The Day is Coming!

Intro

Let me be blunt: People will disappoint us. We’ve all been let down, by

a promising politician or new elections

by an up-and-coming athlete, a friend or budding romance

new neighbours, community leaders, or a pastor,

We get excited by bright prospects, promises of a better day ahead! But people don’t live up to expectation. They fall short of hopes and dreams, leaving us disappointed. After repeated disappointments, we might turn cynical. We might doubt whether ANYONE is trustworthy or good.

That’s the roller coaster that the people of Judah have been on. The kings in the days of the prophet Isaiah disappointed the citizens & God.

Each weekday the church sends out an email with a Bible reading and as brief meditation (email or text me to receive it). This week the readings came from II Chronicles 26-29: statistics like the batting averages for Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah – the 4 kings who served during Isaiah’s term as God’s prophet, God’s messenger.

Like all David’s dynasty, they are a mixed bag. At times they tried to serve the LORD, but none was faithful all the way through. None batted 1000.

So in ch. 10, Isaiah comes with a terrifying message. God’s judgement is catching up with the kings and leaders and people of Judah.

​See, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will lop off the boughs with great power.

The lofty trees will be felled, the tall ones will be brought low. Isaiah 10:33 NIV

It’s a terrifying prospect.

Logging is a major industry in NB, yet there’s something disturbing when lofty trees are chopped down. A hill visible from our deck in NB was clear-cut. No trees nor greenery left, just gashes on the hillside where logs got dragged away.

When you harvest winter wheat or beans, you can plant a cover crop and it greens up. When you harvest trees, the hill looks scarred and ugly for years!

It’s a word-picture for the judgement the LORD is bringing. Kings & rulers disappointed God. He holds Judah’s kings accountable for failing to rule with righteousness and justice. God’s plan for dispensing justice isn’t pretty.

Struggle

It starts with whispers & rumours. Sennacherib, king of Assyria left Nineveh with his army, marching westward, threatening Israel and Judah.

The kings of Jerusalem invested in weapons and armies. They installed machines of war to throw rocks and fire arrows.

Even more drastic: they locked the doors of the temple of the LORD and burned incense to the gods of Damascus.

Would new alliances, new deities, new technologies save Jerusalem?

Scouts & reports came in. All the towns in Sennacherib’s path fell. The Assyrian army is not a kind and gentle army. In discussions of historically cruel armies, there’s a case for counting Assyria in the top 10.

They’re like axmen clearing a forest. Even those who surrendered got hacked to death with swords. Its sickening to hear what happened to women, to children, and to seniors.

But Sennacherib’s army hasn’t reached Jerusalem, yet. Strongholds have fallen, citizens massacred, towns fell Joppa, Gath, Lachish, Libnah. The Assyrians advanced, chopping and destroying all the way.

Maybe you can relate. This year has been filled with troubles and threats.

Covid-19 hasn’t spread far in Tillsonburg, but the threat of the virus has played on our minds and imagination since March.

The financial uncertainty is troubling too. Some businesses had a good year. Others not so much. Some people’s income is steady, others unreliable. That means some people really feel the pinch.

And . . . we’ve lost touch with some of our family and friends. Visits Stateside are off. Even travel w/in Canada is hard. Looking ahead a Christmas, we won’t have the usual get-togethers or celebrations.

Not the same as Jerusalem under siege by the Assyrians, but some people are overwhelmed by threats, calamities, and anxiety this year.

Maybe you’re fed up with leaders: global, federal, provincial, municipal . . .

Maybe you feel let down by the public health unit, doctors, experts . . .

Perhaps you’re disappointed with pastors, Council . . .

Where can one turn? Are there better days ahead?

New King

What’s the word from the LORD? As danger approaches, as forests get cut down, does the LORD have anything to offer but judgement?

Isaiah points to the stump of Jesse. Read OT book of I Sam. and you’ll learn that Jesse is King David’s father. The stump is all that remains where David’s dynasty was chopped down. How the mighty have fallen: just a stump.

Is. 10 is a message of God’s judgement against unfaithful leaders, against God’s treasonous vassals and stewards. They’ll get cut down & brought low.

