The Root of Jesse ∙

The Root of Jesse ∙

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot – yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. – Isaiah 11:1

Jeremiah 23:5 I, the LORD, promise that a new time will certainly come when I will raise up for them a righteous branch, a descendant of David. He will rule over them with wisdom and understanding and will do what is just and right in the land.

Trees are broadly classified as deciduous trees and coniferous trees (conifers). Deciduous trees have leaves that change colors and fall off every year while coniferous trees retain their leaves all year long and are called evergreens.

Coniferous trees only grow to maturity from seeds. When conifers are cut down, they do not grow back from the stump. There may be offshoots in the following years, but they will never be the same. But when deciduous trees are cut down, new growth sprouts from the stump, the root.

The Father is righteous and holy and promises judgment on the nation of Israel for its sinful rebelliousness. He chooses the nation of Assyria as His instrument for carrying out His judgment. However, Assyria itself will also be judged for bringing harm to Israel.

Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt.

Assyria is pictured as a coniferous tree. It will be cut down and not grow back.

Ezekiel 31:3 Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches and forest shade, and of towering height, its top among the clouds.

When the Assyrians devastated the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the destruction was pictured as a forest of deciduous trees that were cut down. They could regrow. When the judgment is complete, the Father promises to restore the remnant of Israel.

But when the Lord was done with the Assyrians, they were lopped off completely never to grow back. The lofty and proud kingdom of Assyria was toast.

Isaiah 10:33-34

 33 But look! The Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, will chop down the mighty tree of Assyria with great power! He will cut down the proud. That lofty tree will be brought down.

 34 He will cut down the forest trees with an ax. Lebanon will fall to the Mighty One.

Isaiah 10:18 The LORD will consume Assyria’s glory like a fire consumes a forest in a fruitful land; it will waste away like sick people in a plague.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father always keeps His promises.

Father there are times when it seems like things cannot get any worse and I become desperate. Father, I regret that I often wait until then, to call out to You. But You are always faithful no matter what.

INSIGHT

In 722 BC, the Assyrians conquered the 10 Northern Tribes of Israel and took them into captivity. About 150 years later the two Southern Tribes were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. The Nation of Israel was little more than a stump cut down by their enemies. While they were living under yet another oppressor, the Roman Empire, what seemed utterly impossible, happened. The seemingly dead stump gave birth to a tender shoot. The righteous Branch of David was born in Bethlehem.

Isaiah and the rest of the Jewish prophets saw far beyond the present difficulties of Israel. They saw and prophesied the coming of the kingdom of God on earth and the fulfillment of their predictions.

Isaiah 11:1-11

 1 Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot – yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.

 2 And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

 3 He will delight in obeying the LORD. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay.

 4 He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.

 10 In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.

 11 In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to bring back the remnant of his people.

Jeremiah 23:5 I the LORD, promise that a new time will certainly come when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land.

The Father kept alive the believing Jewish remnant. Through the remnant, the Word of God is written, preserved, and passed down. Through them, the Messiah was born. One day a Jewish king will rule the planet Earth from Jerusalem sitting on the throne of David. That day will demonstrate that the Father is the ultimate moving force of history.

Isaiah 41:26-27

 26 Who told you from the beginning that this would happen? Who predicted this, making you admit that he was right? No one said a word!

 27 I was the first to tell Zion, “Look! Help is on the way!” I will send Jerusalem a messenger with good news.

The Father’s methods may seem strange, even inexplicable. Children of the King are often in for difficult times and trials. It is as though we have been cut down to the ground and nothing is left but a seemingly useless, dead stump. When times are at their worst in our lives, and everything seems impossible, remember the promise that the Father made to the people of Israel concerning the Branch, the root of Jesse.

The Father has made great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4). The Father has great dreams for each child of the King. Could it be that He finds our goals and aspirations too limited? We seem to settle for so little. The Father has promised us that we can share His divine nature and escape the Earth’s corruption and limitations. Despite all that the Father has made available, do we still live like paupers?

2 Peter 1:4 Because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

“Isaiah’s vision of God can stimulate in us such a longing that we stop settling . . .” (C.S. Lewis).

Revelation 5:5 Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome . . .

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 2-10-2

© Dr. H 2022