I am finding it hard to keep up with my blog right now. I have limited wifi access and am visiting two special grandchildren that take my time wrestling, reading, swimming, etc. However this morning I want to share several blogs, if I can.
Isaiah 11 is a wonderful chapter about the coming Messiah, the one who is described as "A shoot from the stump of Jesse (King David's father) and a "Branch that will bear fruit." It tells us that He, Jesus the coming Messiah, will have the Spirit resting upon Him, providing wisdom, power, etc.
Then we read this about the way the Messiah will judge.
No wonder we followers of Jesus are warned about judging people with a condemning, punishing attitude. (Matthew 7:1 - 5) First, we don't hear or see accurately. We often hear only what we want to hear or we hear well but then misinterpret what was said. We always look at others through our own personal set of perspectives, history, prejudices, etc. Each of us has these personal "coloured glasses" that keep us from looking at anyone impartially or objectively.
We stand in such absolute contrast to the Jesus the Messiah. He sees and hears much better than we do. More than that He senses and knows far beyond what physical eyes and ears can learn. Jesus knows the past and Jesus knows motives. Therefore, unlike all humans with our limitations and our sin, He judges with righteousness, justice and faithfulness! His judgments are absolutely reliable.
More than that, our God is especially attuned to those described as needy and poor. If God has any prejudice it is toward those who are most often mistreated in our world; those who cannot pay for the best lawyers to protect them; those who don't know powerful people who can speak the right word or "pull the right strings".
We see it in the life of Jesus. He was especially concerned for the poor and downtrodden - and He still is. Isaiah, inspired by God, prophesied this 700 years before Jesus the Messiah came to earth.
Isaiah 11 is a wonderful chapter about the coming Messiah, the one who is described as "A shoot from the stump of Jesse (King David's father) and a "Branch that will bear fruit." It tells us that He, Jesus the coming Messiah, will have the Spirit resting upon Him, providing wisdom, power, etc.
Then we read this about the way the Messiah will judge.
"He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist." Isaiah 11:3 - 5
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist." Isaiah 11:3 - 5
We stand in such absolute contrast to the Jesus the Messiah. He sees and hears much better than we do. More than that He senses and knows far beyond what physical eyes and ears can learn. Jesus knows the past and Jesus knows motives. Therefore, unlike all humans with our limitations and our sin, He judges with righteousness, justice and faithfulness! His judgments are absolutely reliable.
More than that, our God is especially attuned to those described as needy and poor. If God has any prejudice it is toward those who are most often mistreated in our world; those who cannot pay for the best lawyers to protect them; those who don't know powerful people who can speak the right word or "pull the right strings".
We see it in the life of Jesus. He was especially concerned for the poor and downtrodden - and He still is. Isaiah, inspired by God, prophesied this 700 years before Jesus the Messiah came to earth.
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