Peace at Last
February 21, 2020
Commentary
The Lord would cut down the forests and the mighty trees, but God’s kingdom will arise by a shoot coming up from the stump of Jesse, David’s father (Rev. 22:16). Isaiah undoubtedly was thinking of God’s promise to David (2 Sam. 7:16) that a Descendant of David will rule over his kingdom forever (v. 1). He will come directly from the line of David and will fulfill God’s promises in the Davidic Covenant. The Holy Spirit possesses all wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Isaiah wrote, “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power.” (v. 2)
As we read this passage from Isaiah it is important to understand that Isaiah describes not only the birth of Christ, but also His millennial reign (one thousand year). Isaiah described the righteous kingdom which the Messiah will set up (vv. 3-9). The curse will be lifted, peace and harmony will be present, and wild animals will again be tame and harmless to domesticated animals and humans. Isaiah spoke of the Lord’s gathering the people of Israel and Judah from all over the world (vv. 10-16). He compared it to a second “Exodus,” about 700 years earlier.
Application
Such peace and tranquility is possible only when Christ reigns over the earth.
Isaiah 11:1– 16 (NET)
1 A shoot will grow out of Jesse’s root stock, a bud will sprout from his roots.
2 The Lord’s Spirit will rest on him — a Spirit that gives extraordinary wisdom, a Spirit that provides the ability to execute plans, a Spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the Lord.
3 He will take delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by mere appearances, or make decisions on the basis of hearsay.
4 He will treat the poor fairly, and make right decisions for the downtrodden of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and order the wicked to be executed.
5 Justice will be like a belt around his waist, integrity will be like a belt around his hips.
6 A wolf will reside with a lamb, and a leopard will lie down with a young goat; an ox and a young lion will graze together, as a small child leads them along.
7 A cow and a bear will graze together, their young will lie down together. A lion, like an ox, will eat straw.
8 A baby will play over the hole of a snake; over the nest of a serpent an infant will put his hand.
9 They will no longer injure or destroy on my entire royal mountain. For there will be universal submission to the Lord’s sovereignty, just as the waters completely cover the sea.
10 At that time a root from Jesse will stand like a signal flag for the nations. Nations will look to him for guidance, and his residence will be majestic. 11 At that time the Lord will again lift his hand to reclaim the remnant of his people from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the seacoasts.
12 He will lift a signal flag for the nations; he will gather Israel’s dispersed people and assemble Judah’s scattered people from the four corners of the earth.
13 Ephraim’s jealousy will end, and Judah’s hostility will be eliminated. Ephraim will no longer be jealous of Judah, and Judah will no longer be hostile toward Ephraim.
14 They will swoop down on the Philistine hills to the west; together they will loot the people of the east. They will take over Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be their subjects.
15 The Lord will divide the gulf of the Egyptian Sea; he will wave his hand over the Euphrates River and send a strong wind; he will turn it into seven dried-up streams, and enable them to walk across in their sandals.
16 There will be a highway leading out of Assyria for the remnant of his people, just as there was for Israel, when they went up from the land of Egypt.