Characteristics of the Promised King – A Messianic Prophecy

“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 the 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.” –Isaiah 11:1-5(ESV).

An heir of David and his father Jesse shall be the future Messiah.  So wrote Isaiah about 740 B. C., centuries before the coming of Jesus.  The prophet had written in the chapter prior to this one that destruction of the arrogant nation would come like setting an axe to the trees in the forest and felling them.  But out of the “stump” of Jesse, the remains after the tree had fallen, would come a shoot that would spring up.  The shoot springing up is coming not from a cedar tree, whose stump does not bear fruit.  By implication the prophet means a mighty tree to symbolize the root out of David’s line which will be like a mighty oak.  Its strong stump will come the ideal Ruler.  Here, expressly stated, is that the Messiah will be from the house of David, going back to the father of David, Jesse.

The coming of such a stalwart shoot will bring much good.  He will be filled with understanding, wisdom, and sound judgment, to name a few of His characteristics.  When it comes to judgment, he will not be bound by what is heard or seen, but his judgments will be characterized by righteousness and equity.  In whom are all of these paragons of virtue found?  Who can possibly measure up to such high standards except the Messiah Himself?  The gifts the Holy Spirit bestows upon the divine leader will be perfection of intellectual endowment,   ruler’s practical qualities, and religious or spiritual knowledge led by the Spirit.  These characteristics will mark the Messiah who will spring from Jesse’s stump.  He shall practice the qualities and girt them about Himself as though putting on a belt.  This passage, using metaphor and simile to describe the wonderful Messiah, remains positive throughout in listing the traits that set the Messiah apart from others.  All the characteristics are strong but some are especially noteworthy.  One is that His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord” (v. 3).

Prayer:  Lord, Your coming to earth set a pattern for us of how we should be obedient.  What better emulation of Your life could we have than that we “delight in the fear of the Lord?”  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”(Proverbs 1:2).  “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever” (Psalm 19:9).  We want to assimilate these characteristics into our own life, Lord.  Help us so to do. Amen.

‘The Eloquent Heavens’

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.  Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.  There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.  Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.  In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race.  Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its heat.” –Psalm 19: 1-6 (NKJV).

‘The Eloquent Heavens’ is the title the New English Bible study helps writer gives to Psalm 19:1-6.  Perhaps you, as I, memorized these verses in the King James Version when  young.  The beauty, insight and wisdom of these verses indicate that God manifests Himself in His creation.  Indeed, as one considers the magnitude of God’s creation, how can one but wonder about the power and superiority of the One who formed the heavens and the earth?  They are, indeed, ready testimony to the omnipotent God, declaring His glory throughout the earth.  Regardless of what ‘speech or language” is spoken anywhere in the earth, ‘their voice (meaning that of the heavens, of the firmament, of night and day) is heard.’  The whole creation is such a perfect revelation of the Lord that one wonders, as expressed in the words of Paul the Apostle, in Romans 1:24 how people cannot figure out that One all-powerful made and rules over all that is, but instead:  “who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.”

This story is told about the remarkable life of Helen Keller, who was both deaf and blind but who accomplished great things with her life.  The noted minister, Dr. Phillips Brooks, had been asked to give the blind/deaf child her first instruction about God.  Her response to Dr. Brooks, when revelation came to her was “I have always known there was God, but I didn’t know what His name was!”  If one who could never see the heavens stretched above and the earth in its beauty and  majesty, how much more should we, with both sight and hearing, take into account the power and might of the Creator. As Dr. Brooks, in giving instruction to blind Helen Keller, we too who know and recognize that God is the Lord have a responsibility to help others relate to the Voice that is already calling to them through the creation.  Paul quoted the Septuagint Version of Psalm 19:4 in Romans 10:18:  “But I say, have they not heard?  Yes, indeed:  ‘Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.’”  But how often do they, as the young blind and deaf Helen Keller, need someone to tell them about Jesus?  And that’s where God asks us to be His partner in spreading His message. David looked at the sky above the Judean hills, and contemplated the heavens and looked to the earth that fed and watered animals and people and was awed.  But how much has been learned since David’s day!  Scientists have taught us that there could be as many as 1.6 million species of fungi, 10,000 species of ants, and at least 300,000 species of flowering plants, and these numbers only begin to enumerate the countless plant and animal kingdoms that operate with precision within the universe.  And then there are “the heavens,” that space exploration has discovered is larger and more complex than our finite minds can imagine.  We can but declare with awe as did David:  “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork!”

