BibleProject | One Story That Leads to Jesusનમૂનો

Would the real king from the line of David please stand up?

Yahweh promised David that one of his descendants would spread blessing to all nations. So far, David’s heirs have only succeeded in running everything into the ground. After Isaiah’s testy exchange with Ahaz in yesterday’s reading, not to mention the royal train wreck of Samuel and Kings, you might be skeptical of David’s line.

Isaiah’s mission as a prophet aims to settle such suspicions. As you’ll learn in the video, the prophets act like covenant prosecutors. They call out Israel and its leaders for violating the terms of their partnership with Yahweh. Isaiah warns that Israel’s exploitation of the vulnerable, which is also a rejection of Yahweh, will have severe consequences. This is all happening while Assyria’s army is swarming into a dark, ominous storm on the northern border.

Isaiah also sees beyond Israel’s bleak days of judgment to the arrival of the promised, true Davidic king. Isaiah describes his coming reign with words that sound like a return to Eden. Light will again break through the chaotic darkness, as it did when God first created. The land will overflow with joy and abundance again. Justice, right relationships, and peace will rule the day, not just among people but between the animals too.

When the Prince of Peace comes, he’ll turn Israel’s tragic story of failure and exile into a story of hope and restoration for all creation.

Reflection Questions

• Meditate on the images and phrases in Isaiah 11:15-12:2. Do these remind you of a significant event from Israel’s history? What do you think Isaiah is saying about Israel’s future restoration with these hyperlinks?
• The biblical prophets had three main roles: 1) confront Israel for violating their covenant with Yahweh, 2) call Israel to repentance, and 3) announce the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. How have you seen Isaiah and the other prophets you’ve encountered in Samuel and Kings fulfill these three roles?