Judgment and the King Isaiah 11:1-9

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.

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. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.

They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:1-9 (ESV)

God’s Judgment on Israel

God’s Judgment on Israel The Kingdom of Israel had been split in two.

God’s Judgment on Israel The Kingdom of Israel had been split in two. Israel (or Ephraim) was the northern kingdom. Judah was the southern kingdom.

God’s Judgment on Israel The Kingdom of Israel had been split in two. Israel (or Ephraim) was the northern kingdom. Judah was the southern kingdom. From a spiritual perspective, the kings of both kingdoms were a disappointment.

God’s Judgment on Israel The Kingdom of Israel had been split in two. Israel (or Ephraim) was the northern kingdom. Judah was the southern kingdom. From a spiritual perspective, the kings of both kingdoms were a disappointment. From a political perspective the kings had been successful.

God’s Judgment on Israel Israel reaches its zenith under Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:23-29)

God’s Judgment on Israel Israel reaches its zenith under Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:23-29) Yet, the Bible spends little time extolling his political accomplishments. Instead, he is denounced for the sin into which he lead Israel.

God’s Judgment on Israel Israel reaches its zenith under Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:23-29) Yet, the Bible spends little time extolling his political accomplishments. Instead, he is denounced for the sin into which he lead Israel. Prophets begin to warn that because of the sin of Israel, God was preparing a punishment.

Assyria

Most people know very little about Assyria.

Most people know very little about Assyria. Assyria was the main rival of the Jewish people for control of the ancient Middle East.

Most people know very little about Assyria. Assyria was the main rival of the Jewish people for control of the ancient Middle East. The capital of Assyria was Nineveh.

Most people know very little about Assyria. Assyria was the main rival of the Jewish people for control of the ancient Middle East. The capital of Assyria was Nineveh. God had sent his prophets to Nineveh. Jonah provides a strong contrast between the people of Israel and Assyria.

In a period of 30 years after the death Assyria In a period of 30 years after the death of Jeroboam II, Israel goes from being a major Middle Eastern power to being on the verge of defeat by Assyria.

In a period of 30 years after the death Assyria In a period of 30 years after the death of Jeroboam II, Israel goes from being a major Middle Eastern power to being on the verge of defeat by Assyria. Most Israelites were patriots and wanted to see their country prosper.

In a period of 30 years after the death Assyria In a period of 30 years after the death of Jeroboam II, Israel goes from being a major Middle Eastern power to being on the verge of defeat by Assyria. Most Israelites were patriots and wanted to see their country prosper. They pointed to the brutality of the Assyrians and asserted that God would rescue them from the Assyrians.

Yet God had a plan for Assyria.

Yet God had a plan for Assyria. God intended to use Assyria to punish Israel.

Yet God had a plan for Assyria. God intended to use Assyria to punish Israel. God fully understood just how brutal the Assyrians were.

Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; But it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few… Isaiah 10:5-7 (ESV)

Yet God had a plan for Assyria. God intended to use Assyria to punish Israel. God fully understood just how brutal the Assyrians were. However, God would eventually punish the Assyrians for their evil.

When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes. Isaiah 10:12 (ESV)

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,

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,

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.

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. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.

They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:1-9 (ESV)

How does Isaiah’s prophesy relate to Advent?

How does Isaiah’s prophesy relate to Advent? relate to the current world?

God can and sometimes does use evil agents to judge his people.

God can and sometimes does use evil agents to judge his people. God has permitted those evil agents to devastate God’s own people.

God can and sometimes does use evil agents to judge his people. God has permitted those evil agents to devastate God’s own people. Yet, God promises that he will renew that which has been cut off.

God can and sometimes does use evil agents to judge his people. God has permitted those evil agents to devastate God’s own people. Yet, God promises that he will renew that which has been cut off. That renewal will extend to all the earth.