Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Isaiah 11:1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
THE MESSIAH'S KINGDOM OF PEACE (2)
THE KING OF THIS KINGDOM
The King would arise when it no longer seemed possible. Jesse was the father of King David. God had promised David that his descendants would reign on his throne forever. For over 400 years there was a descendant of David on the throne of Judah, then came the Babylonian captivity. Jerusalem was destroyed and the people taken away. There was no one from David's line that ruled as king in Jerusalem again. For over 600 years Israel was ruled by foreign kings. It seemed impossible that God would keep that promise to David.
That is exactly what God had foretold through Isaiah. He said that a shoot would come from the "stump of Jesse." That implies that the great tree of David's dynasty would be cut down. There would be nothing left but a stump. But God promised that when it looked like it was cut off and dead, a shoot would rise up from that stump.
That shoot, of course, was Jesus. He did spring up from the root of Jesse, from a direct descendant of king David. As the angel told Mary, "The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob, forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32-33). God kept His promise to David and this promise in Isaiah.
This is an important reminder to us. Even when it seems impossible, God always keeps His promises in ways more wonderful than we could imagine.
There may be times in your life when it doesn't seem possible that God will keep his promises to you. It may seem like God is not keeping His promise to never leave you and never forsake you. Just be patient, God always keeps His promises.
Some laugh at Jesus' promise to come again and judge the living and the dead. Just be patient. He will keep that promise. He will come again. He will raise all the dead. He will judge the earth. And He will take every believer who trusts in Him for forgiveness and salvation to live with Him forever in paradise.
The Advent season reminds us that just as Jesus came to this world when it seemed impossible and many had given up hope, so He will come again. It is also a reminder that our King can and does establish this kingdom of peace when and where it seems impossible. It may seem impossible to find peace on earth, even at Christmas time. Our King is faithful and true to His promises. Our King has come and has established His kingdom. In that kingdom and in His faithfulness we find peace.