Fear to Avoid and a Fear to Have

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”-II
Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

“Fear not” was not one of the Ten Commandments given to Moses, as we know, but still God does not want His children to be overcome with fear or to be paralyzed either in thought or in action by inordinate fear. We are admonished to fear God. Several verses instruct us: “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.” (Psalm 19:9). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”(Proverbs 9:10). We are talking about two kinds of fear in these verses. In II Timotny 1:7, Paul is admonishing young Timothy (and us) not to be overcome by feelings of timidity and dread. God stands ready to replace that fear with His strong power, His love and a sound or discerning mind. This verse especially applies to Christians who are afraid to speak up for the faith and give a positive witness of the saving grace of Christ. We cannot be timid and witness boldly for Him.

There are also fears caused by imminent danger, pain or disaster. We can be rendered inept when phobias threaten (terror, dread) [Greek word phobos].

The kind of fear we should have is the fear of the Lord. That fear is to hold Him in awe and reverence. The writer of Proverbs insists that this is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. This is the good kind of fear, the fear we should practice. Paul admonished against the wrong kind of fear, the terrible spirit of ineptitude and even terror that can grip and prevent us from doing what we know to be right.

Bible scholar Claude F. Mariottini writing in the Holman Bible Dictionary (Nashville: Holman, 1991, p. 481) sees the wrong kind of fear, the debilitating, spirit-quelching fear as a result of sin and disobedience. We have numerous biblical references to fear as consequences of sin and disobedience. Adam and Eve were afraid after taking of the forbidden fruit and they hid themselves from the presence of God in the Garden of Eden. When Nathan the prophet pointed out to David his sins of both adultery and murder relative to Bathsheba and Uriah, David was
afraid, but he confessed and prayed earnestly for forgiveness.

“Fear not,” “do not fear” and “do not be afraid” are used sixty times in the Bible followed by an invitation to trust God. As expressed by Paul in II Timothy 1:7, and in various other passages
beginning with the command to “fear not,” there is an immediate invitation to replace the spirit of fear with trust in God. He makes a way by giving us “power…love…a sound mind.” I remember the joy I had in mentoring a lady who gave her heart to the Lord in her young adult years. At first on her Christian journey, because of her lack of being grounded in the faith and in the scriptures, she was often overcome by doubts and fears in her Christian walk. I urged her to put II Timothy 1:7 on a card and post it where she could read it when she was afraid. I also recommended that she do the same with Pslam 56: 3 and 11: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do to me.” God invites us to “fear not.” He is present to give us the freedom from fear we need to be bold in His Kingdom work. Latch onto His promises and thank Him that fear that makes us falter has no place in the victorious Christian’s life.

In Praise of God’s Law and a Prayer

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple…Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” –Psalm 19:7, 14 (KJV) [Please read Psalm 19:7-14]

Yesterday we looked at Psalm 19:1-6, examining the theme, “In Awe of the Glory of God.” The first part of Psalm 19 delights in the natural creation and its revelation of God. Verses 7-14 of the Psalm examine facets of the Law of God and praise its benefits. We see Hebrew poetry in its parallel structure used expertly in these verses. David, held to be the author of this psalm, uses six terms to name the Word or Law of God. Then he follows each naming with an action the law brings about in the life of the one who follows God’s Law or Word. To give additional insight into the King James Version, I will list here the six names as used in the English Standard Version for the law and the consequent action:

The law is perfect ~ reviving the soul;
The testimony of the law is sure ~ making wise the simple;
The precepts of the law are right ~ rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the law is pure ~ enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean ~ enduring forever;
The rules of the Lord are true ~ and righteous altogether.

The Psalmist’s praise for what God’s law can do in the life of the follower reveals manifold benefits: reviving, giving wisdom, bringing rejoicing, giving insight, enduring—an expression of God’s eternal righteousness.

What is more precious than gold? What is sweeter than the drippings of the honeycomb—the unexpected wild, pure honey found and used by one like David to give sustenance when he was hungry? The answer, of course, is the Word of God, God’s beloved law. The law also warns of danger, prevents one from falling and guards one from “presumptuous” or deliberately committed sins. Numbers 15:30-31 warns against such deliberately committed sins and of the terrible punishment and unforgiveness of such sinful acts: “that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him" (Num. 15:31). Following the law will prevent such dire consequences to the one who loves and follows the Word of God, and will keep that believer “innocent of transgression” (Ps. 19:13). We who are Christians can rejoice in the “fulfillment” of the law, that Jesus came to give us new life, new hope, and a different perspective on punishment and rewards. “And from His fullness we have all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17). For us, the prayer David wrote in Psalm 19:14 takes on new and dynamic meaning: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” May our words and meditations always be pleasing to the Lord. May we think upon, weigh and examine His holy Word, and apply it to every area of our lives. Amen.

