A Great Vision SM 12/8/19
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A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and 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, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
We remember Jesse from lots of places maybe most notably where the prophet Samuel is told by God to go and anoint the next king. All the strong and handsome sons of Jesse are trotted out but the Lord rejects each one in turn until Samuel asks if there is another son. Then we are introduced to the future King David the one whom all other kings of Israel would be compared. The one who, though a sinful man, was also humbled by his sin and followed after God’s own heart.
SR
Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor. May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.
A Great Vision
A Great Vision
A Great Vision
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and 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, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
We remember Jesse from lots of places maybe most notably where the prophet Samuel is told by God to go and anoint the next king. All the strong and handsome sons of Jesse are trotted out but the Lord rejects each one in turn until Samuel asks if there is another son. Then we are introduced to the future King David the one whom all other kings of Israel would be compared. The one who, though a sinful man, was also humbled by his sin and followed after God’s own heart.
We remember Jesse from lots of places maybe most notably where the prophet Samuel is told by God to go and anoint the next king. All the strong and handsome sons of Jesse are trotted out but the Lord rejects each one in turn until Samuel asks if there is another son. Then we are introduced to the future King David the one whom all other kings of Israel would be compared. The one who, though a sinful man, was also humbled by his sin and followed after God’s own heart.
We remember Jesse from lots of places maybe most notably where the prophet Samuel is told by God to go and anoint the next king. All the strong and handsome sons of Jesse are trotted out but the Lord rejects each one in turn until Samuel asks if there is another son. Then we are introduced to the future King David the one whom all other kings of Israel would be compared. The one who, though a sinful man, was also humbled by his sin and followed after God’s own heart.
We are also introduced in a way to Jesus. The reason the youngest son David wasn’t there that day to line up in front of the prophet was that he was of course out “tending the sheep.” And when he was anointed, the spirit of the lord rested powerfully upon David. Both ideas of shepherd and having the Lord’s spirit upon him in power are echoed about Jesus in the NT (, , ).
So there’s only a “stump” left in the line of Davidic kings. Short background:
Earlier in . Ahaz, the king of Judah expressed his disbelief that the Lord would protect the House of David against an alliance between King Rezin of Aram (Syria), Pekah (not a Pokemon) the son of the King of Israel / Ephraim. Complicated but basically some alliances were being formed against the main Big Dog in the region Assyria and Ahaz was looking for help against the Northern Kings by teaming up with the King of Nineveh Tiglathpileser.
This is when the prophet Isaiah gives Ahaz king of Judah the “sign of Immanuel” that a woman will give birth to a son and before he is old enough to make sound decisions for himself (12?) these enemies will be wiped out and you shouldn’t worry about it because God is with you. But Ahaz and the people are scared and don’t believe the signs God is giving them and God sends the Big Dog Assyrians anyway to take over the land and take the people captive.
That’s quite a brief and simplistic summary. Isaiah’s point to the king is that only God can provide peace and security amidst life’s most challenging and difficult situations. You can’t trust your self and your worldy alliances. God is telling you he will be with you, do you believe him?
Only God can provide peace and security amidst life’s most challenging and difficult situations.
So here in , there’s just a “stump” left. Ever have a stump in your yard? It’s just a hunk of dead wood that’s really hard to get rid of. They can last a long time. (my story of lighting one of fire, sometimes they rot and you plant flowers in them, etc).
Isaiah 11:1-10
So here
But even though the line of faithful kings has ended. This seemingly “dead stump” is going to sprout a branch that will bear fruit. Did you notice he has the Spirit? Four times the Spirit is mentioned: Spirit of the Lord, wisdom/understanding, counsel/might, knowledge/fear of the Lord.
He’s not going to depend on normal human faculties to make decisions. Instead it will be with “righteousness” and “justice” that he will deal with the needy and the poor. This is no mere man. “R” and “J” are used repeatedly in the OT to describe God’s acting in the world.
Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will be proved holy by his righteous acts.
It’s with R&J that he will judge the needy and the poor. Not “judge the needy” as in condemn the needy. But that he will judge for them, make a right and true judgment on their behalf. Stick up for them.
May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.
