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Today's reading
December 7, 2024
The Stump and the Vine
Proverbs 21:1; Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 11:1-6; Isaiah 12:1-2
As Isaiah explains to King Ahaz that the nation of Israel's; their feuding brother to the north will be completely destroyed and Judah will be brought to its knees, Ahaz is speechless. The conclusion that he jumps to is that the bloodlust of Assyria is the genesis of their trials.
However, that is not true.
"The king's heart is a stream of
water in the hand of the LORD;
he turns it wherever he will.
​
Proverbs 21:1 (ESV)
God has complete control over Assyria. They are merely a mechanism of judgement. With surgical precision, Isaiah lifts up four malignancies in Israel's allegiance that will bring about their doom.
​
Israel has become arrogant- they have fallen in love with their perception on the world stage. They care far too much about comfort and image. They have become enamored with the riches and power of world empires and incorporated pagan ways into their worship.
​
Israel has believed false leaders- They have allowed evil men to assume the highest offices. Rather than holding them accountable they have adopted their ways and celebrated their decisions. The voice of truth has fallen on deaf ears or silenced as they backslide.
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Israel is marked by division- They have become tribal in their affiliations. Individualism has caused them to compete against their brothers in a zero-sum game fueled by greed and vitriol.
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Israel practices injustice- As they seek their own good, they manipulate systems that are meant to protect the weak. They grow fat as the least of these suffer. They turn a blind eye to empty outstretched hands and gaunt faces.
​
A wandering heart and wavering love are an affront to a Holy God. He has seen through the superficial religious exercises meant to keep God's influence at bay. After each accusation Isaiah shares with solemn assurance this epitaph on the diminishing hopes of Ahaz.
"For all this His anger is not turned
away,
But His hand is stretched out still."
​
Isaiah 5:25b (NKJV)
In a tragic act of discipline 12 unrepentant tribes will be cut down like a tree in the middle of a field. But out of that dead stump new life will emerge in the Messiah.
"There shall come forth a shoot
from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall
bear fruit.
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 the fear
of the LORD.
And his delight shall be in fear
of the LORD.
He shall not judge by what his eyes
see,
or decide disputes by what his ears
hear,
but with righteousness he shall
judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek
of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with
the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he
shall kill the wicked.
Righteousness shall be the belt of
his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his
loins.
The wolf shall dwell with the
lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with
the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the
fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them."
​
Isaiah 11:1-6 (ESV)
This shoot from the stump of Jesse will grow into a glorious banner beckoning all nations to gather under His span. As people from every walk of life unite in allegiance to their Savior this will be the carol they sing.
"I will give thanks to you, O LORD,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
that you might comfort me.
​
'Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the LORD GOD is my strength
and my song,
and he has become my salvation.'"
​
Isaiah 12:1-2 (ESV)
No matter how urgent our circumstances have become the condition of our hearts is what beckons God's blessing.
This is Christmas to you.