Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem
Isaiah lived in a time when the Family Tree of Jesse had been reduced to a mere stump. The Glorious Reigns of David and Solomon had been reduced to a sorry spectacle of family feuds, a divided kingdom, and a series of rotten rulers. Babylon loomed on the horizon, ready to pounce upon the weakened nation, and Israel had become the laughing stock of the Ancient World, with foreign invaders sending mocking letters from camps right at the gates.
However, God had made a Promise to David. Clinging to that Promise, Isaiah tells us that although the Family Tree of Jesse had been reduced to an ugly stump, a fresh shoot would grow out of the dead wood, bringing the Spirit of Knowledge, Counsel, Wisdom, Understanding, Courage, Reverence, and The Wonder and Awe of God. Some Christians call these the "Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit". In Isaiah's Vision, the "Shoot coming up from the Stump of Jesse" is a Prophecy stating that the Family Tree of Jesse is NOT Dead, and will Flourish Again in the Person of the Messiah.
This Prophecy would have been quite clear to the Jewish people of Isaiah's time, as Family Trees were extremely important to the identity of the People. A large portion of Scripture is dedicated to Genealogies. These words assured them that all is not lost, and there is hope for the future.
Come and pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS