Year 2, Week 3, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 3, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Isaiah 10-12.

Today’s reading continues Isaiah’s word to Judah. Isaiah 10 speaks of the LORD’s discipline upon Israel as coming through the hands of the Assyrians: “Woe to, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder” (Isaiah 10:5-6a). But before the chapter is finished, the LORD declares His wrath toward Assyria: “When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes” (Isaiah 10:12). And while the LORD will completely destroy Assyria, He will preserve a portion of Israel: “A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God” (Isaiah 10:21). Isaiah 11 speaks of hope for Israel because of the One whom the LORD would raise up: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.” (Isaiah 11:1). Isaiah 12 records the song that Israel would sing one day when the One whom the LORD raises up, delivers them: “You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me” (Isaiah 12:1).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the details revealed concerning the Messiah. With the imagery of a stump and a branch, someone from the line of David would be brought forth who would be a wise ruler: “And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:2-3a). Out of His wisdom this King of David would judge with righteousness as the wicked will not be able to stand against Him: “He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked” (Isaiah 11:3b-5). There have been some kings from the line of David who were relatively, somewhat good; but the King of David spoken of by Isaiah will be completely righteous and absolutely faithful: “Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins” (Isaiah 11:6).

This Messiah, this King of David that Isaiah is describing is a King who will completely remake how life will be experienced: “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain” (Isaiah 11:6-9a). The portrait offered suggests a total elimination of all hate and violence, for a comprehensive peace would permeate existence. No longer will life consist of predator and prey relationships. All will live happily together. This new kind of reality would stem from the presence of the LORD in an extensive way: “for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9b). Neither human effort or ingenuity will bring about such peace; the LORD Himself will do this.

The LORD would do this through His appointed King: “In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious” (Isaiah 11:10). The imagery shifts from stump and branch to root, as this Davidic King will draw all nations to Himself. The Apostle Paul quotes this passage to validate his mission to the Gentiles: “And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope” (Romans 15:12). The universal peace that Isaiah 11:6-9 speaks of, will be accomplished because Jesus will draw a people from every nation to Himself. While the fullest expression of this global peace still awaits, it has already begun through the church: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:13-14a).

Isaiah likens how the LORD will bring about such peace to how He delivered Israel from Egypt. Isaiah is indicating a new Exodus: “And the LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt, and will wave his hand over the River with his scorching breath, and strike it into seven channels, and he will lead people across in sandals. And there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant that remains of his people, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt” (Isaiah 11:15-16). And as Israel sang before the LORD immediately after the first Exodus (see Exodus 15), so they would sing again: “Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 12:5-6). It will be a jubilant time when the full knowledge of the LORD covers the earth.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe