Failed Kings and Future Hope: Advent Lesson from Isaiah 11

Historical Context for Isaiah

The year is around 732 B.C, and the unity that would have once described the 12 tribes of Israel is a long distant memory. In response to the impending doom that was the Assyrian war machine, the Northern Kingdom of Israel had formed an alliance with Syria and menacingly came to stand upon the doorstep of King Ahaz of Judah. Ahaz is met with a hopeless situation; Israel and Syria have threatened to kill him if he chooses not to join their anti-Assyrian alliance. But even if he joins with them, the chances of resisting the overwhelming might of Assyria are bleak at best. Ahaz is a practical king, and so in the face of 3 hostile nations and overwhelming military strength, prophets and prayers hold little sway over his heart. And so Ahaz chooses what is wise in the eyes of the world, but unthinkable in the eyes of God--he seeks salvation through bowing the knee to Assyria’s King.

The prophet Isaiah’s response to Ahaz’s faithlessness comes in chs. 8-12, often known as “the book of Immanuel” (perhaps a familiar title during this season of Advent!). What makes this section of Isaiah profound is that Ahaz’s example as the worst possible king is followed by 5 chapters of God promising the best possible king and kingdom--it is here we find our particular passage. When the nation of Israel (and all its promises) are felled like a great tree due to its own sins and the sins of its king, God promises resurrection for the broken and burnt stump through a shoot of new growth. An impossible reality, but one God intended to ultimately bring about through the life and ministry of Jesus. 

The Meaning of Isaiah 11:1-5

The images presented in Isaiah 11 may initially seem foreign and out of place when thinking about Advent--shoot, stump of Jesse, branch, etc.--but looking back at Israel’s story we can see a number of pivotal moments that set us up to understand the full weight of Isaiah’s words. It started in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve were exiled from Eden with the promise of an “offspring” [literally seed] who would come and crush the head of the deceitful serpent; Gen. 15 where God made a promise to establish Abram’s “offspring” [seed]; and 2 Samuel 7, where God made a covenant with David, promising to establish an everlasting kingdom for David’s “offspring” [seed].

Advent: The Coming Immanuel

Having the benefit of the New Testament, we can see more clearly the hope that Isaiah’s message offered: It is no accident that one of the favorite titles of Jesus that the Gospel writers would use was “Son [offspring] of David” (Matt. 1:1). And when Paul spoke of Jesus as the “offspring [seed] of Abraham” (Gal. 3:16), we can think back upon this promise in Isaiah. Up to this point in the book of Isaiah, Israel had only experienced kings who traded justice and faithfulness for idolatry and oppression. But God had a plan to provide a different kind of king, and this promise went all the way back to the seed that was first promised. This offspring of David, this King, would wear “righteousness” and “faithfulness” as a belt and bring justice to the poor and suffering. He would walk in the way of God's Spirit and offer true salvation. This king would be Jesus.

Are you looking to better understand the Bible? Sign up for our Biblical Narrative Series today.

Emmuas Ministries: Covid-19 Update

Hello everyone. It is our sincere hope that wherever you are in this season that the Coronavirus has brought us into, that you are healthy and well. Please take a moment to see this update on what’s going on at Emmaus Ministries from our Executive Director, Caleb Ives. 

We wrapped up the New Testament session of the Biblical Narrative Series!

75 people attended a 7-week course covering the history and heart of every single book of the New Testament, and how those books fit in the larger narrative of Scripture.

Our School of Biblical Studies has adapted to a completely online format. 

While it is a different context than we had anticipated and planned for this year, we have been able to continue with our lectures, discipleship, and community engagement.

We will be hosting our first-ever totally online Biblical Literacy Seminar! 

Over the course of 4 weeks, we will be engaged in an inductive study of the book of Philemon with one of our local church communities. 

A new outreach component has emerged from Emmaus during this time of quarantine.

Over the last 4 weeks, we have gone “live” on Facebook with a daily devotion in the Psalms. This unexpected outreach has touched people in both our local communities and family circles and globally! We have reports from ministries overseas that are tuning in for this time of intentional meditation and encouragement.

Whether you are a partner with one of our staff members, an investor in the ministry, one of our alumni, or a participant of one of our programs in the past, we want to thank you for the part that you play in the mission to which God has called us. God bless you.

Biblical Narrative Series: Journey Through the Old Testament

Do you have questions about the Old Testament? Have you made the resolution to read through the Bible in one year only to stop in the middle of Leviticus? Who is Nahum? What’s a Psalm?  On September 23rd, Emmaus Ministries will be launching our Biblical Narrative Series and it’s all about the Old Testament! 

On Monday nights, for 7 weeks, from 6:30 to 8:30, we will be covering the entire Old Testament, book by book. Attendees will receive their own workbook that includes structural outlines of each book, full color maps and timelines. The sessions will be a lecture style format in which instructors will give the historical background and context that will help Bible readers feel equipped to more effectively engage in reading and studying the Bible. 

This is a completely new format for our Narrative Series and we are excited to share what we believe is the “new and improved” program. In the past, the Narrative Series has met once a month for during the course of a typical “school year” (from August to May) in an individual seminar style format, covering the entire Bible in thematic sections. This year, we are starting a more course style format, meeting during consecutive weeks with a series on the Old Testament in the fall and the New Testament in the spring. We hope that this format maintains momentum and makes the Biblical Narrative Series accessible for small groups, church groups, ministry staff and friends to do together. 

The heart of the Biblical Narrative Series is that attendees leave better equipped to engage their Bibles. It is our hope to take these unfamiliar books that were written in a different time to a culture that is completely foreign to our current day and make them come alive. It is difficult to feel like Obadiah is relevant to our lives today when you don’t know why it was written in the first place, or to whom it was originally written at all! However, with historical context and good application of the mindset of the original readers, these books become the living and active words of God. 

If you’re interested in signing up for the Biblical Narrative Series, here’s what you need to know:

When: Monday Nights September 23rd through November 4th from 6:30-8:30

Where: Canterbury Conference and Retreat Center 

1601 Alafaya Trail Oviedo, Florida

How: To pre register visit: www.emmausbibleministries.org/narrative

Cost: $50 to pre register or $75 at the door on September 23rd