A Shoot From the Stump #4

As Isaiah lists the qualities of an ideal "shoot from the stump", we recognise that these are high standards for any king.  

Here's Isaiah's list:

• delights in the fear of the Lord (loving, loyal, obedient), 
• is impartial (not being deceived by "hearsay" and "eye-say"),
• judging with righteousness and justice,
• and being fair to the poor and the needy (when the powerful and rich can exert such pressure),
• carries strong authority in word and deed,
• leads so that righteousness and faithfulness are seen as part of his uniform.

This is the standard for a good king.

Hezekiah had many of these qualities. And we desperately hope for these qualities in our presidents and leaders.

But when we look at Jesus we see all of them.

• Think of His loving, loyal obedience in the Garden of Gethsemane.
• Think about how he shielded the woman caught in adultery from injustice at the hands of the religious tyrants, but also confronted her sin.
• Think of how He overturned the money-changer's tables and confronted hypocrisy.
• Think about how Pilate and the Roman Centurion instinctively recognised his righteousness, and innocence.

Indeed, Jesus was the ideal "shoot from the stump".

But we also recognise that Hezekiah embodied many of these qualities, albeit imperfectly, and we pray the same for our leaders.