Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Isaiah 9-12
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:
Someone once said, “As Beethoven is to music and Shakespeare is to literature, Isaiah is that to prophecy.” His ministry lasted about forty years, approximately 740 to 700 BC (King Uzziah died in 740 BC). The reader of this book would do well to remember that it was written to God’s people, not the world as a whole. His influences were Amos, Hosea, and Micah. Also, in reading this book and the balance of the Bible remember this:
The story of the Bible is the story of one nation, Israel, which narrows into one tribe, Judah, which narrows into one family, the family of David which in the end produces one man - Jesus Christ in the flesh. Hence today’s verse. Jesus is the rod of the stem of Jesse, He is the Branch that grows out of David’s roots. In Isaiah 53:2 it is recorded, For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. At the time of Christ’s birth, the family of David was an afterthought, a mere footnote in history, it was a dry ground. But from that ground grew the Branch; the One who said of Himself in Revelation 22:16, I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
This being true then, the book of Isaiah is a book about Christ as much as it is a book about anything. Consider this: 754 verses out of 1292 in the book of Isaiah forecasts future events, that is 59% of the book. Just think of some of the great Messianic prophecies Isaiah gives:
1. His Incarnation 7:14, 9:6
2. His Governance 9:6-7
3. His Obedience 50:5
4. His Message 61:1-2
5. His Rejection 53:3
6. His Gentile Mission 42:6, 49:6
7. His Sufferings 52:13 - 53:12
There are three main sections of the book of Isaiah:
Section one Early Prophecies Chapter 1-35 Condemnation
Section two Historical Interlude Chapter 36-39 Confiscation
Section three Late Prophecies Chapter 40-66 Consolation
While reading chapter 12, know this: the day this song is referring to is the life and times of the Messiah. This day is mentioned in chapter 11 verse 10, And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. This is our hope and stay, the Lord Jesus Christ and His ministry to His people: Jew and Gentile alike. Truly, all who have experienced the rest that the Lord provides can and will say that His rest is glorious.
Dr. William T. Howe
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