First Sunday of Advent - Introduction of the Jesse Tree

Today is the first Sunday of Advent.  I will be posting our bible readings for our Jesse Tree each day from now until Christmas.

1 Samuel 16: 1-13 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Samuel Anoints David

 ¹ The LORD said to Samuel, "How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have selected a king from his sons."

    ² Samuel asked, "How can I go? Saul will hear [about it] and kill me!"

    The LORD answered, "Take a young cow with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' ³ Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate to you."

    ⁴ Samuel did what the LORD directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, "Do you come in peace?"

    ⁵ "In peace," he replied. "I've come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. ⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, "Certainly the LORD's anointed one is here before Him."

    ⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart."

    ⁸ Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. "The LORD hasn't chosen this one either," Samuel said. ⁹ Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, "The LORD hasn't chosen this one either." ¹⁰ After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, "The LORD hasn't chosen any of these." ¹¹ Samuel asked him, "Are these all the sons you have?"

    "There is still the youngest," he answered, "but right now he's tending the sheep." Samuel told Jesse, "Send for him. We won't sit down to eat until he gets here." ¹² So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance.

    Then the LORD said, "Anoint him, for he is the one." ¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil, anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD took control of David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

Isaiah 11:1-10 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Isaiah 11

Reign of the Davidic King

 ¹ Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

    ² The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him —
    a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    a Spirit of counsel and strength,
    a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.

    ³ His delight will be in the fear of the LORD.
    He will not judge
    by what He sees with His eyes,
    He will not execute justice
    by what He hears with His ears,

    ⁴ but He will judge the poor righteously
    and execute justice for the oppressed of the land.
    He will strike the land
    with discipline from His mouth,
    and He will kill the wicked
    with a command from His lips.

    ⁵ Righteousness and faithfulness
    will be a belt around His waist.

    ⁶ The wolf will live with the lamb,
    and the leopard will lie down with the goat.
    The calf, the young lion, and the fatling will be together,
    and a child will lead them.

    ⁷ The cow and the bear will graze,
    their young ones will lie down together,
    and the lion will eat straw like an ox.

    ⁸ An infant will play beside the cobra's pit,
    and a toddler will put his hand into a snake's den.

    ⁹ No one will harm or destroy
    on My entire holy mountain,
    for the land will be as full
    of the knowledge of the LORD
    as the sea is filled with water.

Israel Regathered

 10 On that day the root of Jesse
will stand as a banner for the peoples.
The nations will seek Him,
and His resting place will be glorious.