exist today?  If so, where?

 It is interesting to note in selected verses from Revelation chapter 3 that Christ anticipates that those who sincerely follow Him will be the recipients of such royal rewards:

"5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels …. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.  12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out:  ….20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."

If Isaiah 61 is only figurative, then we might venture to guess that the robe of righteousness is symbolic of the commandments, which, when obeyed, provide protection from Satan’s probes and attacks.  Likewise, it may refer to the “robe” of faith that insulates us from the unknown and from despair.  Or it may also refer to the “works of righteousness” which flow from such faith.

The grandest conjecture of all would be that reference to the robe of righteousness is both figurative AND literal.  If both literal and figurative it would mean that all of the things mentioned above and perhaps much more would be and should be part of our divine worship.  For this to be true, we would have to have the power of God on earth and authorized Godly agents acting in His behalf.  We would need temples dedicated to the work of endowing righteous, prepared, and qualified sons and daughters of God, and placing upon them the robe of righteousness as part of the process of preparing them to “sit with Him in His throne.”

 For those of differing faiths who may read this, ponder well these questions.  And know that I and many others are firm in the knowledge that God’s children of ancient days and His children today do have access to the robes of righteousness. Faith, repentance, baptism, and bestowal of the Holy Ghost are basic prerequisites.  Which, of themselves, prepare us for additional worship in God’s temple wherein we receive His blessings and learn more about how we quality to sit with Him nigh unto the throne of God, Our Father.  This week’s meditative prayer, set to verse, seeks the blessings, the comfort, the peace and the spiritual power bestowed by “The Robe of Righteousness.”

The Robe of Righteousness

O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?  May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!  O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness!

Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 4:31-34

Wilt thou redeem my soul from the evil den?

Deliver me from mine enemies and foes

Make me shake at the appearance of sin

Shut the gates of hell and its infernal woes

 Open the gates of thy righteousness

That I may walk in the low valley’s path

Strict in the plain road’s narrowness

Away from mine enemies’ wrath

May my path be narrow and straight

With no stumbling blocks in the way

And safe from those lying in wait

That I’ll be neither victim nor prey

Encircle me in thy righteous robe

That I may feel its protective power

Safe from sin and Satan’s probe

A robe to endow and empower

Never will I trust in man’s arm

But on the arm of Jehovah rely

To keep me free from hurt and harm

Until life is over and homeward I fly

Larry Doyle Crenshaw