warm-up

Share about a weird food combination you like.

What is one topic you’re comfortable discussing because you know a lot about it?

Have you ever had a rival who eventually became your close friend? Tell us what happened.

word

¹There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. ²And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:1–2

There is injustice all around us. People are crying out for and seeking justice that they feel could right the wrongs in this world. But the truth is, human systems fail and any effort that we make can only do so much to bring the change we want to see in the world. The Israelites in Isaiah’s time faced the same dilemma. They were waiting for the promised King that would rescue them from the oppression of other nations. The King that God would send as the answer to this cry for justice is none other than Jesus, and He empowers us to also be the salt and light to the world (Matthew 5:13–14). Today, let’s look at the kind of king Jesus is.

1
Our King has divine wisdom.

¹There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. ²And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:1–2

Jesus, our King, does not operate on human wisdom, which is limited. Like God the Father, He is all-knowing and His thoughts are higher than ours. His thoughts and ways are beyond us. Because of this, we can trust His plans, words, and promises. What does Isaiah 55:9–11 say about God and His word?

2
Our King acts with righteous judgment.

³And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, ⁴but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. ⁵Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. Isaiah 11:3–5

Because Jesus’ wisdom is far greater than any human’s, the way He enacts justice is also different. He is all-knowing and, therefore, knows all thoughts, motives, and desires of His creation. He also knows the situation of the poor, needy, and oppressed. The passage we read showed us the kind of justice Jesus would bring. This is not superficial or based on outward appearances. Based on true knowledge and wisdom, the justice Jesus will bring includes deliverance for the oppressed, punishment for the wicked, and restoration—righting what is wrong and restoring what is lost. Whether in our lifetime or not, God’s justice will prevail. How does this truth change the way you understand justice?

3
Our King brings supernatural reconciliation and peace.

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6

(Read also Isaiah 11:7–9.)

The picture that Isaiah painted seems like a list of impossibilities. But this is what true reconciliation looks like—the kind that only Jesus can and will bring. Prey and predator, natural enemies living together in harmony for His purpose. Jesus, through His sacrifice on the cross, did not just pave the way for people to be restored to God; He also made possible the restoration of our relationships with other people and with creation. This is something God continues to do for those who put their faith in Christ. How have you experienced the power of Jesus to bring reconciliation and be salt and light to the earth?

application

Have you surrendered your life to our righteous King? Ask someone to pray with you to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, who will save you from your sins and call the shots in your life.

Do you have mindsets and beliefs about justice that need to be aligned to God’s definition of justice? How does our lesson today help you trust that God is the Righteous Judge who will restore the world?

Think of one person who needs to experience Jesus’ power to bring reconciliation. How can God use you as an instrument of His justice to bring restoration and reconciliation?

prayer

Thank God for sending Jesus Christ, our righteous King, to save us and to restore our relationship with God, others, and creation.

Ask for the grace to completely trust God for His justice and righteousness to rule and reign over the earth.

Pray for your relationships to be under the Lordship of Christ. Pray that you will be able to extend Jesus’ message of reconciliation and restoration to those around you.

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Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)
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