14th-century "Jesse window" at St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury
Isaiah 11
"There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall produce fruit. And the Spirit of Yahweh shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of Yahweh. And his delight shall be in the fear of Yahweh." - Isaiah 11:1-3
Isaiah, around 700 bc, writes of a future time when a special person will come. This person is a shoot from the stump of Jesse, who is the father of David. The stump signifies that the Davidic monarchy will be cut down but not totally destroyed. Amazingly, a branch will spring from the stump, grow to maturity, and produce fruit. Yahweh's Spirit will rest on this branch-person and fill him with wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and reverence. This person will delight in the fear of Yahweh. This person is none other than Yeshua, the Messiah, the Son of David, who was born 700 years later.
Father, thank you for Isaiah's amazing predictions of the Messiah to come, and that his predictions were fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. Truly Jesus has produced fruit and continues to produce fruit today. Actually, we, the believers, are his fruit. We understand that your Spirit rests on Jesus and that he is filled with wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of you as his Father. May we turn to Jesus for guidance in our lives, and may we delight in fearing you as he does. Thank you that Jesus is alive and sitting at your right hand. We believe in faith that one day he will return, "strike the earth with the rod of his mouth" (Isaiah 10:4), and rule over the earth in justice, righteousness, and faithfulness. Help us to be firm in our faith and fully committed to him and his rule. Empower us to share the gospel message so that many more may take refuge in him (Psalm 2:12) and enter his coming kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
- Jeff Coleman