The Messiah’s Kingdom-Isaiah 11:1-16

Isaiah, Old Testament, Sermons

Isaiah 11:1-16

“They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isa 11:9).

Overview: The Messiah brings peace (11:1-9), unity (11:10-16) and joy (12:1-6). God created man to live in paradise (Gen 2:8-9). No man can bear to live without having paradise. Since the Fall, God’s plan is to restore paradise for the man.

Recap: The consequences of not trusting God is to experience God’s anger and judgment (9:8-10:34). God’s anger is directed toward those who think that they are able to control the future or who arrogantly boast about how great they are, like the king of Assyria (10:10-15). God’s displeasure is also against his own people who trust in man (Isa 2:22), rather than trusting in God (Isa 7:9b-12). Yet God is gracious and merciful to preserve a remant who fully rely on God (Isa 10:20-22).

Questions for reflection:

  • From studying Isaiah so far, what are your thoughts and reflections about “trusting God”?
  • How do you understand and apply Isaiah 2:22: “Stop trusting in man…” and Isaiah 7:9b?
  • Why do you think God and Isaiah regards faith and trusting God as of utmost importance?
  • What are some real life situations where you should trust God rather than yourself/others?

Interchange and Contrast (Isaiah 1-5) [The table of the interchange and contrast in Isaiah 1-6]: In Isaiah 1-5, there is the abrupt interchange and sudden shift in mood from the Israel that is (1:1-31; 2:6-4:1; 5:1-30) to the Israel that will be (2:1-5; 4:2-6) and back again. From arrogance, human exaltation, oppression, bitter grapes to what is pure, holy and glorious.

Cycle of Hope and Judgment (Isaiah 7-12):

  1. The Messianic Sign of Immanuel (Isa 7:1-16): His birth.
  2. The Messianic Son of God (Isa 9:1-7): His person, his nature.
  3. The Messianic Branch (Isa 11:1-16 ): His kingdom, his reign.
  • Interspersed between these messianic passages are passages of God’s judgment (7:17-8:22; 9:8-10:34).

What about Isaiah 6? Isaiah 6 is located between 1-5 and 7-12 for a reason.

  • One of the marks of the Isaiah’s style is its smooth transitions, so smooth that it is frequently difficult to decide whether a section is the final one in the preceding segment or the initial one in the following.
  • Isaiah 6 is the conclusion to ch.1-5, but it is also the introduction to ch.7-12.
  • So it is impossible to link Isaiah 6 solely to ch.1-5 or solely to ch.7-12. It functions with both sections, both showing the way of hope for the future (ch. 1-5) and explaining the present situation (ch.7-12). It is a genuinely strategic chapter, shaping and defining the book as a whole.

Trust God (a major theme of Isaiah):

  • 1-5 – Introduction: Introduces the idea/problem of servanthood, of rebelling against God and of not trusting God.
  • 6 – Call to servanthood/trust God. Trust, the basis of servanthood, is the solution to the problems addressed in 1-5.
  • 7-35 – No Trust.
  • 7-12 Refusing to trust God.
  • 7:1-16       Ahaz refuses to trust God.
  • 7:12-8:22  Judgment.
  • 9:1-7         Hope.
  • 9:8-10:34  Judgment on Israel and Assyria.
  • 11:1-16     The Branch: The Messiah’s kingdom.
  • 12:1-6       Hymn of trust.
  • 13-35 Study lessons on trust again.
  • 36-39 – Trust. Hezekiah passes the test of trusting God, unlike Ahaz.
  • 40-55 – Grace motivates us to trust God.
  • 56-66 – Grace enables us to live in the righteousness of God.

The Messiah’s Kingdom (Isaiah 11):

  1. Peace: The Ideal King (11:1-9).
  2. Unity: Gathering the Remnant (11:10-16).
  3. Joy: The Song of Salvation (12:1-6). The Song of Trusting God.

I. The Ideal/Perfect King Promotes Peace (11:1-9)

  1. His person (1-3a): His fitness to rule. Who he is.
  2. His government (3b-5): The character of his rule. How he rules.
  3. His influence (6-9): The result of his rule. What he does.

A. His person, his fitness to rule (11:1-3a): Who he is.

  1. Personal attributes, right appraisal.
  2. Wisdom and understanding (omniscience): To rule. His ruling attributes.
  3. Practical attributes, right decisions/actions.
  4. Counsel and might (omnipotence): To act. His practical abilities.
  5. Spiritual attributes, right relationships.
  6. Knowledge and fear of the Lord (omnipresence): To relate. His spiritual qualities.

