Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13 on biblegateway.com
Devotion
The ministry of John the Baptist “in the wilderness” is important. It identifies John with Elijah, who was expected to return before the day of the Lord. Did being in the wilderness also allow John to receive the vision that fueled his preaching? Stripped of the trappings of life, John could see that his only hope – and the hope of his people – was in the “one who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matt. 21:9). Similarly, in Isaiah’s vision the land of Judah had been ravaged and the people and their future cut off like so many tree trunks (parallel in Isaiah 10:33-34). Surveying the devastation, Isaiah caught sight of a tiny green shoot growing out of the stump of Jesse – a sign that God’s promises are sure, despite evidence to the contrary.
Prayer
O God, when we look across the landscape of our lives, give us eyes to see signs of new life where death and destruction appear to prevail. Make us courageous and articulate witnesses to the reality of Christian hope in the world. Amen.