The Root of Jesse, Day 8

“The Root of Jesse, Day 8”
Isaiah 11:8
©️2020 by Gloria M. Chang

The baby shall play by the viper’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.

Isaiah 11:8

No Fear on Mount Zion

In the New Jerusalem, fear will have no corner to lurk where there is no night and no darkness (Revelation 21:25).… Read the rest

The Root of Jesse, Day 7

“The Root of Jesse, Day 7”
Isaiah 11:7
©️2020 by Gloria M. Chang

The cow and the bear shall graze,
together their young shall lie down;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.

Isaiah 11:7

Universal Harmony

For Isaiah’s audience, the image of a cow and a bear feeding together signified a new harmony transcending purity laws.… Read the rest

The Root of Jesse, Day 6

“The Root of Jesse, Day 6”
Isaiah 11:6b
©️2020 by Gloria M. Chang

The calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.

Isaiah 11:6b

Restoration of the Divine Order

On the mountain of the Lord, adam (humankind) will reclaim their role as caretakers of the Garden of Eden.… Read the rest

The Root of Jesse, Day 5

“The Root of Jesse, Day 5”
Isaiah 11:6a
©️2020 by Gloria M. Chang

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat.

Isaiah 11:6a

Kingdom of Shalom

Isaiah’s vision of universal peace and harmony among the beasts points to a kingdom not of this world.… Read the rest

The Root of Jesse, Day 4

“The Root of Jesse, Day 4”
Isaiah 11:5
©️2020 by Gloria M. Chang

Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide, 

But he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide fairly for the land’s afflicted.

He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.

Read the rest

The Root of Jesse, Day 3

“The Root of Jesse, Day 3”
Isaiah 11:2b-3a
©️2020 by Gloria M. Chang

A spirit of counsel and of strength,
a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord,

and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.

Isaiah 11:2b-3a

Counsel

The Hebrew word etsah (counsel, advice, guidance) is cognate with etsah (trees), from the parent root ets (tree, trees, wood).… Read the rest

The Root of Jesse, Day 1

“The Root of Jesse, Day 1”
Isaiah 11:1
©️2020 by Gloria M. Chang

But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.

Isaiah 11:1

Decay of the Davidic Dynasty

Over three hundred years after the reign of King David, his dynasty had decayed to a stump.… Read the rest