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Old Testament Reading - The Judgments of the Branch

¹The royal line of David^a will be cut off, chopped down like a tree; but from the stump will grow a Shoot — yes, a new Branch from the old root. ²And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and might; the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. ³His delight will be obedience to the Lord. He will not judge by appearance, false evidence, or hearsay, ⁴but will defend the poor and the exploited. He will rule against the wicked who oppress them. ⁵For he will be clothed with fairness and with truth.

⁶In that day the wolf and the lamb will lie down together, and the leopard and goats will be at peace. Calves and fat cattle will be safe among lions, and a little child shall lead them all. ⁷The cows will graze among bears; cubs and calves will lie down together, and lions will eat grass like the cows. ⁸Babies will crawl safely among poisonous snakes, and a little child who puts his hand in a nest of deadly adders will pull it out unharmed. ⁹Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so shall the earth be full of the knowledge of the Lord.

¹⁰In that day he who created the royal dynasty of David^b will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, for the land where he lives will be a glorious place.

1. David, literally, “Jesse.” from the stump will grow a Shoot — yes, a new Branch, Christ, the Messiah.
2. Literally, “the Root of Jesse.” Possibly the meaning is, “the Heir of David’s royal line.”