Isaiah paints a vivid picture of the future of Israel in Chapter 11, one in which a righteous ruler from Jesse’s linage, blessed with the Spirit of the Lord, governs a peaceful kingdom. His spiritual gifts include wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah says he will judge not by what he sees or hears, but with righteousness and faithfulness, giving equity to the meek and poor of the earth. After striking the earth with the rod of his mouth and dealing with the wicked, then none will hurt or destroy on all his holy mountain. Would that our country’s leaders today could envision such peaceful justice, but they have lost a critical piece of the puzzle, that last spiritual gift listed, the fear of the Lord.
Only when we approach the Creator and His Son with fear and trembling, understanding our own sinful nature and frailty being made of dust and the breath of life, can we claim the gifts of redemption and reconciliation, of grace and mercy, of righteous and faithfulness, and so boldly claim citizenship in the peaceful kingdom living on his holy mountain.
What a day that will be! I look forward to meeting you there.