Isaiah 11: Good Tidings

Christmas is about good news or good tidings; where we hope for something better, something greater than we can experience now. For Israel, Isaiah 11 was part of that good news. Since Jesse’s son, David, left the throne the nation repeatedly failed to live up to their covenantal obligations to Yahweh, who brought them out of Egypt and who made them a great nation. Their hard hearts and stubbornness eventually alienated them from God bringing them hardship and exile from the Promised Land.

But Isaiah promises that the roots of Jesse that bore David were not completely done. The restoration of Israel in Isaiah 11 was a part of the hope the nation of Israel had during their exile. This passage is full of amazing promises. From the roots of Jesse, life would come again with extraordinary fruit! I can image verse twelve building hope in their hearts. “And (He) will assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Now they have judgment and exile but restoration is coming.

I think the part that challenges me the most is verse 3 and 4. “And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear; but with righteousness He will judge the poor. And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth.” Finally, someone who will see people as they truly are has power, wisdom, and fear of the Lord. This was Israel’s hope for salvation as a nation but little did they realize this also is the source of salvation for the entire earth. Someone was coming who could see clearly and restore this chaotic world and our chaotic hearts. Jesus Christ inaugurates this hope in us, that God has not abandoned us but will restore our lives and our hope. This is the voice that cried out from the manager and that the Star of David testified to. Good tidings indeed.

Posted by Danny