The book of Isaiah is one of my favorite books in the Bible, for it speaks to my heart and brings joy to my soul. This book has been a source of encouragement to me throughout my life. I remember hearing my pastor, the Reverend Albert Franklin Campbell, Pastor Emeritus of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, read and
preach from this book. He preached like a prophet with his eloquent words and radiant voice. Many times, he preached about a “Tender Plant.” In Isaiah 53:2, we find these words:

“For 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.”

The prophet begins this chapter with “Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” Then in the next verse, he says he grew up “as a tender plant.” The root out of dry ground refers to the starving spiritual environment. Verses three and four read, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our grief, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” This servant suffered on our behalf, yet, was victorious in His death. Read this entire chapter. We are made aware of what it cost Him to deliver and to save us. He grew up as a tender plant full of love, mercy, grace and truth. Thank you, Pastor Campbell, for your words, your sermons, your life, and for the many souls who have come to Christ because of your proclamation of the gospel. Thank God for giving us a Tender Plant.