It’s a fearsome pronouncement, but it’s not all. In Is. 11, a better day dawns:

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1 (NIV)

A descendant of Jesse – King David’s great, great, grandson is coming!

From Jesse’s roots, a branch will bear fruit.

We frequently read this verse as we count down the days to Christmas. We expect amazing and beautiful things in Christmas season. Yet this year won’t be like any Christmas you can remember. Celebrations will be muted, downsized, quieter. Provincial leaders recommend limiting gatherings to those in your household, just like Easter.

Yet we have something to celebrate, something to look forward to. No matter how disappointed and cynical we’ve become about human leaders, the King is coming. The Kingdom of God is coming.

Character

So, who’s the King? Why trust his promises more than other rulers?

This branch from Jesse’s family tree comes in the Spirit of the LORD.

God’s Holy Spirit gives him qualities you need in a leader: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might and the knowledge and fear of the LORD. This king knows God so well, will respect the Almighty so deeply that he’ll delight in the fear of the LORD!

Kings in Isaiah’s day weren’t always fair; not always consistent. They might be influenced w/ bribes or politicking. Not so with the coming king:

With righteousness he will judge the needy,

with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. Isaiah 11:4a (NIV)

It gets even better. Righteousness is such a part of this king’s character that it’s as if he was clothed in righteousness.

Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. Isaiah 11: 5 (NIV)

Isaiah proclaims God’s promise that The King of kings is coming. God is coming to Jerusalem as King in all his righteousness and justice!

That’s the event we remember each year as Christmas approaches. God himself has come as the Son of David to bring peace on earth.

We know from the gospels of Mt and Mk, Lk and Jn how Jesus came in the HS’s power, teaching w/ wisdom and justice, clarifying and obeying God’s law. Jesus wasn’t just another king in Jerusalem. He is The King, ushering in the Kingdom of God.

Isaiah preaches years & years before Jesus was born. From his perspective, he doesn’t distinguish between Jesus’ 1st coming & his 2nd coming. Like mountains far off in the distance, Isaiah cannot see the space b/t the two.

But that’s where we live: between Jesus’ 1st coming & his 2nd coming. It’s a time of watching, waiting and preparing for Jesus to bring Shalom.

See, Jesus came in justice and righteousness. For justice to be served, sin and rebellion needed to be dealt with. The punishment is death.

It’s one thing to think about punishment for long-dead king or even corrupt rulers of today. It makes God’s justice sounds great! It’s less comfortable when we talk of justice for our own shortcomings.

To be honest, hard as I try, I don’t live up to God’s standard for justice & righteousness. Certainly not Jesus’ standard. And I’m not righteous enough today to cover yesterday’s shortfall. You? Do you live up to God’s standard, or do you need Jesus love and mercy as much as I do?

Jesus is perfectly righteous. He is able to cover our shortcomings with his goodness. Jesus took the punishment for human wrong-doing at the cross. In rising from the grave, Jesus began the process of making all things right.

Enormous consequences for each person who believes. By faith in Jesus, you are washed clean from sin. The Holy Spirit comes on you in power, just as the HS came on Jesus so that you become more and more like him.

But the shoot from Jesse’s stump has broader implications. Sin stained all creation. It creates tension in all relationships. Jesus’ death and resurrection brings reconciliation; smooths the wrinkles out of all relationships.

Isaiah catches sight of what Jesus’ coming means: Jesus bring Shalom. Shalom is a Hebrew word, often translated as “peace.” It means peace, but wholescale peace. That feeling when all is right in the world. When every person + creature + thing is in harmony with every thing else, that’s Shalom.

Consequence

Listen to the way the OT prophet describes it:

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. Isaiah 11:6–9 (NIV)

Sound too good to be true?

This is the kingdom that Jesus announces when he begins his ministry. 54X in Matthew’s gospel we hear about his Kingdom. Where Jesus reigns with righteousness and justice, that’s where Shalom breaks forth.

Isaiah got a glimpse of it. Does it whet your appetite for Jesus 2nd coming? Do you long for the better day that Jesus will usher in?

Can you imagine it? @ Royal: 4H kid in beef show