“Jesus Christ: The Shoot From The Stump Of Jesse!”

“Jesus Christ: The Shoot From The Stump Of Jesse!”(Is.11:1-5)
The Babylonian exile of 586 B.C. kind of brought an end to the kingdom of Judah. This was like bringing the Davidic dynasty to an end.
Amongst other words of assurance of the future restoration of the kingdom, Isaiah assured the people that the dynasty of David will continue.
“a shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit…”
Those who plant eucalyptus trees know the double gain that is made when one tree is felled. The stump produces many young shoots from which the planter decides how many shoots to allow to grow on the stump. Another advantage is that the shoots grow and mature faster than newly planted seedlings.
Cutting down a tree is not necessarily the end of the tree; its shoots assure its continuity.
The prophet here gives assurance of two concepts which interests God: Remnants and Continuity for the chosen.
We read that from the day David was anointed, “the Spirit of the LORD came upon David with power”(I Sam.16:13). In the same way “the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him” who will continue David’s dynasty.
Unlike the kings of other nations in Isaiah’s time who were tyrants and ruled with injustice, this new king on the throne of David will have “the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD – and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, and with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth… Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.”
The Lord Jesus Christ is seen to be the fulfilment of this prophecy, but as we know, he did not sit on the royal throne of David. He has a throne that exceeds that of David.
We his adherents can learn helpful tips from this prophecy. This will not make us replicas of the Lord, but we can be like him. We are often too full of the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD, but through our thoughts, words and deeds we do not delight in the fear of the LORD.
We are too susceptible to judge by what we see with our eyes and deciding by what we hear with our ears.
We can understand better, act more justly and decide more fairly if we see with the eyes of our hearts and listen to the “silent voice that speaks from within each one of us.
Within us is the seat of the Spirit who imbues us with wisdom, understanding, the ability to delight in the fear of the LORD, the righteousness to judge and the justice to give decisions.
Bottom line dear friend, what we expect to receive from the Christ in the hereafter is the same that is required of us to give to others in this life. By the way, after this life we will only be remembered here by the legacy we leave behind and we shall live in comfort there, still by what we are remembered here to have been.
Prayer: Spirit of God indwell me so that I can share in the righteousness and justice of the Shoot from the Stump of Jesse. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.