December 16, 2018: Day 15 – Isaiah 11

I think I already posted Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen in the past, so I’m going to spare you a repeat posting.  But here the prophet changes the tune from one of fear and dread, which the other chapters reflected, to one where he gives us a much rosier scene of what is to come.  This remnant that was discussed in previous chapters is becoming more defined now.  Do you remember when Jesus spoke in his home synagogue in Nazareth in Luke 4 and he begins by saying: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me?  Starting at vs.18 it should sound very similar.  But we see these verses all throughout Isaiah including in 61:1 which is actually the one that Jesus quotes.  We also see them in 58:6 and some more in 61:2.  We cannot overstate how important it was to Jesus, and to Scripture, and so to God as a whole, to take care of the poor.  That has to be our driving motive as a church.

Then in vs. 6 we find this idyllic bucolic scene where all of creation is able to co-exist peacefully.  For many this is a depiction of the garden of Eden where all creatures of our God and King are able to live in harmony.  After this beautiful depiction we then move to the nation of Israel itself which seems to regain its former glory.  It regains it to the point that it is now striking other nations and conquering them.  So much for the peaceful scene.  I guess we left that behind.