Isaiah 11

So far in Isaiah 6-10, we have seen a number of problems with God’s people. King Ahaz is characterised by unbelief (7.12), they fear things other than the Lord (8.12-13), the Northern Kingdom is characterised by pride (9.9), false teaching (9.16), devouring one another (9.21) and gross injustice (10.1). As a result, there will be destruction of the land (10.23).

However, there have been glimmers of hope - the ‘holy seed’ of 6.13, Immanuel of chapters 7 and 8, the child who will reign on David’s throne whose government will be ever increasing (9.6-7) and who will establish an era of peace, justice and righteousness, and the remnant of 10.20.

The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ prophesied in Isaiah 11 in many ways continues that trajectory of hope and provides the solution to those problems. He is the Spirit-anointed king (v. 2), descended from Jesse (v. 1), who will be wise, understanding and might, whose fear is in the Lord (vv. 2-3) who reigns and judges justly (vv. 3-4). The ‘fruit’ that the branch from the roots of Jesse bears is described in the terms of a vivid metaphor in vv. 6-9. We shouldn’t be surprised at this kind of language, given the genre of this section of Isaiah. It is poetry, after all. We have already had lots of imagery - Assyria is a bee and a razor (ch. 7), a mighty river (ch. 8), a forest (ch. 10). Moreover, similar language is used in ch. 65, which also talks about the longevity of the people - ‘the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed’. I think there is good grounds for thinking that Isaiah 11.6-9 is therefore not talking about the new creation which will be established when Christ returns, but about the present reign of the Messiah. Isaiah 65.17 speaks of this state of affairs as a new heavens and a new earth - through Christ’s reign, the new creation is being established now, on this earth, although it will only be fully consummated when Christ returns. Richard Sibbes has this to say about this portion of Scripture:

“It, by way of prophecy, foretelleth what shall be the fruits of Christ’s kingdom under the gospel, shewing that miraculous change Christ should make upon men, shadowed out in the scripture under the similitude of beasts, as lions, wolves, bears, leopards, &c. The sum whereof is, that God will take from us that fierceness, malignity, and bitterness of nature in us, and bring us, in place thereof, to a loving, sweet, mild, and meek society together.” - Works vii, p. 129

The reason for this is in v. 9. Sibbes goes on to say:

“And this is the reason which is added why there shall be no hurt nor destroying in all this holy mountain, because the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea; meaning there shall then be an abundant knowledge, which shall keep everyone within their limits, everyone knowing his duty, so maintaining a mutual peace in all this holy mountain.” - Works vii, p. 129-130

The earth being filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea will be seen in the gospel age. The time when that happens, is the time when the nations shall enquire of the root of Jesse who stands as a signal for the peoples (v. 10), when the nations, and the exiles of Israel, are gathered together as one (v. 12) under him. The apostle Paul describes God’s mercy to the Gentiles through the gospel as the fulfilling of this prophecy. Christ’s resting-place, that is, where he reigns, will be glorious (v. 10). We have seen how the Northern and Southern kingdoms were hostile to one another. That will come to an end (v. 13). This is described in terms of those who rally to the signal the Lord has raised - Christ - conquering and plundering and ruling over the Gentile nations (v. 14). This is a second exile, described again in poetic terms (vv. 15-16).

In terms of the implications of the text, it holds out hope for God’s people still living very much in a society like that described in chapters 6-10. It impresses upon us the goodness of Christ’s reign and the transformation he brings in people’s lives, which should increase our love for him. It should humble us when our behaviour is out of tune with the behaviour that characterises Christ kingdom and cause us to repent and pray for him to change us. It should strengthen our trust in and commitment to the Lord Jesus - he is the signal the Lord has raised for the peoples, that they may flock to him and know his blessing. It should give us confidence in our evangelism, to know that in the long-term, there will be much fruit. And it should motivate our prayers: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” is what we should be praying for the world now.