Lofty tree vs. shoot/stump. The contrast between the lofty/proud trees of Assyria (Isa 10:33-34) and the lowly shoot/stump of Jesse (Isa 11:1) confirms that God demonstrates his glory by raising up people of humble means. The unimpressive “shoot” that will sproud “from the stump of Jesse” is a person from the Davidic royal line of Jesse, apparently the same son mentioned in Isa 9:6-7. In Isa 4:2, 9:6, 11:1, Isaiah employs different Hebrew terms to refer to this messianic figure, yet he connects the “Branch of the Lord” in Isa 4:2 with the son to be born in Isa 9:6 and the shoot that will come from the stump of Jesse in Isa 11:1. The “shoot” is a symbol of hope. It is a clear contrast to the hopelessness of Ahaz’s unbelief and political intrigues, which led to the eventual destruction of his nation and its Davidic line of rulers.

B. His government, the character of his rule (11:3b-5): How he rules.

In judgment, the Messiah can go beyond the apparent (Isa 11:3b) to the heart and truth of the matter.

Righteousness. The fundamental characteristic of the Messiah’s rule will be righteousness, which in practical terms will mean justice for the poor and meek (Isa 11:4-5), something which the current kings had failed to do (Isa 3:12-15).

Justice is uprightness, straightness, fairness. Thus, both the poor and wicked are dealt with even-handedly. Neither improper favor to the needy nor disfavor to the wicked subverts the exact balance of justice.

His mouth and lips. The Messiah needs no other weapon than his word (Isa 11:4b; Rev 19:15, 21).

His belt. The Messiah’s clothing–belt (Isa 11:5)–expresses both the inherent qualities of the wearer and the purposes to which the wearer is committed (Isa 59:16-17; 61:10; Josh 5:13; Ps 132:9, 16, 18). “Belt” symbolizes ability and readiness for action. Righteousness is what the Lord thinks is right. Faithfulness is what is unshakeably committed to what the Lord directs. Respectively, they are spiritual integrity and loyalty.

C. His influence, the result of his rule (11:6-9): What he does.

The effect of the Messiah’s rule is a paradise with peace and security. There will be universal peace (Isa 11:6-9), an ideal described in symbolic language which recalls the paradise of Eden. It is a picture of the whole creation put back into joint. The original curse on the relationship between man and the animals (Gen 3:14-19) will be removed. Natural enemies in the animal kingdom will live together, feed together and play together. The strong or poisonous beasts will not harm anyone (Isa 11:6-8). Fear and danger will disappear and they will be replaced with harmony and peaceful relationships. Formerly dangerous animals (wolf, leapard, lion, bear, cobra) will not even hard the most vulnerable children. This rather idyllic picture points to a future kingdom when there will be no evil, conflict, or death on God’s holy mountain (Isa 2:2-5; 4:2-6; 65:25).

The entire earth, not just Jerusalem/Zion, will be the Lord’s holy mountain (Isa 11:9; 2:2; 4:5). The Messiah will be known, and his rule will be experienced everywhere (Isa 11:9b).

Care for animals, for they belong to God:

  • “The righteous care for the needs of their animals,  but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel” (Prov 12:10).
  • “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,  give careful attention to your herds” (Prov 27:23).
  • “for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.11 I know every bird in the mountains,  and the insects in the fields are mine” (Ps 50:10-11).
  • “How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.25 There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small” (Ps 104:24-25).

II. Gathering the Remnant Brings Forth Unity (11:10-16)

  1. Reclaiming the remnant (11:10-12).
  2. Relations between nations (11:13-14).
  3. God will bring the nations (11:15-16).

Practical application:

  1. Live by the Spirit [of the Messiah] (Isa 11:2): Walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:16). Be led by the Spirit (Gal  5:18). Live by the Spirit, keep in step with the Spirit (Gal 5:25).
  2. Practice justice and righteousness (Isa 11:4-5).
  3. Live in peace, even with animals (Isa 11:6-8). Care for animals (Prov 12:10; 27:23), because animals of the earth are God’s own personal property (Ps 50:10; 50:11; 104:24-25).
  4. Seek to grow in the knowledge of God and to make him known in all the earth (Isa 11:9).
  5. Live in unity among ourselves, not jealousy (Isa 11:13).
  6. Always thank God for his mighty deliverance (Isa 11:15-16).

References:

  1. Smith, Gary V. Isaiah 1-39. The New American Commentary: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture. B & H Publishing Group. Noshville, TN. 2007. 143-149.
  2. Motyer, J. Alec. Isaiah. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. IVP. Downers Grove, IL, USA. 1999.
  3. Webb, Barry G. The Message of Isaiah: On Eagles’ Wings. The Bible Speaks Today. IVP. Downers Grove, IL, USA. 1997.
  4. Kidner, Derek. New Bible Commentary. IVP. Downers Grove, IL, USA. 1994.
  5. Ortlund Jr., Raymond C. Isaiah: God Saves Sinners. Preaching The Word. Crossway books. Wheaton, IL, USA. 1995. (Book. 50 audio sermons on Isaiah by Ray Ortlund.)
  6. Isaiah – Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae.
  7. Isaiah: Title of each chapter and commentary.
  8. Isaiah – Matthew Henry.
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