“In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the adornment of the survivors of Israel” (Isa 4:2).
Based on the parallelism in this poetic verse, “the Branch of the LORD” and “the fruit of the earth” are mutually related terms. Since “the Branch of the LORD” in the first half of the verse is a well-recognized name for the Davidic Messiah (see 2 Sam 23:5; Jer 23:5; 33:15; Zech 3:8; 6:12), “the fruit of the earth” must be a reference to the Messiah as well. The Branch of the LORD highlights the Messiah’s heavenly origins, while the fruit of the earth points to His earthly origins.
And herein lies a paradoxical mystery with respect to Israel’s Messiah: How is it possible that a son of David is also called “God with us” (Isa 7:14) and “Mighty God” (Isa 9:6[5])? How can One who is divinely exalted (compare Isa 52:13 with Isa 6:1; 33:10; 57:15) also be so despised and beaten beyond human recognition (Isa 50:6; 52:14; 53:5, 7)?
An even more difficult question than “How?” is the deeper question of “Why?” Why would Israel’s divine Messiah— to whom belongs all honor and glory—willingly offer His back to smiters and be led like a lamb to the slaughter? The only answer is the love of our Great Shepherd, who willingly sacrificed His own life to save his sheep.
“Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes” (Isa 40:11). “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him” (Isa 53:6).
“And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls” (1 Pet 2:24–25).
The post By His Wounds, We Are Healed first appeared on ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry.
The post By His Wounds, We Are Healed appeared first on ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry.