The Tree Of Hope

Introduction

That period of the Summer where I’m just checking the extended forecast wondering when Fall will arrive.

Stretches in life where you wonder when will something better come.

The hope that there is something better coming.

God reminds us that...

You have hope.

Even for the rebellious nation of Judah, where the promise of hardship has been given, there is hope.

Hardship due to their own rebellion.

More Information Here // Context leading to ch. 11.

Signal (5:26) - The epic scene in The Return of the King - lighting the beacons from Gondor to Rohan.

A signal to send the army to their aid.

Here, the signal is sent to bring the army to attack Jerusalem. A signal of doom.

The theme of Isaiah:

If the rebellious people of Israel can be told, “You have hope,” then you also can have hope!

The Cause For Hope

11:1-5

Looking forward, their hope was based upon one who was to come…from the stump of Jesse.

Jesse, the father of David. This shoot that comes up from where the tree of David had been cut down.

Every Spring and Fall I have to go into my back yard and cut down all these shoots from where I’ve taken out trees.

Cut them out and they just keep growing back until the entire root is removed.

So, similarly, there is the expectation of this shoot coming back.

Israel will not be destroyed forever.

Why Jesse? The disappointment of the majority of kings in Jerusalem, which got them to this point.

But one would come from this same family, and he would “bear fruit.”

All the ways that this coming King would be superior to all the others that had preceded Him (vv. 2-4)

And then there is the belt that pulls everything together.

Isaiah expected the perfect King.

And this perfect King would, “bear fruit.”

“Be fruitful” and “bear fruit” are phrases that show up around 200 times in the Bible.

A sign of life.

God’s will cannot be stopped.

Even on a day like today, September 11th, we are reminded of hope.

Today, if you visit NYC, the site of that tragic event, you find signs of life.

As unlikely as that was 22 years ago today.

The Effect Of Hope

vv. 6-9

These animals, prey and predator, suddenly at peace.

For those in the agrarian cultures of the ancient Near East, there was the constant threat of wild animals attacking their animals.

The role of the shepherd, where they had to be on constant guard to protect the animals in their care.

The shepherds will be replaced with children.

Even the dangerous threat of poisonous snakes will be removed.

A snake and a child… this should cause some bells to go off in our study of Scripture.

Genesis 3:15 ESV

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

This constant battle between the child and the snake.

Here the snake is de-fanged. It is defeated. Still crawling on its belly, still eating dust, but no longer a threat to the child.

This peace goes out and what covers the earth? The knowledge of the LORD.

We find hope in knowing God.

Why is there so much turmoil in the world? In our country?

Galatians 5:19–20 ESV

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

This is like a life verse for America!

The frightening thing is when people convince themselves they are doing “the Lord’s work” when they do these things (esp. v. 20).

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

This is the kind of fruit that is being produced by the Tree of Hope.

When we follow God, we can experience dramatic peace.

This is fruit that we are to be producing naturally. Duct taped apples.

The Glory Of Hope

v. 10

Now we notice that the root, the Messiah, will stand as a signal.

Ominous when we remember what the signal did earlier.

But, now the signal is calling nations to come, not for war, but to experience the peace that God offers.

They are an invitation to the nations: come and experience the glory of God!

God gives an invitation to hope.

Conclusion

The audience that Isaiah was speaking to was looking forward.

Today, we can look back and see how this prophecy was fulfilled.

The mighty tree of the dynasty of David that lasted until 586 when it was cut down by the Babylonians, was reborn.

Born in a manger - dying on a tree, the cross.

But, as Jesus was lifted up, He became a signal to the world that they could be saved.

Jesus is the signal for salvation.

He is inviting you to come and receive forgiveness for your sin and be accepted for all eternity.