COMMENTARY

Old Testament: Isaiah 11:1-10
Isaiah describes the character and work of the promised Messiah, the son of David. Here Judah is given the promise of a Davidic king-messiah who is the basis for hope for the future. The king-messiah possesses the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit. Accordingly, he has a government characterized by justice and righteousness. His only weapon is word of mouth. As a result of his righteous reign, all of nature is at peace. Verse 10, a later addition, applies the foregoing to the whole world and not to Judah only. Christians see Jesus as the fulfillment of this promise.

Epistle: Romans 15:4-13
Christians abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. This pericope needs to be understood in its context. Paul is urging strong Christians to give up thei…