Isaiah 11:1-3 What You Have

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him–the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD–and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:1-3

God had promised David that he would have a son on the throne of Israel forever. At the time of Isaiah, the nation had been split and was about to be destroyed. It did not look like there would be anyone to sit on that throne.

In this passage, Isaiah gives a prophecy about one, who was from the lineage of David (Jesse was David’s father), who would sit on the throne again. This one would have God’s Spirit resting on him, giving him wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, and knowledge of God. He would delight in fearing God–following and obeying God. The one to come was Jesus.

As Jesus walked on this earth, all of these things described Him very well. The people saw that He was one who delighted in God. Jesus became the root for those who would come after Him.

One of the things that Jesus said was that He was the vine and you are the branches. Jesus is the original branch, and you are to be like Him.

This means that everything that Jesus has, you can also have. You are attached to Him and are nourished by Him. When Jesus left the earth, He sent His Holy Spirit to be upon you, just as He was on Him.

Having God’s Holy Spirit on you gives you wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, and knowledge of God, just as it gave all those things to Jesus.

Do not rest your wisdom, understanding, counsel, power and knowledge on yourself, or in that of other people. Look to God’s Holy Spirit to guide you. God is with you and wants you to be just like Jesus. Jesus was the perfect example of how to live a life for God.

How are you living your life today?

Are you living it in the ways of this world, under your own power?

Or are you living and walking in the Spirit of God?

I pray today that you will know God’s Holy Spirit in your life; that you will trust in God’s counsel; that others will see God’s Spirit in your life; and that you will delight in serving and obeying God.