Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Wednesday after Populus Sion, The Second Sunday in Advent

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10 (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.
6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
10 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.”
Devotion
This week’s texts have so far been centered on King David’s promised descendant who would rule forever. This is expressed in the prophecy of Isaiah. A Ruler will come from Jesse. This King will delight in the fear of the Lord, and judge with righteousness and equity for the poor and meek. He will slay the wicked and lead His people into a peace that has never been known, where the wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard with the goat, and the young lion with the calf.
These things will be because the Ruler will fill all the earth with the knowledge of the Lord. The Word of God will be preached in its truth and purity to all nations, and they will believe on Him and cling to His promise to guard and protect them from evil, and trust that He will provide for all that they need.
The Lord Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, of the lineage of King David, to fulfill this prophecy of Isaiah. The Lord established His Kingdom by suffering your punishment on the cross. On account of this sacrifice the heavenly Father made Him ruler over all things in Heaven and on Earth. From this Rod all the nations of the world have blossomed with the holy Church. He reigns over this Church, of which we are a part, for all eternity. From Him we receive all that He has promised.
We pray: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Thine Only-Begotten Son, so that by His coming we may be enabled to serve Thee with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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