A Shoot From the Stump of JesseSample

A New King

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.” (Isaiah 11:1)

The prophet Isaiah has already spoken of the stump of Israel that is left as a sign of hope for future restoration. Now he describes “the stump of Jesse." Since Jesse was the father of King David, this verse speaks of David’s royal line that seems to be cut off. His descendants don’t reign anymore; they are subjected to the Babylonian kings.

However, both Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesy about a shoot or branch from the stump of Jesse who shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land (Jeremiah 23:5). Isaiah explains that this king will be filled with God’s Spirit — very different from most of David’s descendants thus far! He also describes the glorious reign of this king, which includes other nations and the natural world. His reign will result in justice and peace between people, between humans and animals, and between humans and God. These descriptions imply that this king is not just a “son of David," but that he would be greater. This king is depicted as almost like a super-human. Further on in the Bible, we learn that He is actually God and man in one person. His name is Jesus Christ.

Did you know that Jesus was a descendant of David?