Wednesday: Root and Branch in One
Isaiah 11.1-16? See also Zech: 3:8; Zech: 6:12.
Isaiah 11:1 picks up on the imagery of a felled tree in Isa: 10:33-34. The “stump of Jesse” represents the idea that the dynasty of David (son of Jesse) would lose its power (Dan: 4:10-17, Daniel 4:20-26). But there would arise a “shoot/branch” from the apparently doomed “stump”; that is, a ruler descended from David.
Why is the new Davidic ruler also called the “root of Jesse” (Isa: 11:10)? What sense does this make? Rev: 22:16.
Image © Stan Myers at Goodsalt.com
The description fits only Jesus Christ, who is both “the root and the descendant of David” (Rev: 22:16, NRSV). Christ came from the line of David (Luke 3:23-31), who was descended from Adam, who was the “son of God” (Luke 3:38) in the sense that Christ created him (see John 1:1-3, John 1:14). So, Christ was David’s ancestor, as well as his descendant!
In what ways does the new Davidic ruler reverse the evil effects of sin and apostasy? Isaiah 11.
He thinks and acts in harmony with the Lord, judges fairly, punishes the wicked, and brings peace. When He takes over, the Lord will bring back, restore, and unite a faithful remnant of Israel and Judah (compare Isa: 10:20-22). There will be a strong, united monarchy as in the days of King David, who defeated the Philistines and other peoples. But the New Ruler will be greater than David in that He will restore peace even to the essence of creation itself: Predators will no longer be carnivorous, and they will coexist in tranquility with their former prey (Isa: 11:6-9).
Is Isaiah 11 talking about just the first coming of Christ, just the Second, or both? Look through the prophecy and mark down which texts talk about which coming.
In Isaiah 11, both comings of Jesus are presented as one picture. They are tied together, because they are two parts of a whole, like the two sides of a flat plane. The plan of salvation, to be completed, requires both comings: the First, which already happened; and the Second, which we await as the consummation of all our hopes as Christians.
| What did Christ accomplish at the First Coming that gives us such assurance about the Second Coming? What is the purpose of the First Coming if it doesn’t result in the Second? |
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I am puzzled as to why Isaiah skips over David and refers to Jesse in this chapter on resurgence. I am not sure that it is a big deal, but it is a curious notion seeing it is essentially referring to the Davidic line of rulership. Maybe it is to emphasise that the regrowth branch comes from rootstock and represents an entirely different direction.
My second observation is that chapter 11 is essentially about renewal, a continual theme of the Bible. Even animals behave differently. The point should not be lost that human behaviour is different as well.
My third point is that this passage connects with yesterdays passage. We noted that yesterday:
...and today we read:
It is significant that the notion of justice that the Hebrews were familiar with is more like our civil court than a criminal court. They were concerned with putting wrongs right. (Those of you with long memories will remember that I wrote about this theme in the Psalms last year.) So here in Isaiah 11, we find the answer to the issues of Isaiah 10.
It is relevant to this discussion that the big picture of the sin of government in this period was the social injustice that was not only carried out be leadership and accepted by those who could benefit from social injustice. And if you study enough history you will find that social injustice is at the heart of the evil of the apostate Christian Church through the ages.
While we accept that some of the scenes depicted in Isaiah 11 are about heaven and the new earth, maybe we overlook that the notion that God still wants us to right the wrongs, to fight against injustice and intolerance, by setting an example now. There is no call for us to be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly use.
Amen! I heard a thought new to me today - that we call our weekly meetings a church "service" because worship is to equip us to serve.
You talk of social injustice as it relates to the early Christian Church. The "love of power" is the root of social injustice. Jesus came to reverse this with the "power of love."
Maurice, you really have me thinking now. Grafting is an interesting thing, when a plant, let’s say a lemon tree, is grafted onto a sturdy root stalk, if you cut that tree down, the shoots that come out of it are always reverted back to the root stalk, not the plant that was cut down.
You wondering about this has really caused me to think about this, and I will need to spend some time looking into why Isaiah said that.
It's beautiful to explore this image of "a banner for the peoples" (Is. 11:10)....
Because Jesus is the Head of his own army, he sets up his own standard upon the Earth. A standard, or large banner, in a battle was very important. It was to visibly proclaim the glory of the kingdom by reflecting the king's own glory. Once the standard was raised, it would rally the troops. The troops would gather around the standard to receive their instructions for battle. Whenever the standard was raised during a battle, the soldiers would realize that new ground had been conquered for the king. It inspired, lifted and encouraged people.
