THE RIGHTEOUS BRANCH

A Promise and a Threat

The Lord promised He would raise up David’s offspring to rule forever.

2 Samuel 7:16 “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ””

The Lord threatened that if David’s offspring turned away from Him, He would sweep them away.

1 Samuel 12:25 “But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.””

Because of Israel’s disobedience, the Lord chopped them down like a tree.

The Northern Kingdom fell to Assyria in 722 BC. Josiah, Jehoahaz (Shallum), Jehoiachin (Coniah), and Zedekiah were the last kings of Judah, the Southern Kingdom. Judah fell to Babylon in 586 BC.

A Stump and a Branch

The Lord promised to raise up a branch from the stump of Jesse.

Job 14:7 ““For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.”

See Isaiah 11:1-10...

Messiah was going to rise up from the small and insignificant town of Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2 “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

Isaiah 53:2 “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.”

Jesus is the Righteous Branch who was the root and descendant of David.

Revelation 22:16 ““I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.””

Jesus came to save His people and to reign on the throne of David forever!

See Jeremiah 23:1-8 and Jeremiah 33:14-17...

His Resting Place Will Be Glorious

Christ came to save a people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

See Isaiah 11:10...

He was going to save them by bearing their sins, taking their punishment, and giving them His righteousness.

Isaiah 53:5–6 “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

If we come to Him in repentant faith, we will experience glorious rest in Him!

Matthew 11:28–30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””

John 3:14–15 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

Isaiah 45:22 ““Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”