Broadcast
The Righteous Branch - Part 3
Isaiah 11:3-4
01/03/2024
3 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,
4 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. (ESV)
Isaiah continued his description of the Messiah, the One God
sent to redeem His people from sin and death.
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.
There are two things which stand out. First, Jesus delights
in respect, awe, reverence, and trust in His heavenly Father.
The fear of the Lord is not terror, but an acknowledgment that He
is our creator and the One who sustains us.
Second, as a judge, Jesus does not look at the external
evidence only. There is frequently an appearance of justice that
does not take into account the heart and soul of those involved.
This means, we will be surprised at some of the people we see in
heaven, and surprised at some of the people excluded. We see
actions, evidence of faith; our Lord sees the faith itself.
The Messiah seeks to help the poor, those with physical
needs, as well as those who are weak in spirit. His delight is
in saving all people from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
May our Lord grant us the strength of faith to trust in Him
for our redemption. Amen.