The standard that Christ raises is Himself! It says that the "Root of Jesse" will stand as a banner (Is. 11:10). How is Jesus himself the standard? I think it's when Christ is crucified He lifts himself up as the one who empowers us, who displays his own glory, who rallies his people and directs and leads them in the battle with evil. I like to think of a breathtaking banner in Jerusalem on Calvary's hill waving as the lightning crashes and thunder booms, the sky turns dark, the curtain is torn in two and graves open. What colors do you see?
Jeremiah 23:5-6 says something similar to Isaiah. Jeremiah names the branch "The Lord Our Righteousness" - so not just the Jesus of the cross but Christ at the right hand of God. I imagine the banner in heaven now at the right hand of the Father, waving in bedazzling light. When we proclaim "Christ our righteousness" we are setting up a flag for God on Earth. We drape that banner of Christ's righteousness on ourselves and hold it out to those we love. It is for all the peoples (Is. 11:10) and for the nations (Is. 11:12).
Moses symbolically demonstrated in battle with the Amalekites that whenever Jesus is lifted up the church prevails, but when He is lowered, the church weakens (Ex. 17:11,15). Jesus is our rallying point, our banner. Remember the song, "His Banner Over Me Is Love"? People will embrace Jesus as Savior all over planet Earth one day (Is. 11:9). My Bible cross-references this with Habbakuk 2:14 which says the exact same thing as Isaiah and adds the word "glory"; Jesus' glory will be absolutely everywhere one day, as the waters cover the sea floor! Amen!
Esther, you have a beautiful way with words. You created such an amazing word picture for me, so encouraging. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your encouragement, Tammy. Shabbat shalom!
Amen Esther. Indeed wonderful illustrations you have given. May God help us to be faithful children.
Christ came the first time to die for all humans, His creatures, independently of whom accepts(ed) Him. The second time He will come for those who have decided/accepted (for) Him. By accepting God's Son (or His message) anyone can be put right with God.
When I exercise or when I eat food, I would eat the food that seems unpleasant or I don't like first because I know I have something better to come.
Christ came and died the humiliating death for humanity much more He paid the penalty of sin for humanity which is the second death. If He had paid would He not come to collect the reward of His labor.
How does the messianic prophecy help the people of Judah?
The answer: the land will not completely be lost. The remnant of Israel will be restored.
Did God show favoritism to the people of Judah?
Isaiah 10:20-22
The Returning Remnant of Israel
20 And it shall come to pass in that day That the remnant of Israel, And such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, Will never again depend on him who defeated them, But will depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, To the Mighty God. 22 For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, A remnant of them will return; The destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
1)Will depend on the Lord, the Holy one of Israel, in truth
2)The remnant will returnTo the Mighty God
3)Shall overflowwith righteousness
God cannot does not change. The remnant will finally acknowledge the allegiance to God.
James 1:17
17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.[a] He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.[b]
In these last days God is waiting for a group of people who would anchor their faith in Him.
Return to Him
Depend on Him
Destruction shall overflow with righteousness.
Who or what is your anchor through life trying circumstances?
Newbegin- I believe Isaiah was both speaking about the return of the Israelites after the 70 years and the return of Christ the second times to take his people/the remnant for their vacation.(1 thousand years, the millennium). Take note of the word- the Remnant. There is a remnant who will stay faithful to God in spite of.
There was a remnant who left Judah and Jerusalem and who returned to Judah and Jerusalem. There is a remnant who is living on the earth presently and who Christ will return to take with him. No one knows who are the remnant. But the bible says, the are those who follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes.
Rev 14:1-20. The remnant warns men to return to God for he will pardon. The remnant sang the song of Moses and the Lamb. Ex 15:1-22. Rev 15:1-8.
Yes, I agree no one will know the remnant until the coming of the Lord when the wheat and tares will be separated. I was posting about the quality of the remnanat. We have to return unto the Lord. I want us to recognize God cannot and will not lower his standards.
The lesson talks about a first and second coming. But Jesus has come many times through history, including creating us. Maybe we should name it major coming. We also forget he is coming a “ third” time. Immanuel means God with us. So for me it is comforting to know he has come many times in the plan of salvation.
And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherd feed the flocks? Ezek 34:1-2.
The “stump of Jesse” represents the idea that the dynasty of David (son of Jesse) would lose its power (Dan: 4:10-17, Daniel 4:20-26).
