Page 29 - BV4

(2) There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch [netzer] shall grow
out of his roots. The Spirit of YEHOVAH shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and
understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of
the Lord [YEHOVAH]. His delight is in the fear of the Lord [YEHOVAH], and He shall
not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with right-
eousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He
shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall
slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of
His waist. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the
young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall
lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole,
and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy
in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord [YEHO-
VAH, YHVH] as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse
[Christ], who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and
His resting place shall be glorious....He will set up a banner for the nations, and will as-
semble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four
corners of the earth.

Next, in Isaiah 16:5 --

(3) In mercy the throne [of David] will be established; and One [Christ] will sit on it in
truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.

At this juncture a number of basic points should be emphasized in these vital texts. This
judge or ruler is an extraordinary King of the line (seed/branch) of David. He is a dedicated, faith-
ful SERVANT OF YEHOVAH -- quite remarkable in His gifts and powers. His future rule on this
earth will be characterized by justice, righteousness and peace. He will prepare the way for His
Father by regathering the tribes of Israel to Palestine, by crushing the wicked and spreading God's
(Yehovah's) way of life to all the nations. Through his reign (under Yehovah) humankind, as well
as creation itself, will reach a harmony and fulfillment unknown since the Garden of Eden.

The book of Jeremiah contains a clear passage about Christ which is repeated twice for
emphasis --

(4 & 5) Behold the days are coming declares YEHOVAH, when I shall raise up for David
a righteous Branch (tzemach) [Christ]; and he will reign as king and act wisely and do
justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will
dwell securely; and this is His name by which he will be called "YEHOVAH Tzedekenu"
[YEHOVAH is our righteousness]. -- Jeremiah 23:5-6; repeated in 33:14-16; compare
Isaiah 4:2.

Once again -- as with Isaiah -- we have the same emphasis on restoring Israel to the land
and the resulting environment of justice and righteousness which will prevail. Zechariah similarly
prophesies about this person called "the Branch":

29