Read Isaiah 11:1-5 NLT
Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
And the Spirit of the Lord will 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.
He will delight in obeying the Lord.
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
He will wear righteousness like a belt
and truth like an undergarment.
God had promised to establish the kingdom of David forever and that a king unlike any other – one with wisdom, understanding and strength, one who would obey God, be fair and offer justice – would one day rule. That promise was fulfilled through the birth of Jesus, but was one in a string of promises linked together beginning with God’s promise to Abraham.
The promises fit together like pieces of a puzzle. God promises Abraham – a man too old to have children – that He will be the father of a great nation. A nation through which all people will be blessed. It seems impossible, but God keeps His word. Fourteen generations later, we see King David arrive on the scene – a descendant of Abraham. If we continue to trace David’s lineage, we are reminded of God’s commitment to keep His promises in the birth of Jesus.
But it doesn’t end there. Christina Patterson writes, “We, too, are connected to this promise-filled genealogy. The nations promised to Abraham would fill the Kingdoms where Jesus sits on the throne of David. Believers in Christ make up that nation and also hold onto the promise of Christ’s return.”
God has a pretty good track record of keeping His promises which allows us to hold tightly to the hope of His return and His promise to make all things right.