Yep, but its power will rise again.
When a tree is cut down and uprooted, there is total loss of the tree/plant.
When a tree is cut down and the stump is left, because the roots are beneath the stump, the tree will spring up again in favorable conditions. Reminds me of, Daniel 4:15.
1. After the Israelites were taken into bondage, they returned to their land after 70 yrs. But they constantly were doing the same things- committing grievous sins. They walked away from their Savior, the Bread of Life, there Protector and for 4 hundred years the stump had left bare without branches.
2. After 4 hundred years as foretold in the prophecies, the stump began to bear branches. It was the Maker and Savior himself that came to deliver men out of gross darkness back into the marvelous wonderful light.
'What did Christ accomplish at the First Coming that gives us such assurance about the Second Coming?'
Christ show us what it meant to be connected to his father. As they treated the good judges, prophets, seers and people of God before the 4 hundred years, the same way they were treating Jesus, terribly. Luke 11:1-54. especially 47.
For me- Christ was showing me that persecution will me more devastating from within the church than from within the world. But he had overcome the world and I can overcome. The prophets were killed by the church people, they tried killing him many times but finally he gave up his life in love for me so I can love him in return. Oh what Love is this!!!
He gave me lots of promises not to be troubled when persecution starts. John 14:1-3. I can rest in his assurance that as long as I stay with him in trials, persecutions, sickness, loses of anything/everything, loneliness, anxiety, stress etc. He went through all of these as recorded in his words with the help of the Holy Spirit and the angels who came several times to comfort him. It is possible for me to overcome by his strength. He will come for me at the appointed time.
I don't understand Isaiah 11:14-16
14But they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines toward the west;
Together they shall plunder the 7people of the East;
qThey shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab;
And the people of Ammon shall obey them.
15The Lord rwill utterly 8destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt;
With His mighty wind He will shake His fist over 9the River,
And strike it in the seven streams,
And make men cross over 1dryshod.
16There will be a highway for the remnant of His people
Who will be left from Assyria,
As it was for Israel
In the day that he came up from the land of Egypt.
These verses sound like they're talking about military conquests on this earth not on the new earth? But then I thought this passage was supposed to be about the first and second coming?
Hi B.R. Here is what I found out from the SDA Bible Commentary:
v. 14 the Philistines. This prophecy was conditional on Israel's faithfulness to God. Because Israel failed to stick with God, He did not subdue the enemies, the Philistines being the traditional enemy. In principle, this promise will be fulfilled to the church today when God vanquishes all enemies (Dan 7:18; Dan 12:1; Rev 19:2) The kingdom Christ sets up (Matt 25:31) will consume all these enemy kingdoms and stand forever (Dan 2:44).
v. 15 Tongue of the Egyptian sea. An arm of the Red Sea - the waters would again be dried up either figuratively or literally to provide another miraculous deliverance from Egypt. Shaking a fist over "the River" was when the Euphrates dried up to prepare for deliverance from Babylon. Egypt and Babylon were the 2 ancient nations that most heavily oppressed the Hebrew people. Egypt was smitten at the time of the Exodus and Babylon was smitten near the end of the 70 years of captivity, which was still future in the time of Isaiah. At that time the Euphrates was turned out of its course by Cyrus to capture the city of Babylon (Is. 44:27,28; Jer 51:36). God will likewise deliver his people at the end of time.
v. 16 An highway. As God led His people safely through the wilderness and 1,000 years later brought them back from Babylon, so He will safely conduct his remnant people through the great time of trouble forecast by Daniel (Dan 12:1; Jer 30:7). "As it was for Israel (when they) came up from the land of Egypt".... commentary says "The Marvelous power of God displayed in the land of Egypt and at the Red Sea lived on in the memory of God's people, whose minds ever reverted to these dramatic events as evidence that their God was the true God and that they were His chosen people". I would add that likewise, we look in our rearview mirrors to remember God's blessings and leadings thus far to encourage us on our journey through the wilderness.
Thank you Esther! This helps a lot! I had wondered if this was an unfulfilled conditional prophecy. I see that vs. 15-16 referred to the future while v. 14 was conditional. I wonder how we can parse out what is conditional and what is figurative when we study the Prophets?
Your question invited me to look at those verses again. What I notice is beautiful. The punishment prophecy was conditional (as in Ezekiel 18:21), but the rescuing salvation prophecy for the remnant people was a sure thing (John 5:24; John 10:29; Heb. 7:25).