The first 39 chapters of the Book of Isaiah are commonly referred to as the work of "First Isaiah," a prophet whose writings are generally thought to be primarily concerned with judgment. But as this week's text reveals, there is far more to First Isaiah's message than a cry for judgment and punishment. Despite its several authors, the book of Isaiah presents a coherent picture of God's promise of salvation - the divine determination to loose sin's grip on this well-loved but fatally-flawed creation.

With Assyria's demise foretold, Isaiah opens chapter 11 with some of the sweetest words of hope the crushed and struggling Judeans could hope to hear. The revitalization of the stump of Jesse, containing the holy seed that had been described in Isaiah 6:13, is foretold. Assyria will fall - ju…