Righteousness will be a belt around his hips; faithfulness will be a belt around his waist. The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf will be together, and a child will lead them. Isaiah 11:5-6
This week we are met with the promised arrival of “the Branch” - one of the designations of the promised Messiah who would come to bear the fruit of God’s rule in the world. This Branch comes from the ‘stump of Jesse’, indicating the desolation and ruin that the kingdom of Judah had experienced. They were a mere stump of their former power and glory. The Branch is promised to wear righteousness and faithfulness as the binding element of his attire and character. What is more, we are met with the description of what his rule will look like: the feral savagery of creation will be transformed and peace will reign. This will be a peace like no other, completely transforming the created order.
We will consider when we can expect to see this kind of peace as we follow Jesus and as we continue to live in the world, anticipating his return.
