Wednesday, January 27
Who is the "rod” that comes “out of the stem of Jesse" in Isaiah 11:1? See also Zechariah 3:8; Zechariah 6:12.
Isaiah 11:1 picks up on the imagery of a felled tree in 10:33, 34. The “stem of Jesse” represents the idea that the dynasty of David (son of Jesse) would lose its power (Daniel 4:10-17, 20-26). But there would arise a “ rod/branch” from the apparently doomed “ stem”; that is, a ruler descended from David.
Why is the new Davidic ruler also called the “root of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:10)? What sense does this make? Revelation 22:16.
The description fits only Jesus Christ, who is both “the root and the offspring of David” (Revelation 22:16). Christ came from the line of David (Luke 3:23-31), who was descended from Adam, who was the “son of God” (Luke 3:38) in the sense that Christ created him (see John 1:1-3, 14). So, Christ was David’s ancestor, as well as his descendant!
In what ways does the new Davidic ruler reverse the evil effects of sin and apostasy? Isaiah 11.
He thinks and acts in harmony with the Lord, judges fairly, punishes the wicked, and brings peace. When He takes over, the Lord will bring back, restore, and unite a faithful remnant of Israel and Judah (compare Isaiah 10:20-22). There will be a strong, united monarchy as in the days of King David, who defeated the Philistines and other peoples. But the New Ruler will be greater than David in that He will restore peace even to the essence of creation itself: Predators will no longer be carnivorous, and they will coexist in tranquility with their former prey (Isaiah 11:6-9).
Is Isaiah 11 talking about just the first coming of Christ, just the Second, or both? Look through the prophecy and mark down which texts talk about which coming.
In Isaiah 11, both comings of Jesus are presented as one picture. They are tied together, because they are two parts of a whole, like the two sides of a flat plane. The plan of salvation, to be completed, requires both comings: the First, which already happened; and the Second, which we await as the consummation of all our hopes as Christians.
What did Christ accomplish at the First Coming that gives us such assurance about the Second Coming? What is the purpose of the First Coming if it doesn’t result in the Second?
