The Ember Friday in Advent
Posted on December 19, 2025 by under
Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-5 (NKJV)
11:1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 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 of the fear of the Lord.
3 His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist.
Devotion
Unlike the mighty Assyrian army, the house (or stump) of Jesse is small and insignificant. However, God likes to make ‘something out of nothing.’ In His kingdom, strength is found in weakness. It is also important to remember that God repeatedly reminds us that it is He who creates life. God creates life where there is none. He creates Adam from the dead dust of the ground. He creates believers from those who are spiritually dead, and he brings the Messiah out of the dead house or stump of David.
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost bring life where there is no life. And unlike the rulers of this world, this “Branch” from “the stem of Jesse” shall be a perfect ruler. He shall administer Law and Gospel perfectly. In this world, the weak are allowed to suffer even more if their lives do not serve the interests of worldly rulers. We see so many examples of rulers using their subjects to benefit themselves. Such worldly rulers pervert justice and ignore mercy. But in the Messiah’s kingdom, the Law is meted out to the wicked, and the poor and weak are healed and protected.
When we are discouraged by the injustice in this world, we must remember that the Babe that comes to us at Christmas is also the perfect Ruler of heaven and earth. He will right all wrongs. He will judge rightly and will bring perfect healing and life to those who put their trust in Him.
Collect: Stir up Thy might, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and come, that they who trust in Thy loving kindness may be the more speedily freed from all adversity; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday in Advent
Lord, we beseech Thee, give ear to our prayers, and lighten the darkness of our hearts, by Thy gracious visitation; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
