Isaiah 11:1-5
"He will come again to judge the living and the dead."
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
Isaiah 11:1-5
This passage has been understood as a prophecy of the coming Messiah.
Read these words in light of Jesus. How does he fulfill them? How do they shape your understanding of him and his character?
Throughout scripture the word “judge” has very different connotations than today. Rather than punishing the guilty, it is about defending the innocent. Who are the “poor” and “meek” in need of justice today?
Notice that justice is not brought about by the sword but by the “rod of his mouth.” How does the word of the gospel bring justice?
Pray for justice, righteousness, and transformation.
PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK
O God, you have given us the sure promise that Jesus will return to judge the earth. Make us ready, we pray, for his royal coming, that we may consider daily what sort of people we ought to be, and be found faithful servants waiting and working for our Master’s return. Make us bold in our witness until that day when he comes at last to make all things right. Amen.