Isaiah 11
11:1-2 This chapter follows God’s Word concerning judgment, particularly against Assyria (Isaiah 10) which ends with a vision of the remnant (10:20–34). Which flows into the coming Messianic King from David’s line and His righteous rule. This chapter is rich in Messianic prophecy and hope for the future of Israel, Judah and the Nations.
The imagery of a “shoot” and “branch” implies new life from what seems dead. The “stump” of Jesse (David’s father) suggests a cut-down dynasty, yet out of this destruction will come the Messiah. This stands in contrast to the imagery of a mighty forest that would be cut off in 10:33-34. The cedars of Lebanon, spoke of strength, size, and power, that have been destroyed, yet a fragile bud sprouting from the root of Jesse will come to rule. Throughout Scripture the Messiah is called The Son of David and referred to as the shoot or the Branch Jer. 23:5 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land (Is 4:2; 11:1–5; 53:2; Jer 30:9; 33:15, 16; Zech 3:8; 6:12, 13)
The promised King is listed here as coming from Jesse rather than David to emphasizes His humble ancestry. This future ruler will be empowered by the Spirit of the LORD (v. 2). The presence of the Lord’s Spirit speaks of His connection to God’s supernatural resources that will give Him divine power to rule. It also points to His divinity.
The Spirit of the Lord is defined by three sets of paired attributes: (1) wisdom and understanding, (2) counsel and strength, and (3) knowledge and the fear of the LORD (v. 2). The first pairing (wisdom and understanding) speaks to the Spirit’s empowering for the King to make godly decisions as ruler of Israel. The second pairing (counsel and strength) relates to the King’s ability to formulate and implement plans for the nation. Counsel relates to Is 9:6 where the title “Wonderful Counselor” was also applied to the coming King. The final pairing of knowledge and the fear of the LORD suggests an intimate relationship and submission to God that is a model for those He rules. Jesus is seen in the New Testament as the fulfillment of this prophecy showing us His servants the way (Matt 1:1; Luke 3:23–38; Rev 5:5). God brings life from death, hope from despair, and fulfillment from what seems forgotten.
V 3-5 This king will be characterized by all the skills and strengths of David and Solomon and more. Further He will lead and rule by “the fear of the Lord. In Proverbs, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (1:7; 9:10). And the covenantal requirement of Israel’s kings is put this way…when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes (Deut. 17:18–20).
Amos saw the day when David’s line would be restored Amos 9:11: “In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, and wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old.”
God’s anointed King will rule with the administration of justice, putting right the injustices of Israel and Judah’s previous kings. He will judge not by appearance but by righteousness with no corruption or partiality. A king who loves and reveres God first is truly fit to lead. He will intercede for the weak who are normally oppressed by unjust rule. The “Rod of His Mouth” speaks of the power of His word (Rev 19:15).
V 6-9 Because of the Lord’s rule and reign creation will begin to experience healing and restoration. First will be peace in the animal kingdom. This is Eden restored, a vision of shalom where the predatory instincts of the animal kingdom will be eliminated as well as fear and violence. Many Jewish scholars see this as a symbolic of peace and security while others interpret it literally, as the transformation of nature under Messiah’s reign. His kingdom will also mean a restored creationbecause nature will once again enjoy the harmony it enjoyed before sin entered in (Isa. 11:6–9; Rom. 8:18–25). “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:9; see Hab. 2:14). Innocence will be restored as seen in the picture of children with once-deadly animals reflecting childlike trust, innocence, and lack of fear.
The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord covering the earth as the waters cover the sea. The knowledge and the ways of the Lord will be everywhere so that all will obey the laws of the Lord. This is the fulfillment of God’s desire for Israel and the nations, intimacy with the Creator. The messianic reign will be global, not just national.
V 10 God will gather the remnant of Israel. The Savior will save the Gentiles, as well as the Jews. The Messiah will be a banner or sign (reminiscent of the serpent in the wilderness from Num. 21:9 & John 3:14) around which all the people and nations of the earth will rally (Is. 49:22). Jesus taught His disciples that many people would come from all the nations to sit down in the kingdom of God (Lu. 13:29). This promise was even given to Abraham when God promised that his descendants would bless all the people on earth (Ge. 12:3). When Israel’s King returns to rule over the earth, His place of rest will be the restored Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be glorious because of His presence in her midst. Because of Messiah’s glory in Jerusalem, the nations of the earth will flood to the Lord’s kingdom.
V 11–13 The Jews who have been scattered to the nations a second time will be brought back to the land. Isaiah’s prophetic vision speaks of God gathering the exiles from all over the earth, Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush (Ethiopia), Elam (Persia), Shinar (Babylon), Hamath, and the coastlands. Many see this as partially fulfilled in the modern return of Jews to Israel after the Second World War in 1945 and then with the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948, others view it as future. An integral part of the regathering will be unity between all the Jewish people symbolized in the uniting of Israel and Judah. We see division in Israel today between the religious and secular, the political left and right. But the day is coming when Israel will be one even as God is One.
V 14–16 God will remove all obstacles, geographical and spiritual to bring His people home. Through Him they will be victorious over all those who had persecuted them down through the ages. The traditional enemies of Israel, the Philistines, Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites who represent all the enemies of God who oppose the Messiah and the establishment of His kingdom on earth. All these enemies will be subjected under the rule of the Savior and His people. The people will be transformed from worldly to holy. This echoes of Isaiah 35:8–10 A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the highway of holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it. No lion will be there, nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there, And the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Isaiah 11 expresses the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7), fulfilled in Messiah Yeshua. His rule is empowered by God’s Holy Spirit filled with God’s righteousness and the fear of the Lord. Justice and righteousness will be the essence of the Messiah’s reign. There will be peace and harmony in all relationships – human, animal, and divine.
The Messiah is a light to the nations, not just to Israel (Isaiah 49:6). In this chapter once again, we learn that God preserves and restores a faithful remnant of His people. Isaiah here also provides us with a picture of the millennial kingdom or messianic age yet to come. In a world of brokenness and injustice, Isaiah 11 lifts our eyes to the Righteous King who is coming again. As followers of the Messiah, we are to reflect His character in a world that judges by appearances. The peace and unity of the messianic kingdom should shape how we treat others now – Jews and Gentiles, animals and creation, friend and enemy. As this chapter reveals, the reunification and regathering of God’s covenant people is part of His end-time plan. Messiah is the hope of all nations, and we are called to lift Him up as the banner for all peoples.
