This blog post is based on Bob Hoekstra’s popular devotional Day By Day By Grace. For previous posts in this series, click here.
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 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.
(Isaiah 11:1-2)
God Promises an Anointed King
Already, we have seen our God of promises guarantees to call out a people for Himself, to deliver His people from bondage, to fight for His people, and to give them an everlasting kingdom. Now, God promises an anointed king for His people.
This anointed king was promised through David’s line
“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse.” Jesse was a son of Obed and the father of David. “Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David” (Ruth 4:22). This king is here given a Messianic title, “Branch.” “A Branch shall grow out of his roots.” Other prophets had made similar prophetic promises concerning this royal Branch. “Behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth’…I am bringing forth My Servant the Branch… Behold, the Man whose name is the Branch!” (Jeremiah 23:5 and Zechariah 3:8; 6:12).
This king (“the Branch”) would serve by the empowering of the Holy Spirit
“The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him.” The Spirit of God would not merely come upon Him at times (as with King Saul). “Then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them” (1 Samuel 10:10). The Spirit would continually be upon Him for ministry. “The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him.” Of course, this king, the Branch, would be Jesus Christ. Jesus applied a similar Messianic passage to Himself. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me” (Luke 4:18). Yes, Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the anointed King. In fact, Christ is the Greek term for “anointed One,” whereas Messiah is the Hebrew term for the same.
The Messiah’s ministry would be characterized by godly wisdom, heavenly understanding, perfect counsel, divine might, complete knowledge, and holy reverence for the Father. All of this was produced by the work of the Holy Spirit 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.”
God Promises a Unique King
A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth. (Isaiah 42:3-4)
Again, the promises of God cascade forth, one upon another. “He will not break…He will not quench…He will bring forth …He will not fail.” This set of four promises confirms a unique King for the people of God. His uniqueness is seen in how He would deal with bruised reeds and smoking flaxes, as well as in the justice He would eventually establish upon the earth.
Many times, people are like bruised reeds
God has created humanity to be innately vulnerable, like reeds that grow by the river. “As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more” (Psalm 103:15-16). At best, reeds are not strong. When they are bruised, they hang over limp and helpless. It is easy for an insensitive person to break a human “bruised reed” in half, virtually destroying that life. Jesus, the unique King, does not do that. “A bruised reed He will not break.” The Lord Jesus can take bruised reeds and turn them into mighty spiritual trees. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted… to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:1, 3).
At other times, people are like smoking flax (a dimly burning wick)
Their spiritual fire of hope or zeal is flickering, ready to burn out. A rough or blustering person can easily extinguish the meager spark that remains. Once again, Jesus is unique. He can gently fan that flickering wick, even fueling it back into a spiritual blaze. The disillusioned disciples on the road to Emmaus experienced that. “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).
The unique King
Ultimately, His uniqueness shall be demonstrated when He sets up His kingdom on earth. Then, after man has brought forth injustice after injustice, true justice will be established throughout this world. “He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth.”
Jesus, my anointed King, You walked in spiritual fullness while upon this earth. What You displayed is what I long to live day by day. By Your promises, through the work of Your Spirit, please supply these realities in my walk. I honor You as my unique King. No one but You could have dealt with my heart when I was the bruised reed and the dimly burning wick. No one but You can properly reverse the injustices that I have both perpetrated and endured. I bow to You, asking that You make me more like You, in Your name, Amen.
Previous posts:
Tess says
July 16, 2013 at 12:30 pmAMEN!
Mark Hayes says
July 16, 2013 at 4:40 pmUltimately, His uniqueness shall be demonstrated when He sets up His kingdom on earth.
As Job God’s servant declared.
Job 19:25 “For I know [that] my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;”
How my heart yearns within me for this day!
Job 19:26 “And after my skin is destroyed, this [I know], That in my flesh I shall see God,”
The promises of the Lord are now, His promises are Yes and Amen, they are my spiritual inheritance now, BUT O how my heart yearns within me for this day!
