Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Isaiah 11:1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
O RADIX JESSE -- O ROD OF JESSE
Oh, come, strong branch of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them vict'ry o'er the grave.
When we speak of a branch from the root of Jesse we are reminded that God kept his promise when it seemed most unlikely, even impossible that He would. The nation of Israel had been destroyed. The Romans ruled the world. What hope could there possibly be that a Son of David would once again arise to rule? There was no strength in Israel that could oppose the Romans. And yet God brought forth His promised Son. Certainly there is much in our day which is comparable. What hope is there for the truth of God's Word to remain to future generations? What hope is there that anyone will actually listen to the Word which we keep preaching? In these things we can trust Christ's promise.
But far more important is that seemingly useless hope which the verse itself mentions, that those bound by Satan's tyranny, those languishing in the depths of hell, may receive victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Once again, these things are not literary devices. In a very real way many Christians are caught in sin and after dealing with these same sins year after year after year, we may have to admit with David and Luther, "Fast bound in Satan's chains I lay, death brooded darkly over me." Yet even here completely surrounded by death, by my own sin, Christ comes to bring forth life from death, to fulfill His promise.
Come O Lord and release me from these chains of darkness that I may live to serve You.
