Did you ever climb the branches of a sturdy tree and marvel how strong it was? Perhaps you built a tree house on some of those branches or had a swing hung from one. On a hot summer day, those same branches reach out and provide shade where we can have a picnic with our friends.
Did you know that “The Branch” is one of the titles of the Lord Jesus? When the Jews rejected Him as their Messiah, He went out to bless others just like Joseph’s “fruitful bough . . . whose branches run over the wall” (Gen. 49:2222Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: (Genesis 49:22)). God would not be hindered in reaching out, like a branch to “whosoever will.”
The Lord Jesus grew up as a tender plant before God in a world that was like dry ground (Isa. 53:22For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2)). He delighted in God’s Word and was like a tree planted by the rivers of water and brought forth fruit in due season (Psalm 1:23).
Men have produced their own branches (Matt. 13:3232Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. (Matthew 13:32)), but if you seek rest and shade beneath these branches, you will find yourself in evil company. There is coming a time when a King will reign who is called a righteous Branch, and then peace and rest will prevail.
1. What was God going to grow for David that will produce judgment and righteousness in the land? Jeremiah 33:___
2. Some of the branches (Israel) were broken off so that the wild olive (Gentiles) could be grafted in. What verse tells us this? Romans 11:___
3. What is the name of the man whom God said would build the temple of the Lord? Zechariah 6:___
4. As the Branch, the Lord Jesus is the offspring of David, but is He also the Root of David? Revelation 5:___
5. God has a servant in Zechariah 3. What is His name? Zechariah 3:___