A quick look at a calendar will show us that we are beginning the second week in December. On the Church calendar we see that this is the Second Week of Advent, as well. In anticipation of the coming Christmas holiday, many people have already set up their Christmas decorations. Our Old Testament Scripture for this Second Sunday of Advent is a beautiful Messianic prophecy from the prophet Isaiah, which points directly to the coming Messiah, along with His future reign. Let’s see what the Lord tells us through His prophet Isaiah.
Have you ever seen a stump from a tree that was recently cut down, and coming back a little while later you observe that the sprout of a new tree is beginning to grow out of the stump? That is because the root system underground was not destroyed, and still has life in it. This doesn’t happen all the time, but occasionally it does, especially with deciduous trees. We often speak of “family trees”, where a common ancestor is the root, and then various branches of the family are filled in. Isaiah spoke here about the root of Jesse, the father of King David (vs. 1). His descendants were sitting upon the throne of the Kingdom of Judah. Not that far in the future, though, that tree would be cut down, and there would be no more rulers in Judah. By the time shortly before Jesus’ birth, the royal line of David was as dead as a stump. Though there were many descendants of David (Joseph was one), none were in any position whatsoever to reign. However, Isaiah prophesied that a root would come forth from that stump, the Lord Jesus Christ, and He would reign forever. God preserved that root.
As Isaiah continued, he spoke of this root out of Jesse, which is the Lord Jesus, and how God’s Spirit would rest upon Him. His ministry was a Spirit-filled one (Luke 4:18), including such gifts of the Spirit as wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord. As Christians today, we are also called to walk in the Spirit, and reflect Jesus’ character in our life.
The next several verses speak more directly to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus, still yet to be fulfilled, when He returns to judge the world (vs. 3-5). Jesus will rule with perfect justice. He will not judge by outward appearance, but instead with righteousness. All too often we pass judgement by outward appearances, even in the justice system. However, circumstances and situations aren’t always as they might appear. When relevant information is missing or overlooked, we make assumptions. How often do we jump to the wrong conclusions because we failed to get all of the facts? How often have our thoughts of others been judgmental? Instead, the judgment that Jesus gives will be righteous. He will defend the poor and slay the wicked with His Word. Believers should reflect His discernment and fairness with our judgment, as well.
As we continue with our Scripture, we come to verses that are familiar to many people, which speak of the peaceable kingdom that Jesus will bring when He returns (vs. 6-9). Ever since the Fall of Adam and his expulsion from the Garden of Eden, many animals have become dangerous, both to humans and to other animals. Wolves are natural enemies to sheep. Lions, leopards, and bears will attack and eat cattle. Little children are not safe around any of them. Yet in the Millennial reign of the Lord Jesus these, and all animals, will live peacefully with each other. The curse that came upon the earth back in Genesis 3 will be reversed, and the earth will be restored to the glory it had in the Garden. The harmony that creation once had will be restored.
As Isaiah closed this portion of Scripture, he proclaimed that this Root of Jesse, the Lord Jesus Christ, stands as a banner to His people, and to all of the Gentile world, which will seek Him (vs. 10). Jesus is not only Israel’s Messiah, but also the Savior of all nations of the world (Romans 15:12). As we read throughout the Book of Acts, the Gospel’s spread to the Gentiles fulfilled this prophecy, and it continues to be fulfilled to this day, as God’s message spreads to all corners of the world. The ultimate fulfillment, though, awaits Christ’s reign when all nations will submit to Him.
As we close we see things that we can look forward to, just as we look forward to Christmas now. We can look forward to the day when Jesus will bring His righteous judgment. We can look forward to when all of creation will be in peace and harmony with each other. Won’t it be nice to go up to a lion and hug him around the neck, putting your face into his wonderful mane, and roll around playing with the bears? And most of all, it will be a glorious day when all nations will bow and worship the Lord Jesus Christ!
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