Job 19:27 “Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another.”
God the Lord Almighty is Spirit and no human can see His face and live yet in my new body I will behold the Lord Jesus’ face, my God.
Revelation 22:3-4 “They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads” This is a promise yet to be fulfilled.
O How my heart yearns within me to look upon the dearest face of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear Lord and Father I await the day when you will raise me up, not that I have attained it, but by Your blood my hope is for You to account me as worthy.
In Christ.
Mark H NZ
Tess says
July 16, 2013 at 9:43 pmAmen Mark! What a glorious day that will be! Wonderful prayer brother!
Psalm 12:5; Psalm 25:12-14; Psalm 33; Psalm 37
Bob Demyanovich says
July 17, 2013 at 3:11 amIsrael has not embraced the “Elect One [in whom] My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.” of Isaiah 42:1-4 but the election have. This blindness affects those who have not chosen yet will be removed when the fullness is realized.
Jhn 12:37-50, Rom 11:7, 2Cr 3:14, 2Cr 4:4, 1Jo 2:11
The gentle Lamb, Act 8:32, conquered hell and death and rightfully reigns over the entirety of creation that He purchased with His blood.
Rev 1:18 I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
His burden is light, it is salvation and eternal life and His elect will be like Him.
Rom 8:33. Phl 3:21
His gifts are sure, they are set in heaven and earth.
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Jhn 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Luk 10:3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
There will be no doubt who are the elect. There is clearly a difference between lambs and wolves. There will be violence while He calls whosoever will and the election are proven
Mat 10:32-42, Luk 12:43-59
Jerry S. says
July 17, 2013 at 5:35 am“violence”?
J.
Bob Demyanovich says
July 18, 2013 at 2:16 amMat 11:11-15
Jerry S. says
July 18, 2013 at 5:55 amOh that violence… for sure.
Rom 1:16 HNV
Rom 2:9-10 HNV
“who works evil”, along with Grace, works are measured by the LAW.
J.
breaux says
July 18, 2013 at 8:12 amThank you Jesus for being the “Branch” and the “Vine” Jhn 15:5, Thank you that we may “abide”in and “remain in you.
Gracious Father, thank you that, just as the Spirit “rested” on Christ, we can be full of your promised indwelling Holy Spirit,the Spirit of Truth. Jhn 14:17, Jhn 15:26 For in you we live, and move, and have our being;
Isaiah 42:3-4
“Again, the promises of God cascade forth, one upon another. “He will not break…He will not quench…He will bring forth …He will not fail.” This set of four promises confirms a unique King for the people of God. His uniqueness is seen in how He would deal with bruised reeds and smoking flaxes, as well a in the justice He would eventually establish upon the earth.”
Blessed redeemer, holy God, it is here that I confess my brokenness from the world, from my poor choices, for my sin.I confess that I am undone and have fallen short of your glory. , Isa 53:6, Rom 3:23
Again I fall before your throne of Grace, crying desperately in need of forgiveness, cleansing, washing, renewal. 1 John 1:9.
For I often feel like a bruised reed and a smoking flax. I often feel like my life is broken and in disarray. Like my spiritual wick is almost extinguished. Father, take my brokenness and use it for your glory, take my dimness and cause it to brighten a room…a life…many lives for your Name. gently fan each of us to be a flaming fire for your kingdom.
By Your promises, through the work of Your Spirit, please supply these realities in our walk. We honor You as my unique King. No one but You could have dealt with my heart when I was the bruised reed and the dimly burning wick. No one but You can properly reverse the injustices that I have both perpetrated and endured. I bow to You, asking that You make me more like You, in Your name, Amen.
Co-laboring, In Him Alone,
Breaux
Tess says
July 18, 2013 at 6:23 pmBreaux,
Thank you so much for this prayer. Holy spirit filled and such an encouragement. I pray it with you. Amen!