Isaiah

11:1, 2 “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.”

This entire chapter is a wonderful prophecy of the work of the Messiah in bringing all of God’s people back together under the rule of God. These verses give us not only the chosen tribe for the Messiah but the various Spirits that God uses in His work. Compare Revelation 1:4. These works of the Spirit are used by God to bless those who are His.

While this sounds like a reference to ancient David, we know the prophet is speaking of the one who will be like David and will sit on David’s throne and will rule forever. This promised one would have the entire Spirit upon Him without any measure (John 3:34).   

Whatever Jesus needed to make it to the cross and an empty tomb was provided by the Holy Spirit as a representative of the Godhead. John tells us the prophecy came true.

Task for Today: Read the entire chapter from Isaiah to get a fuller understanding of what this great prophecy would mean to the people addressed by Isaiah. Make the jump from those people to yourself. Take the promise of peace for yourself. If you wish fear, then fear God and not man. The coming of Jesus, however, means that you don’t have to fear either man or God.

Extra Thought

When I woke up this morning my wife asked me why I was screaming? I had no recollection of screaming or of a bad dream that would cause me to scream. I concluded that it must have been the result of television news. I’ve seen too many babies dropped off walls, young men shot and killed, bottles thrown at police, old women kicked and beaten, young people crying because they are far from home and abandoned. Grown people saying ugly things about others, congressional ‘leaders’ telling other leaders to close their mouth while encouraging riots, looting and burning. Turn off the tv and live in ignorance or weep by the river for my country? Are there other Jeremiah’s out there who are feeling deep lamentations. Have we forgotten the flood, the fire and brimstone, the exiles, the destruction of Jerusalem? Do we not sense the request of Abraham for five righteous people? As a nation, we need to repent like Nineveh or we will suffer the fate of those who tried God.