The Hovering Spirit

For December 5, 2010

Isaiah’s prophecy was probably written during the exile in Babylon in the 6th century BCE. The kingdom of Israel and its lineage of kings were a thing of the past and Isaiah spoke of God’s promise for the nation’s future. This is one of the many scriptures that early Christians identified in the Old Testament (the only scriptures that existed at the time) as one that Jesus’ fulfilled. The question is – what, if anything, does it have to do with me?

Isaiah 11:1-5 A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse's stump, from his roots a budding Branch.

The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him, the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding,The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God.

Fear-of-God will be all his joy and delight. He won't judge by appearances, won't decide on the basis of hearsay. He'll judge the needy by what is right, render decisions on earth's poor with justice. His words will bring everyone to awed attention. A mere breath from his lips will topple the wicked. Each morning he'll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots, and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land.

Jesse’s stump
· Jesse was David’s father, how might the exiled Israelites relate to Isaiah’s characterization of the glorious memory of David now being a mere stump? What might it have said to them about God’s relationship with and covenantal promises to Israel?

· We all experience highs and lows in our faith life. Have there been times when you felt that your spiritual life could be likened to the stump of a cut down tree? If not that extreme how would you characterize the spiritual lows in your life?

· Does the image of a “green Shoot” springing from a spiritual low speak to you? Is there an experience that you would point to as an example of new growth in your faith life? To what do you attribute to its springing up and how was it nurtured?

Life Giving Spirit
Hebrew Scriptures often link God’s Spirit and their leaders: I Samuel 10:10, 1 Samuel 16:13

· What will be the driving force that animates and leads the new leader? (See the similarity in Genesis 1:2 of the Spirit’s presence in creation – and the spirit of God hovered over the surface of the water.) Write down those characteristics which result from the Spirit hovering over him?


· Christians link Isaiah’s prophecy to Jesus; do you see them in the gospel's record of his life? Are there any specific instances that come to mind?

· Is the promise of the spirit hovering over this new leader limited to Jesus? Reflect on these two scriptures:

I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. John 14:26

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

· How important is the sense of the presence of God’s Spirit to the health of your spiritual life? Review the list you made of the results of the hovering life giving spirit and write down what would you pray for from the Spirit this Advent season:


Lets return to Isaiah’s prophecy concentrating on the last half of the scripture.

Fear-of-God will be all his joy and delight. He won't judge by appearances, won't decide on the basis of hearsay. He'll judge the needy by what is right, render decisions on earth's poor with justice. His words will bring everyone to awed attention. A mere breath from his lips will topple the wicked. Each morning he'll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots, and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land.

· List the promise that Isaiah prophecies will come from this new leader. What examples of them can you remember from the Gospel’s recording of Jesus’ life? Were any not fulfilled?
Promise Example





· In the gospel of John (14:12) Jesus’ last teachings to his disciples, and by extension each of us, he makes an amazing statement and backs it with a promise:

The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it.

· How do you interpret these words, what do they mean to you? Can we actually do greater things than Jesus? Could this speak to the potential of the Christian community with each of us using our Spiritual gifts?

What characteristics do you relate to as either things you have strived for or experienced in your faith life? Given your thoughts to this point, what is the relevance of Isaiah’s prophecy for each one of us, how do his words apply to me as a person of faith?

· Is there something in Isaiah’s words that you are inspired to include in your Advent prayers:

Closing Litany

Holy Spirit, giver of light and life
Impart to us thoughts higher than our own thoughts
Prayers better than our own prayers
Powers beyond our own powers
After the perfect image of Jesus Christ
Amen

Adapted from Eric Milner-White
The Oxford Book of Prayer

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: James 5:7-10, Matthew 11:2-11, Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:47-55, Isaiah 35:1-10