Sunday, December 16, 2018 Lesson: Isaiah 11:1-10; Time of Action: 733 B.C.; Place of Action: Jerusalem Golden Text: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked (Isaiah 11:4). I. INTRODUCTION. According to the Apostle Paul, the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now (see Romans 8:22). Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God, human beings have had to deal with an environment that brings forth thorns, thistles and weeds. It s also plagued by floods and droughts, withering heat and biting cold. Only with great difficulty have people coped with wild animals, insect pests, debilitating infections and crippling diseases. Our social world is also affected. Families experience discord and communities are disrupted by crime. Governments must devote a disproportionate share of their economic resources to war and defense. But must this continue forever? No! This week s lesson reveals that God s Messiah will someday set everything straight. Following the terrible judgments of the tribulation period (see Matthew 24:21, 29-31; Mark 13:24; Revelation chapters
6-19) Christ, the King of kings will return to earth to reign over His kingdom for a thousand years (see Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6). Those believers on the earth when Christ returns will enter His kingdom to live there (see Matthew 25:34). The earth that the resurrected and glorified saints will encounter will be very different from anything they have seen before. After the ravages inflicted on the earth by sinful humans for thousands of years and by God Himself in the judgments of the Great Tribulation, the conditions of the earth during the millennial kingdom will be supernaturally returned to an Eden-like paradise. Our lesson text is a picture of what Isaiah prophesied the millennial reign of Christ would be like. II. LESSON BACKGROUND. In the tenth chapter of Isaiah, the Lord spoke of the rise and decline of the Assyrian Empire. Because of the sins of Israel and Judah, the Assyrians would come against them as God s rod of discipline (see Isaiah 10:5-11). However, the Assyrians arrogance in so doing would lead to the decline and fall of their own kingdom (see Isaiah 10:12-19, 24-34). At their height, the Assyrians would be as majestic as the cedar forests of Lebanon, but when they fell they would never rise again. Because of apostasy or turning away from God, the house of David had been reduced to a mere stump, hardly visible among the tall cedars (other nations). But it still had God s life in it, and unlike the Assyrian Empire, Judah would be restored and rise to a new pinnacle of greatness. This is where our lesson begins.
III. THE PERFECT KING (Isaiah 11:1-5) A. The King s lineage (Isaiah 11:1). In our first verse the prophet Isaiah said And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. Even though God had declared through Isaiah that Israel would be invaded by the Assyrians, He also provided hope of restoration. The secret of this restoration would be that there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse. Of course, this is a reference to the Messiah. In other words a rod or shoot would grow out of the stem or stock of Jesse. By stem the prophet was referring to the part of a tree stump that remains in the earth. Therefore, the stem of Jesse refers to a stump left in Judah s soil after the tree (Israel) had been cut down. Notice that the nation had fallen so far that it s not even called by David s name, but by David s father s name Jesse. From the stump or stem of Jesse would come forth a rod meaning a shoot or twig that held the promise of a re-grown tree. Note: But why did Isaiah trace the Messiah back to Jesse instead of David (see Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:32)? One reason may be that in Isaiah s day the house of Israel had lost the splendor it had in the days of David and had sunk back into obscurity and insignificance. In addition, although the Davidic line was alive when the Messiah was born, there was no royal dignity in the house of David. If David s ruling house was a mere stump in Isaiah s day, just imagine how much less dignity it held when Jesus
Christ was born! By that time, David s royal line had fallen into completely anonymity as witnessed by the obscurity and poverty of Joseph and Mary. There was no king in Israel, and the Jews were once again oppressed by foreigners (Rome). But from humble beginnings the Messiah would emerge. Isaiah also referred to the Messiah as a Branch that shall grow out of his roots. The word Branch literally means a sprout and it is also used as a messianic term in Jeremiah and Zechariah (see Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12). The Hebrew verb underlying the phrase shall grow out of means to be fruitful. Looking beyond the effects of the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions and the captivity of the people, Isaiah s words gave hope of a flourishing and productive Israel during the millennial reign of Christ. B. The King s qualifications (Isaiah 11:2-3). 1. (vs. 2). This verse goes on to say And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. The One who will restore David s house will be fully equipped for His task because Isaiah said And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. This refers to the Holy Spirit whom the Father gave to Jesus in full measure at His baptism (see John 1:32-34; 3:34), and indwells Him permanently (see Colossians 2:9). The Holy Spirit is the source of the Messiah s gifts, which are presented here in three pairs. First, the Holy Spirit would endow the Messiah with the spirit of wisdom and understanding. The
