Chapters 9-12

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 begins with a verse that fore-echoes Matthew 4:15-16 as “Galilee of the Gentiles” is prepared for the Messiah. “The Galilee,” of course, is the locus for much of Jesus’ ministry (9:1). St. Matthew employs quotations from Isaiah very regularly; in our study there will be quite a bit of back and forth between Isaiah and St. Matthew. In fact, it might be a helpful exercise to read Isaiah and St. Matthew together this Advent.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light...” (9:2). This verse has been the subject of many songs within the Christian tradition. One of my favorites is a simple one that goes, “Arise, Shine! Your light has come. The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light. The Angel said a baby will be born and you will call his name Immanuel. He will save the world from its sin. Open up your heart and let the Christ child in” (http://speedwood.com/aboutmusic/lyrics/ariseshine.php).

The breaking of the yoke of the burden of the people “as on the day of Midian” (9:4) recalls Gideon’s victory at the hand of God in Judges 7:15-25. This is a quite moving scene in which the trumpets are blasted, the pots broken, and the torches lit. Again, light triumphs over darkness.

“For a child has been born to us...” (9:6-7). So begins many popular Christmas cantatas and musicals. What I remember most about these from childhood is the sense in which these words pierce the air of foreboding darkness, almost chasing it away with their light.

But this One who is to come is not without the strong arm of judgment. It is God who through the nations has judged his people (9:11-12). The phrase “his hand is stretched out still” (9:12) occurs throughout this chapter (9:17, 21) and in the next (10:4).

Chapter 10

In chapter 10 we are again oriented to one of the central sins of the people: namely their oppression of the needy, the poor, the widow, the orphan (10:1-2).

Assyria becomes the instrument of God’s chastening of his people (10:5-6). This is not a new concept. The one who is Lord of heaven and earth uses and chooses whomever he wants to (nation, leader, etc.) to bring about his will. Indeed, later we will hear of Cyrus of Persia called the LORD’s “anointed” one. What has happened to the northern kingdom of Israel by Assyria will also happen to the southern Kingdom of Judah (10:11) by Babylon. No one is fully exempt from God’s judgment because to presume so would be an infringement upon God’s sovereignty and a violation of the first commandment.

The people will be purged (10:16-19) and yet a remnant will remain “in truth” (10:20-23). The hope, of course, in all of this, is that the LORD is the one in charge. The same one who commands the nations against God’s people of Israel and Judah will also command the nations for their deliverance (10:24-27). The image of a hacking ax is used to describe the work of the LORD in clearing the thickets (10:33-34).

Chapter 11

Hope! A shoot shall come from the stump of Jesse, a branch from his roots (11:1). Really? It seemed that in exile and in first century Palestine that Jesse’s line, King David’s dynasty was indeed a stump, with no hope of further growth. But into these two realities the LORD intrudes this message of hope: a branch will arise from King David’s line. The connection to Jesus here is at least twofold. The first is that Jesus is of the line and lineage of David. St. Matthew patiently traces Jesus’ lineage to the mighty King David. The second is more of a play on words. The “Branch” (netser, nezer) comes from “Branch-town” (Nazareth). Jesus is both born in the City of David (Bethlehem) but is “from” Branch-town (Nazareth).

The sevenfold description of the Spirit (11:2) is used of this Branch and is used in our services of Holy Baptism and affirmation of Baptism (confirmation).

The good news is that this Branch will not judge by worldly standards but with righteousnes (tsadeek) and with uprightness (meshar) he will judge the meek (11:3-4). But this is no weak Branch. The description of the Branch is that hew will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth (11:4), calling to mind both the Psalm that speaks of the voice of the LORD breaking the cedars of Lebanon (Psalm 29:5) and the description of the Son of Man with a two-edged sword coming from his mouth in Revelation 1:16.

This Branch is clothed with righteousness and faithfulness as the belts with which he girds himself (11:5). Here I cannot help but think of Christ Jesus on the cross, stripped and humiliated, whose only clothing are righteousness, for He is without sin, and faithfulness, for He is perfectly obedient to his Father.

The whole creation is transformed with the coming of this Branch. Predators lie down with their prey; dangerous animals feed beside grazers (11:6-7). Images of the Nativity of our Lord echo here, as the Lion of the tribe of Judah makes his bed in the midst of simple barn beasts. It is this infant who dares to play over the hole of dangerous serpents (11:8-9; cf. Genesis 3:15), shedding light on the victory of the Cross whereby the heel of the new Adam, Christ, is struck by the serpent of old (Satan). However this serpent’s head is crushed by Christ is his cruciform victory.

Finally, there is a flood. Unlike the first flood, however, the earth will be flooded with the knowledge of the LORD (de-a et Adonai) (11:9). During this time of flooding, the Branch will stand as an ensign to the peoples (11:10). A remnant will be recovered and a highway in the desert will be built (11:11, 16; cf. 40:3).

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 has almost a poetic or hymnic character to it, echoing the Psalms, as the author rejoices in God who IS his salvation (yeshua, from which we get the Old Testament name “Joshua” and the New Testament name “Jesus”) (12:2). The following verses also echo Psalm verses (12:3-4), and the last verse of this chapter confesses that the Holy One of Israel (a typical name for God in this book) is in the midst of Zion (12:6).