By. Dr. Robert C Crowder
Reading:
Isaiah 11:1-5 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Romans 15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
Reflection:
When all seems cut down and lifeless, God brings life out of the stump. Isaiah’s prophecy came at a dark hour for Judah. The dynasty of David appeared to end in judgment and exile. The royal tree would be hewn down to a stump, nothing left but a memory of former glory. Yet Isaiah saw beyond the judgment to a promise: “There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” Isaiah saw a stump; the dynasty of David cut down, reduced to a root. But from that seemingly dead root, God promised a Branch would grow. Seven centuries later, Paul quoted Isaiah’s prophecy and declared its fulfillment: “There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.” The Branch Isaiah foretold is Jesus Christ, the Root of Jesse, who rose from obscurity to reign over all nations. What appeared dead; the Davidic line, was merely waiting for God’s appointed time to bring forth the promised King.
This is the Davidic Covenant at work. God had promised David an everlasting throne[1], and though human failure brought discipline, divine faithfulness would prevail. From Jesse’s root; not from the height of Solomon’s splendor, but from the humble beginning, would spring the Righteous Branch. Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem centuries later, fulfilled this prophecy. He came not in royal pomp but in lowly obscurity, growing up “as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground.”[2]
The Branch would be marked by the sevenfold Spirit of the Lord: wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and the fear of the LORD. This is perfect humanity energized by the Holy Spirit without measure. Christ would judge not by outward appearance but with perfect righteousness, defending the meek and striking the earth with the rod of His mouth. His reign will bring the peace of the millennial kingdom, when the wolf dwells with the lamb and the earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord.
Hope isn’t found in strong, towering trees that appear so imposing in the present. Hope is found in the faithful root of God’s promise, alive even when all appears dead. Even in your dry season, when faith feels withered and circumstances look barren, the Spirit of the Lord can bring new growth. The same covenant-keeping God who raised a Branch from Jesse’s stump is still at work.
Prayer:
- Thank God for specific ways He has brought new life out of dead or difficult seasons in your past.
- Ask Him to grow His life in you even when circumstances feel barren, trusting His unseen work and resting in His promises.
Consider:
Memorize Isaiah 11:1 this week.
Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Each time you recite it, thank God for one specific way He has brought new life out of a dead or difficult season in your past, and trust Him to do it again.
[1] 2 Samuel 7:12-16
[2] Isaiah 53:2
Robert C. Crowder Ministries 
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