Messiah - Capable Leader

Centuries before Isaiah's time, other Hebrew Bible writers pointed to the coming of the Messiah, the true Leader, whom Jehovah would send to Israel.  (Genesis 49:10; Deuteronomy 18:18; Psalm 118:22, 26)  Now through Isaiah, Jehovah adds further details.  Isaiah writes: "There must go forth a twig out of the stump of Jesse; and out of his roots a sprout will be fruitful." (Isaiah 11:1; Compare Psalm132:11) "Twig" and "sprout"  both indicate that the Messiah will be the descendant of Jesse through his son David, who was anointed with oil as king of Israel.  (1 Samuel 16:13; Jeremiah 23:5; Revelation 22:16)  When the true Messiah arrives, this "sprout," from the house of David, is to produce good fruit.

The promised Messiah is Jesus.  The gospel writer Matthew alluded to the words of Isaiah 11:1 when he said that Jesus' being called "a Nazarene" fulfilled the words of the prophets.  Because he was brought up  in the town of Nazareth, Jesus was called  a Nazarene, a name apparently related to the Hebrew word used in Isaiah 11:1 for "sprout." -Matthew 2:23; footnote; Luke 2:39, 40. 

 What kind of ruler will the Messiah be?  Will he be like the cruel, self-willed Assyrian who destroys the ten-tribe northern kingdom of Israel?  Of course not.  Of the Messiah, Isaiah says:  "Upon him the spirit of Jehovah must settle down, the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of mightiness, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah; and there will be enjoyment by him in the fear of Jehovah." (Isaiah 11:2, 3a)  The Messiah is anointed, not with oil, but with God's holy spirit.  This happens at Jesus' baptism, when John the Baptizer sees God's holy spirit descending  on Jesus in the form of a dove.  (Luke 3:22) Jehovah's spirit 'settles down upon' Jesus, and he gives evidence of this when he acts with wisdom, understanding, counsel, mightiness, and knowledge.  What excellent qualities for a ruler!  

Jesus' followers too can receive holy spirit.  In one of his discourses, Jesus declared: "If you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!"  (Luke 11:13) Hence, we should never hesitate to ask God for holy spirit, nor should we cease to cultivate  its wholesome fruitage-"love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control."  (Galatians 5:22, 23)  Jehovah promises to answer the request of Jesus' followers for "wisdom from above" to help them deal successfully with the challenges of life. -James 1:5; 3:17.

What is the fear of Jehovah that the Messiah displays? Jesus certainly is not terrified by God, fearful of his condemnation.  Rather, the Messiah has a respectful awe of God, loving reverence for him.  A God-fearing person desires always to "do the things pleasing to him," as Jesus does.  (John 8:29)  By word and example, Jesus teaches that there is no greater joy than walking every day in the wholesome fear of Jehovah.

Next time: A Righteous and Merciful Judge

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000