In Awe of the Glory of God

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath He set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hidden from the heat thereof.” –Psalm 19:1-6 (KJV)

I chose to use the King James Version of these verses because I memorized these a number of years ago in this beautiful version. Oftentimes when I go to the paper box early in the morning, even before the sun has begun to lighten the eastern sky, I quote these verses with a delightful feeling of awe and reverence for Creator God. Psalm 19 has two distinct parts. Verses 1 through 6 describe the glory of God revealed in the excellence of the firmament and the skies. Verses 7-14 describe God’s revelation through the law. We will come back to verses 7-14 later, but for today let us take cognizance of the great truths we can learn from verses 1-6. I ask that you read also Psalm 8. It is a companion psalm to 19:1-6. Verses I have memorized from Psalm 8 are 1, and 3-6: "O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory above the heavens…When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visitest him? For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet.”

David, attributed as the author of both Psalm 19 and Psalm 8 would have been quite familiar with the broad expanse of the firmament. His days as a youth when he shepherded his father’s flocks gave him opportunities to be in nature, to observe the skies and meadows, to see the changing light from early morning to dusk and into the evening. The sun, myriad stars, the moon--all were his companions. To the Hebrew mind, the sky was conceived of as a solid canopy. As day follows night in rapid succession, this marking of time testifies to God’s glory. Do you say with gratitude each day: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will be glad and rejoice in it” (Psalm 118:24)? The heavens and the firmament above, the sun, moon and stars are a testimony to God’s might, power and glory. This testimony extends worldwide, wherever there are people to observe the created order. Paul the Apostle attests that there is “no excuse” (Romans 1:19b-20) for anyone not turning to God, because “God has shown it (the truth) to them. For His invisible attirbutes, namely His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made.” Paul of course knew that salvation was in believing: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10: 17). But then he immediately returns to the fact that there is enough revelation for anyone to come to faith. He asks a pertinent question and quotes Psalm 19:3 in Romans 10:18: “But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for ‘Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.’” The silent, unrelenting testimony of the skies, the sun, the moon and the stars points us to the greatness, majesty and power of God. David gives an analogy as the sun being the bridegroom coming forth from his chamber. God’s majesty in nature points to the Bridegroom God sent, in due time, to be the Savior of the world. George Washington Carver, the great scientist and Christian of another century wrote: “I like to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.”

Rejoice At All Times

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” –Philippians 4:4 (ESV).
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” –I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV).

Sometimes I find the Lord’s commands extremely hard to follow. Paul’s statement of the Lord’s will in Philippians 4:4 and in I Thessalonians 5:16 is one of these: “Rejoice always.”

Always, Lord, when troubles beset on every hand? When calls for help seem beyond my ability to fulfill? When my own perceived needs seem so paramount that I can hardly see the light of day, much less offering to help others who seem even needier than I? Rejoice always? There must be some mistake, Lord! Herein is the gist of my argument at times with the Lord. But yet I hear His insistent “Rejoice always.” Following closely on that commandment are some others that are equally as hard for me to live out: “pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…” And then comes this explanation with which I can’t possibly argue: “for this is the will of God for you.”

The morning fog lifts and the sunlight shines forth brightly. The whole world outside is turned into one dazzling landscape as sun’s ray sparkle upon morning frost. Just like the morning is foggy and dark until the sunlight filters through and transforms the scene, so the impossibility of “rejoicing always” receives spiritual illumination. I don’t have to do this constant rejoicing on my own! “Do not quench the Spirit,” Paul writes (I Thes. 5:19). And going further, he states, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The secret, I think, is abiding and allowing the Spirit of God to live within, helping to sanctify (make holy). “He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it” declares Paul (I Thes. 5:24).

It is possible to rejoice, even when one cries. I’ve experienced times like that over and over again in my life. It is then that we hold on to God’s faithfulness, not our own weaknesses and woes. And considering how He loves and provides for His children, how can we help to respond in any way except rejoicing always? I invite you, with me, to take on a new attitude for this New Year: Resolve to rejoice always. There is always good…and God’s undergirding reasons…for every circumstance that besets us. In this foreknowledge, we can, indeed, rejoice always! And then in retrospect, we can look and see how God worked it all out for His glory. The prophecy of Psalm 19:8 will surely come to pass: “The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”