For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
As we know the poor and needy, the fatherless, widow, alien, stranger are all people of focus in scripture. God’s people are often judged and scolded concerning the way we treat these people. As we consider topics Jesus addresses often and are repeated by other NT writers, there is much to say about our money and how we manage it and who and what we support with it. Challenging subject for me personally. I don’t really know any poor or needy people. yet I know plenty of people are struggling. Oh sure we have the sponsored child picture on our fridge, we’ve given to various causes and charities. I know that is true about the SM Church. I see the various missions efforts we support. Read A Christmas Carol, p. 10
Tricky subject that can get political real quick (Bill, I look forward to your comments in Bible Class). What could the SM church do to directly impact the poor and needy in our community? How could we be a blessing to our neighbors? How could we be known as a church that understands and tries to meet the needs of the poor and needy right here?
And he doesn't need any weapons. It’s with his mouth and his breath that he will destroy the wicked. In Rev, the Rider on the White Horse is seen judging and making war:
Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
His clothing is righteousness and faithfulness. And what is the result of the presence of this branch from the stump of Jesse? Peace. No more enmity. The old structures of creation are reversed. Prey and predator animals live in harmony. A child leads them. At least one commentator sees in this statement that the old order of human “dominion” over the animals is lifted. Animals will no longer receive cruel treatment at the hands of their human captors who reside at the top of the food chain. Rather a gentle child is in charge. (thought that was maybe stretching, but then a lion has become a herbivore). Little children, both infants and toddlers are completely safe near all kinds of normally dangerous reptiles.
Nobody will be harmed. Nobody destroyed. The whole earth is filled with people who know God and the root of Jesse will gather all to his glorious home/resting place (Rick Marrs, God “rested” or “presided” over his creation). Wait a minute, the “Root of Jesse”? I thought it was a branch from the stump of Jesse? How can someone be the source (root) and the outcome (branch) at the same time? Jesus himself raises this issue:
While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with delight.
No further explanation. Is Jesus just having fun or what? I think we know the answer:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
So a great vision is being imparted by Isaiah. Telling God’s people that out of something seemingly dead and lifeless new life and hope will arrive. This branch of Jesse will be a faithful and righteous judge who will rule for the poor and needy, he will defeat his enemies with a blast of breath from his mouth, and he will be not just one who brings peace, but under his rule the old orders will be turned upside down and the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. Surely, this is Jesus the one who’s birth we celebrate this Christmas:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Nobody will be harmed. Nobody destroyed.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[a] the Son of God,[b] 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” 3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with[e] water, but he will baptize you with[f] the Holy Spirit.”
When John the Baptist came, hundreds of years later, preaching in the wilderness, he took up the mantle that his prophetic predecessors had carried before urn. Having been bought with a price, we go out into the world raising our eyes to the blessed Star to follow where its light will lead.
It’s not here in Mark, but in Luke the people ask JTB “what should we do”?
If you have a lot, share
Don’t rip people off
Don’t threaten or accuse
Be satisfied
Sonar first for submarine detection, now a whole host of uses from finding shipwrecks, fishing, diving, etc.
Radar to track aircraft now used in traffic control for civilian air transportation and microwave technology.
Global positioning systems for missiles, now it’s your favorite app on your cell phone because you’d be lost without it.
Duct tape used to shot ammunition boxes, now hey it’s duct tape!
Maybe these are just silly examples of technology being used in other areas, because after all we still have plenty of weapons around. And maybe these are inspirational examples of swords into plowshares.
Close with a quote from Jacob Marley In Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: The ghost of Jacob Marley visits Scrooge one night and informs him that’s he’s arranged for Scrooge to be visited by three spirits who are going to teach him some life changing lessons. It was too late for Marley. He had lived his life for himself and deeply regretted his choices. He was hoping Ebenezer might have a chance at repentance.
Scrooge and Marley had been rich business partners, and when Scrooge reminds the ghost that in life he had been a good man of business, Marley rebukes him harshly:
“Business!” Cried the ghost, wringing it hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business! At this time of the rolling year,” the specter said, “I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me?”
Statement about repentance.
Now it’s our turn. Having been bought with a price, we go out into the world raising our eyes to the blessed Star to follow where its light will lead.