2016, December 4 ~ Isaiah 11:1-10 & Romans 15:4-13
Isaiah 11: 1-10
The Book of Isaiah is a composite of writings from three distinct periods in Israel’s history. Chapters 1-39 are called “First Isaiah” and were mostly written in the 30 years before Jerusalem was under direct siege by the Assyrians in 701 BCE. “Second Isaiah” is Chapters 40 to 55 and brings hope to the Judeans during the time of the Exile in Babylon (587 to 539 BCE) by telling them they have suffered enough and will return to Jerusalem. “Third Isaiah” is Chapters 56 to 66 and contains encouragement to the Judeans who returned to Jerusalem after the Exile.
The date of today’s reading is disputed among scholars. Although it is in the first 39 chapters, this passage and the rest of Chapter 11 present post-Exilic themes in anticipation of a Messiah. The reference to “Jesse” is to King David’s father, so this Messiah would be from the House of David, a ruler. The “righteousness” that the Messiah will bring is one of peace and restoring all things to their proper order. The closing verse (v. 10) says that this person will be a “signal” to “the peoples” and “the nations” – both of which are references to Gentiles (non-Jews).
Romans 15:4-13
Paul’s letter to the Romans is his longest, last and most complex letter. It was written in the late 50’s or early 60’s (CE) to a Jesus Follower community that Paul did not establish. Among other messages, Paul sought to encourage respectful and supportive relationships between the Gentile Jesus Followers and the Jewish Jesus Followers in Rome. Nero’s predecessor (Claudius) expelled all Jews from Rome in 49. During Nero’s reign (54-68 CE), he allowed Jews (including Jewish Jesus Followers) to return. Their return created tensions within the Jesus Follower Community. (Jesus Followers were not called “Christians” until the 80’s.)
In today’s reading, Paul exhorts the Jewish Jesus Followers and the Gentile Jesus Followers to “live in harmony” (v. 5) and glorify God “with one voice” (v.6). To emphasize to Jewish Jesus Followers that Gentiles could be Jesus Followers, Paul paraphrases Psalm 18.49 (v. 9), Psalm 117.1 (v.10) and Isaiah 11.10 (v.12), all of which refer to “Gentiles,” “the nations” or “the peoples.”