The Stem of Jesse

BY Debbie Eaton

Text: 1 Samuel 16:6-13, Isaiah 11:1-6, Isaiah 53:2-3

My husband has studied the history of our families. So many times I have rolled my eyes and thought, What’s the point? Humbly I have come to understand that those who have gone before us have rich stories that intersect our own. Together these stories of hardship and success, struggles and victories, messy choices and redemption paint the grand story of grace, hope, faith and love. We share a history, and it is through their seed we have life. Our story through time is God’s story.

The beauty of Advent is found when we look back into our rich history and peer into the window of God’s perfect plan for His family. When we do, we see David and Mary—two chosen people, years apart from one another—who had faith and accepted their role that ultimately ushered in a baby: the Messiah. This young, unassuming pair of biblical characters are living proof of the words from 1 Samuel 16:7:

“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 

A young shepherd boy named David was summoned from the field by his father Jesse to appear before Samuel. He was young, ordinary, unsuspecting – he was chosen. In secret he was anointed, and the scriptures say, “from that day forward the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power” (1 Samuel 16:13).

David – a man after God’s own heart.

A young virgin girl named Mary was engaged to a man Joseph, who was himself from the line of David. Mary is visited by an angel who tells her, “The Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” She was young, ordinary, unsuspecting – she was chosen. In secret, she was anointed by God.

Mary – a woman after God’s own heart.

The stem of Jesse divinely intersects with the womb of a young girl, and God’s pattern of grace, love and redemption for the world is born. He is Immanuel – God is with us.

“…and a little child (the Messiah) shall lead them.”  – Isaiah 11:6

God’s glorious story of redemption is seen from the first word of Scripture to the last. Our birth, our destiny, our purpose is born of God’s love. Our creator always has a plan, one that takes a tiny seed and multiplies it abundantly— a plan that takes a tiny baby born of humble means and makes Him a King, the Savior of the world.

The stories of young David and Mary are miraculously similar because that is the way God works—He uses the humble, the ordinary and the unsuspecting to bring glory to His Kingdom forever and ever. Let us sit in adoration of the One who penned the greatest story of all time, the story that extends love and grace from the heights of heaven to all we who humbly walk the earth. Thanks be to God!

“Infinite, and an infant.
Eternal, and yet born of a woman.
Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman’s breast.
Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms.
King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph.
Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son.
Oh, the wonder of Christmas.”
– Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

 For an added layer of worship during this sweet season of adoration and expectation, we’ve created a Spotify playlist for Advent 2014! You can find the complete SheReadsTruth | O Come Let Us Adore Him playlist at this link, or listen to today’s track on the player below. Enjoy!