word wisdom speaks of the ability to take knowledge and apply it properly in making decisions. Understanding speaks of discernment. It involves seeing into the heart of matters and making proper distinctions. The Apostle Paul later wrote that in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (see Colossians 2:2-3). As a Ruler, the Messiah would need wisdom and understanding, two qualities that Solomon used to establish a peaceful kingdom (see I Kings 3:11-12; 4:24-25). Jesus demonstrated these qualities with His correct assessment of human nature (see John 2:24-25), and in His ability to detect human motives and needs (see Matthew 22:18; Mark 12:34; John 4:1-19). Second, Messiah would also be bestowed with the spirit of counsel and might both of which put wisdom and discernment into practical life. The term counsel involves reaching right conclusions and making sound decisions. Might is the power to carry out what has been decided. During Jesus ministry, His might was seen in His power over death and disease (see John 11:32-44; Luke 17:11-16). In another messianic passage (see Isaiah 9:6), Isaiah calls the Messiah Wonderful Counselor and the Mighty God indicating that He never lacks the strength to carry out His wise counsels. The third pair of gifts that the Messiah would possess is the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. These two gifts are inseparable because a person cannot know the Lord without fearing Him (see Proverbs 1:7). Having knowledge of the Lord is more than just knowing about Him. It involves having an intimate relationship with Him. Fear of the Lord includes having a reverential respect for God s holiness which leads to obedience to Him. The Messiah would have perfect
knowledge of God because of His intimate relationship with Him, and reverential submission and obedience to His will (see Matthew 11:27; John 8:28-29). 2. (vs. 3). Isaiah continued his prophecy in this verse saying And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears. The result of Messiah s full endowments by the Holy Spirit is that those endowments shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. In Hebrew, quick understanding is one word and usually means smell or aroma. Probably a better translation is He will delight in the fear of the Lord since the Hebrew imagery portrays the Messiah smelling with great pleasure the fear or reverence of the Lord, just as He would savor the aroma of an offering. Having a perfect reverence for God Himself, Messiah will be delighted whenever He sees that same fear or reverence in others as well. The major task of a ruler is to hand down judgments and decisions for the good of the society he rules. The Messiah, properly related to God and endowed with the Spirit s gifts, will render nothing but infallible decisions. Therefore, the prophet also said that Messiah shall not judge after the sight of his eyes. This means that He will not be swayed by outward appearances, as many human judges are (see John 7:24). Even though the prophet Samuel had good qualities, he tended to judge others by their outward appearances (see I Samuel 10:23-24; 16:7) and had to be reminded that God looks at the heart (see I Samuel 16:7). In addition, the Messiah will neither reprove after
the hearing of his ears. The word reprove means to make decisions for someone. When making judgments or decisions, the Messiah will not reach conclusions based on hearsay or imperfect human observations that are reported to Him. As a divine Person, He will have perfect knowledge and the ability to see beyond both attractive and unappealing appearances as well as pleasing or unappealing words. C. The King s rule (Isaiah 11:4-5). 1. (vs. 4). In this verse, Isaiah goes on to say But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. The conjunction But introduces a contrast. Instead of making judgments or decisions based on what He sees or hears, the Messiah with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. The poor and the meek are singled out here because they are the ones most often exploited by unrighteous judges. The Mosaic Law laid down strict rules concerning fair treatment of the needy and afflicted (see Exodus 23:1-9; Leviticus 19:11-18, 35-36), but ungodly leaders allowed abuses to take place (see Isaiah 1:17, 23; 3:15; 10:1-2). But with righteousness the Messiah will judge the poor meaning He will bring justice to the needy. In addition, with equity or fairness He will reprove or render decisions for the world s meek, which refers to those who are humble and lowly. Note: The poor (needy) and the meek (afflicted) are classes of people that have
