The royal diadem
by Colleen Fitzpatrick
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You will be a crown of splendour in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God (Isaiah 62:3).
Read Isaiah 62:1–5
Have you ever had to clear your name – to vindicate yourself or someone else?
In this digital age, social media provides a platform for individuals to express their opinions freely and publicly. We hear of young people who are victimised, and a whole range of media weaponry is available to besmirch, humiliate and torment.
One does not have to look far on social media to see opinions stated strongly and criticism offered freely. And our church is not free from such public and private attacks.
The prophet is working for Zion’s restoration and glory once Jerusalem has returned to the Lord’s favour. God will rejoice over her. And not only will Jerusalem be a jewel in a heavenly crown, but the promise is that she will be ‘a crown of splendour in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God’.
I don’t often use the word ‘diadem’ (an ornamental headband often adorned with jewels). This reference brings to my mind the hymn, ‘The head that once was crowned with thorns’:
The head that once was crowned with thorns
Is crowned with glory now;
A royal diadem adorns
The mighty victor’s brow.
The highest place that heaven affords
Is his, is his by right,
The King of kings and Lord of lords
And heav’n’s eternal light …
(Together in Song 378, words by Thomas Kelly)
Jesus was humiliated and crucified. But the story did not end there. Jesus also rose from the dead and ascended into heaven to be God and to be with God. To sit with God on the heavenly throne, crowned with glory. What a vindication!
Zion’s restoration results in forgiveness and a return to glory as God rejoices. All blame, suspicion and doubt would be removed, and righteousness proved.
How blessed we are that we, too, can be vindicated and return to God’s glory as our name has been washed clean in the water of baptism, and our sins are forgiven by the grace of God.
Generous God, thank you for sending Jesus to be one of us. Thank you for his death and resurrection that ensure that we are vindicated and can be part of your kingdom here on Earth and in our heavenly home. Amen.
Colleen Fitzpatrick is retired and lives in Adelaide. She enjoys reading and writing. She particularly enjoys listening to people’s stories and telling her own stories. Colleen finds storytelling a great way to learn about people, who they are and what they do. She loves nature and the beauty of God’s creation – and wishes she could understand what her favourite magpies talk about.
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