O Come, Thou Rod of Jesse's Stem

Isaiah 11:1 –

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

A stump witnesses to a tree that once lived but is now dead. Over the time, the stump will decay until nothing is left of it.

When the nation of Judah fell to the Babylonians and the people taken into exile, it seemed like the end of the Davidic lineage of kings. Like a tree stump has no future life, the stump of Jesse refers to a dynasty that would fade away.

But Isaiah says that a shoot (or “rod,” KJV) will come up from the stump of Jesse, and this shoot which will bear fruit. The dynasty will not come to an end. After appearing to be dead, a new shoot will bring new life to the stump. A new ruler will revive the Davidic dynasty.

The new ruler is Jesus, born to save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). The sins of his people had caused them to turn away from God. When faced with opposition, they trusted other kings and nations to save them from their foes. As a people they nearly died out. Jesus brings new life to those who trust his power to save.

O, come Thou Rod of Jesse's stem,
From ev’ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow'r to save;
Bring them in vict'ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!