Leithart
Isaiah 11:8: And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den.
As Toby has explained to us this morning, Isaiah is talking about Jesus. Jesus is the only-begotten child of His heavenly Father, the new Adam who has tamed the wild beasts and who plays by the viper’s den. As Toby also explained, Isaiah pictures the Messiah who tames the beasts as a small child, strong with the weakness of God. Jesus, the holy child, fought and defeated the viper Satan; his heal was bruised, but he crushed the cobra’s head.
This is not only a picture of Jesus, but of every disciple.
“Truly I say to you,” Jesus said, “unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” We are new Adams only as we are born again by water and Spirit as little children. We share in the rule of Jesus the Father’s child by humbling ourselves and becoming like children.
This is particularly important to remember as we begin a New Year, and assess the prospects for the coming twelve months. If we are honest, we realize that we are infants in time. Events are outside our control, and that we are infinitesimally tiny in God’s universe and plan. Our enemies are often numerous, and stronger than we are.
For Scripture, that is not a cause for despair but the occasion for trust. You are a tiny child; but your Father is the King of creation. You are a nursing baby, but your Father loves you with an everlasting love.
Is He trustworthy? What more can He say that what He has said? What more can He do than give His Son for you? And He has: After all, you’re sitting at the table where the Father continually gives you His Son as food and drink. You’re sitting at a table in the midst of enemies. You’re sitting at the table of the child king, who was rescued from death, snatched from the grave, and exalted. Trust Him, and play by the viper’s den.
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