The campus is covered with a heavy layer of snow, the hundreds and hundreds of trees are bare, scenes that are desolate and beautiful at the same time. Walking through the campus, you sometimes come upon the stump of a tree cut down. When spring comes, a stump that still has live roots will send forth a branch.
A stump was all that was left of the house of Jesse, father of David and the kings of Israel. God had intended Israel to be a blessing to “all the families of the earth” (Genesis 12:1), but through the centuries Israel turned inward, forsaking God’s mission to the Gentiles. Into the vacuum come worldly powers, Egypt, Assyria and Babylon, who take down the mighty tree. Who bothers with a stump, the lowly Church? The God who creates out of nothing! “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1). The new growth comes because God remains persistent in His mission for a glorious future for all peoples. “In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.” This is the promise of Jesus. “In that day (the day of Jesus, which is both now and not yet), the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people…. He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel” (Isaiah 11:11-12; cf. Romans 15:12).
“O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before You kings will shut their mouths, to You the nations will make their prayer: Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.”
“God can soon turn gloomy days into glorious ones.” So wrote Matthew Henry, a 17th century minister in England, in his commentary on Isaiah chapter 11. If your spirit needs a glorious scene amidst winter’s desolation, enjoy a leisurely read of Isaiah 11.
“O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree, / Free them from Satan’s tyranny
That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save, / And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel / Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Comments