The Righteous Judge Isaiah 11:1-9

-Jesus is the Righteous Judge who brings us peace.

300 Illustrations for Preachers Corrupt Judge Sentenced to 28 Years

In 2009 news surfaced that Mark Ciavarella, a judge in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, had sentenced around 3,000 children to months of detention after they had committed minor infractions. This corrupt judge was later sentenced to 28 years in prison for accepting $2.2 million as a “finder’s fee” for the construction of a for-profit facility—the same facility to which he had been sending these so-called delinquents. When the truth came out, 2,480 of those convictions were reversed and expunged.

Corrupt judges like this one do not fear God or other people.

I. Jesus Rules by the Holy Spirit vv. 1-2

In our passage this morning, Isaiah continues with another promise from God about the coming of a Messiah, that we see fulfilled in Christ

Isaiah calls Him a “shoot from the stump of Jesse”

This speaks to the brokenness of the monarchy in Isaiah’s time and the future; it seems that the promise of Davidic kingship has failed

Then, in the middle of utter hopelessness, a shoot rises back up to fulfill what appeared to be lost

Jesus is, in very important ways, God’s King for His people; we see this through the Spirit’s work in Jesus

This is probably worth noting: All of the attributes of the Spirit are present with Jesus. He is fully divine

However, in His incarnation and fully humanity, we see Him live fully submitted to and empowered by the Holy Spirit

The Spirit is on Jesus and He never operates apart from the Spirit

He is educated by the Lord with:

Wisdom- He is able to rule with God’s wisdom

Understanding- He sees things as God sees them

He is equipped by the Lord with:

Counsel- He knows what God’s design is for each situation

Power-He does not only understand, but He has the strength to execute the plan

He is experienced with the Lord:

Knowledge- He knows who God is in a relational way that is distinct from His people

Fear of the Lord- His knowledge of God leads to an extreme reverence for God

All of this matters because the Spirit equips Jesus to rule over the people of God in a way that brings us into the peace of God

II. Jesus Judges With Righteousness vv. 3-5

What then does this kind of leadership look like?

It is marked by a delight in the fear of the Lord

These two things seem like they should be in opposition: delight and fear

But it turns out nothing could be further from the truth.

Some despise the fear of the Lord and they are wicked

Some fear the Lord out of duty and they are half-hearted in their obedience

Some delight in the fear of the Lord and they live in a way that is both joyful and righteous

Because His delight is in the fear of the Lord, His discernment is different:

He is not swayed by false testimony or outward appearance

He judges people with impartiality, because He seeks the judgment of God in each circumstance

In a world that oppresses the poor and to the meek, Jesus sees every act of injustice and judges righteously

The judgment of Jesus is ultimately much more than an act of discernment. He will not only declare what is just; He will do justice

A time will come when the Lord will act and strike the earth and extinguish the power of the wicked over the innocent

Because He is righteous, He will establish righteousness. We can trust in this!

III. Jesus Promises a Renewed Creation vv. 6-9

All of this leads to a completely new way of living; what we see promised is not yet here, but it is what we ultimately look forward to in Christ:

What does the renewed Creation look like?

It is marked by Peace:

This is Cooperation and not Competition- the animals that should view each other as predator and prey are now in partnership

This is Dominion and not Domination- even a little child can lead the created order, because leadership no longer has to be an act of strength or forcefulness

This is Certainty and not Calamity- we can live sure of God’s protection in all things; there will be no more violence, chaos, or harm in His kingdom

It is marked by the Knowledge of God:

The peace described earlier is simply the result of this great truth

The Creation is no longer severed from the Creator; when God is known fully in the world, the world becomes a different place

This speaks to a new order, a return to a world where sin no longer has a place

This renewed creation comes through Jesus who paid the price of sin, rose from the grave, and offers this life to any who will believe in Him!

London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior.

As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage.

"Forget about the repairs," the buyer said. "When I buy this place, I'm going to build something completely different. I don't want the building; I want the site."

Compared with the renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the wrecking ball. When we become God's, the old life is over (2 Cor. 5:17). He makes all things new. All he wants is the site and the permission to build.