Our theme: We are signs and symbols…an oak of righteousness a planting of the Lord to display His splendor

 

This section of Isaiah’s prophecy – chapters 7-12 – are filled with signs and symbols of the promised Messiah, whose name is Jesus.

 

These signs and symbols of our Lord include:

          Immanuel: God is with us  

          Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

God is passionate for us to experience who He is, here and now. He will be who He says He is!!! God wants to reveal himself to you today as you seek Him. Go to Jesus today!!

 

Chapter 10 of Isaiah ends with the prophecy that not only will Judah be judged by the God through the nation of Assyria for their sin, but Assyria itself, God’s instrument of judgment, will also be destroyed. Verses 10:33-34 refers to the lofty pride of Assyria and the tall Lebanons of Judah, each being cut down by the Lord Almighty. But the story doesn’t end there!

 

Chapter 11 opens with a message of hope.

 

 Isaiah 11:1 says,” A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” God’s enemies would be cut down, falling like forest trees, never to rise again, but God’s people which were cut down to just a stump, would spring back up again resulting in new life and growth. The family tree of David, lopped off, even to the stump of Jesse, would sprout again. The promised Messiah would come through the lineage of David, through the tribe of Judah. Jesse was David’s father. David came from obscurity – a shepherd boy, Jesus, the Son of David, came as a carpenter’s son, born in a manger. Even though it appeared that nothing was left of the nation through which God had promised the Messiah, Jesus, it wasn’t true. God would restore his people after the Babylonian captivity, so that Jesus could be born according to God’s promises. God is faithful to His Word –able to promise and able to perform. As we go through this Christmas season, listen for the fulfillment of some of these prophecies. One of which is in Luke 1 when the angel of the Lord spoke to Mary. “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, his kingdom will never end.”

 

Here in Isaiah God promises to raise up this Branch to bear fruit. God would preserve a remnant of his people through which the King Jesus, the Son of David, would be born.

 

Let’s take a look at two symbols – the Branch and the Banner

 

I.      The Branch: Isaiah 11:1-9

 

     Isaiah 11:2 identifies this fruitful Branch as a man on which the Spirit of the Lord rests. As we have learned through the scriptures, this child, this son, this king would be called Jesus. What will Jesus be like?

     The Spirit of the Lord will empower Jesus.                                                                                                                                                                                                        

     The direct influence of the Holy Spirit will bring certain qualifications: 

                                    

     a. The spirit of wisdom and understanding: Through the Spirit, Jesus has the knowledge of what is true and right and the spiritual discernment to apply it in real life.

 

     b. The Spirit of counsel and power: Through the Spirit, Jesus has the strategy and power to carry out God’s purposes. This reflects back to the name of God, Wonderful Counselor. He has an astounding plan for our lives and is able to carry it out, because He is Mighty God!

 

     c. The Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord: Through the Spirit, Jesus has an intimate knowledge of God and of spiritual truths producing a greater awe and respect of God the Father. As we grow in our knowledge of God’s holiness, justice, goodness and worthiness -  truly getting to know our God intimately - we bow before him in awe and reverence. Every knee will bow and worship him one day!

 

These divine qualifications are ours through Christ! God has given us His mission and His Spirit to equip us   In John 20:21-22 Jesus says to his disciples,  “…As the Father has sent me I am sending you…Receive my Spirit.” How we need to ask God to give us these spiritual gifts and graces to teach us where and when we fall short. We need these qualifications of the Spirit to rise up within us. We need the power of His Spirit to carry out the mission God has for us. Pray that God would teach you the depths of his wisdom, understanding, counsel and power, so that you can delight in the fear of the Lord, just as Jesus does!

 

What will His kingdom be like in the future when he reigns in His kingdom here on earth?

 

·        With the Spirit’s discernment and empowerment, Jesus will not judge by what He sees with his eyes or make decisions by what he hears (vs. 3b).. He will judge with righteousness – God’s righteousness. Look at verse 5 “Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.” A belt or a sash often holds things in place. Many things can be attached to a belt. So it is with the righteousness and faithfulness of God. They are foundational to holding everything in place and many things flow from them. What will his reign be like in our lives now –when we let him rule – when we do things God’s ways? The Message says Jesus will not judge by appearances or on the basis of hearsay. How do we judge? With righteousness and faithfulness to God and His Word? What does God’s kingdom rule in your life look like?

·        We see the meataphorical description of the moral change within a man’s heart as the kingdom comes to rule in verses 6-9 (The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the infant will play near the hole of the cobra…).  The bottom line is there will be no harm or destruction in the kingdom. Verse 9. “They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” In God’s kingdom there will be peace. In our lives his kingdom’s reign will bring  harmony.

 

The Branch will bear fruit. Will that be true through your life?

 

II. The Banner: The Root of Jesse will stand as a Banner. (Verses 10-16)

     A banner signified a place to gather troops, to rally together. As with many prophecies there can be an immediate fulfillment and subsequent fulfillments in the future.

 

·        Then: The more immediate fulfillment of this prophecy would be seen when the promised remnant of God’s people would be gathered out of exile from Babylonian captivity, just as they were delivered from Egypt. In verse 16 we see another familiar symbol in the book of Isaiah, a highway. This highway will be prepared for a remnant of his people to reach Jerusalem. God will clear the obstacles for his remnant to return from captivity to Jerusalem. He has made a way out of captivity. His name is Jesus.

·        In the future: This prophecy also looks toward the future when Jesus gathers both Gentiles and Jews to himself. God will clear the way of obstacles for Israel, Judah and Gentiles to walk on this highway, as He gathers his people to Jerusalem, the city that God has promised to preserve for His people. There are several references to this highway - one of them being the highway of holiness (Isaiah 35:8) - that only the redeemed will walk on. He has made a way of holiness. His name is Jesus.

·        Today: Jesus stands as a banner today.  God’s people need to rally together today under the cross of Christ, at the empty tomb – to the name of Jesus! God can restore what has been stolen from you and allow His kingdom to reign in and through your life today. He calls us to repentance which prepares us to walk out of captivity and onto the highway of holiness.

 

Today, God gathers His people to Jesus. He is our banner. Jehovah Nissi. Have you been scattered? What has separated you from your God? What holds you captive? Do you see Jesus? He is not on the cross! He is our risen Lord! He calls you to come to Him. He makes the way for you to come -  He is the highway from your place of captivity -  a way out of captivity  -  a way to your place of rest.

 

Come to Jesus. He came in the form of an obscure little baby in a manger to become the Savior of the world, dying on the cross, conquering sin and rising from death so that you might live. Come to Jesus! His name is Jesus!

 

In this day Jesus stands before us as a banner so that his people from all nations can be gathered to Him.

 

Rally to Jesus today to find your place of rest.

 

Keepsake Truth: Isaiah 11:10

“In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the people; the nations will rally to him and his place of rest will be glorious.”