Root and Shoot

O. T. #1584  "Root and Shoot"
Dec. 12. 2019
Isaiah 11
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of His roots. (verse 1)

LET IT GLOW

With the Babylonian captivity of 586 BC, the Davidic dynasty appeared  to be decimate as the Assyrian army (to destroy a large part of). But we know God kept a remnant safe, which was important for the Messiah to come through.

Jesse was David's father. It was through his line the Messianic King Jesus was to come. Matthew 1:5 tells us Salmon and Rahab had a son named Boaz. Ruth 4:22 tells us that Ruth and Boaz had a son named Obed, then Obed had a son named Jesse, who was the couple's  grandson. Jesse's youngest son was named David, who was the couple's great grandson. David became king of Israel What a lineage!
This line was preserved throughout the years in order that this verse of prophesy would happen.  Do we see how God is interested in the personal details of the life of His child? He is interested in your life and my life, friend.

So being a word-nerd, I looked up these words in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, the Hebrew words and their meanings as use in verse 1:
rod (choter, pronounced kho'-ter) means a twig;
stem (geza, geh-zah) refers to a trunk or a stump;
Branch (netser, nay'-tser) is a shoot, a descendant;
roots (sheresh, sheh'-resh) is a root (literally or figurative), bottom, deep, heel, root.

What does all of that mean?

Life remained in the stump and roots. The new shoot came in the form of a Rod and a Branch-Jesus Christ. (MacArthur)

The imagery of the prophet is that of a felled tree out of whose stump a twig would sprout and from whose roots a Branch would flourish again. This shoot is personalized as an individual ruler-the Messiah Himself! (Falwell)

The image of a stump indicates hope, for out of the stump will come a shoot or Branch, the Messiah.  Isaiah is recalling God's promise to David (2 Samuel 7:16) that his descendant would rule over his kingdom forever. (David Jeremiah)

Are we teaching our children and grandchildren about the Messiah who came to be our Savior? Are we influencing them to be a servant of the Living Savior, doing Kingdom work in their life? There is no higher calling.

LET IT GROW

With what would the coming King be endowed? According to verse 2,  it would be things the Spirit of the LORD would give:

• wisdom
• understanding
• counsel
• might
• knowledge
• fear of the LORD.

Jesus would know how to administer the affairs of His spiritual kingdom in all the branches of it, so as effectually to answer the two great intentions of it, the glory of God and the welfare of the children of men. (Matthew Henry)

It was from a tree  that the crown of thorns and a cross came for the Savior to die on for you and me, so we would not have to pay for our sins. He became the propitiation for us, taking our place. He is our Tree, Branch, Shoot and Root.

Out of the stump of that fallen tree, watered with the living waters that flow from the depths of His grace, a twig sprouts. That twig will be the scepter that defeats your sin... and lets you grow again. Gaze on shoots of glory to grow deep roots in God. (The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp)

It is not though our lineage or good works that get us to heaven, but faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior. Are our roots growing deeper and our shoots growing stronger faith?

LET IT GO

Jesus, be the Root and Shoot of my faith.
Holy Spirit, produce spiritual fruit in my life.
Your love never fail, never gives up, never runs out on me; and on and on it goes, as the song goes.