historically sought fairness but have rarely found it because of the world s tendency to favor the rich and powerful. Such corruption will not be found in the Messiah s kingdom. He will rule with a rigorous fairness that will reward no favors, repay no grudges, and respect no persons. His laws will be based on righteousness alone. As for the wicked who have long had their way, Messiah shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. Here, the words earth and wicked both refer to evil, for the Messiah will return to an earth dominated by wickedness and evil. He will begin His millennial reign by destroying and purging the earth of His enemies (see Psalms 2:8-9; II Thessalonians 1:6-9; Revelation 19:15). His purge or cleansing will end with the destruction of the Antichrist, Satan s personal representative (see II Thessalonians 2:8-9). The phrase rod of his mouth refers to God s Word (see John 12:48). In Scripture, God s Word is also likened to a fire and a hammer (see Jeremiah 23:29), and to a sword (see Ephesians 6:17; Revelation 1:16). Messiah will smite wicked men of the earth, who oppress others (see Psalms 10:17-18). He will strike with the rod of his mouth meaning that with the word of His mouth, He will pronounce terror and ruin upon the wicked (see II Thessalonians 2:8; Revelations 1:16; 2:16; 19:15). His words shall take hold of the wicked, and be used against them. The phrase with the breath of his lips most likely refers to the work of the Holy Spirit. In essence, the Messiah will rule by His spoken word, which is so powerful that it can destroy His enemies.
2. (vs. 5). The prophet continues to say in this verse And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. Both righteousness and faithfulness will be hallmarks of the Messiah s kingdom. His righteousness assures that His kingdom will consistently uphold absolute justice. His faithfulness is a pledge that His rule will always be based on the same standards. These two characteristics are likened to a girdle or belt. The girdle in Bible times was a sash or belt that secured the outer garment a loose, flowing robe tightly to the body. This enabled the person to move about with greater ease. The girdle kept the robe in its proper place, and was an essential part of one s clothing. The Bible sometimes portrays moral attributes or characteristics as clothing that one wears (see Ephesians 6:13-15). The term girdle may also have the military connotation of being equipped and prepared to face the enemy (see Ephesians 6:14; I Peter 1:13). Messiah s righteousness and faithfulness will unify all His attributes and give purpose to His actions. The terms loins and reins refer to a person s waist area. The point of this verse is that the as the Righteous Judge, Messiah will be clothed with fairness and with truth. IV. THE PEACEFUL KINGDOM (Isaiah 11:6-9) A. There will be peace in nature (Isaiah 11:6-8). 1. (vs. 6). In this verse, Isaiah prophesied that
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. When Messiah reigns, nature itself will be transformed. The earth, cursed at the fall of mankind will be rejuvenated and will fulfill its ordained purpose (see Romans 8:18-23). This amazing transformation is illustrated by carnivorous (flesh eaters) animals living side by side with their potential victims. The prophet said The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together. The wolf is seen dwelling with the lamb which normally would have been devoured by the wolf. Likewise, the leopard will no longer have an appetite for the kid or young goat lying down beside it. Also the helpless calf and the fatling or fatted oxen are safe in the presence of the young lion. When Messiah reigns, predator and prey will live together in peace. In addition, in this peaceful condition with all animals living together, a little child shall lead them. Regardless of the type of animal, they shall be led by a small child and willingly follow. This in itself is amazing, for no parent would even think of letting their small child come near dangerous animals. But in the millennial kingdom, this fear will not exist. Peace will reign! Note: This transformation is so unbelievable to many people that some have tried to make it spiritual instead of literal with the animals symbolizing humans. However, the mention of specific places (see Isaiah 11:11-16) leads me as well as many others, to believe that this prophecy will be fulfilled literally just as Isaiah prophesied it. In addition, other
prophecies foretell the same kinds of future conditions (see Isaiah 65:25; Ezekiel 34:25; Hosea 2:18; Romans 8:18-23). This prophecy concerning creation reveals that the conditions in the Garden of Eden will be restored in Messiah s kingdom (see Genesis 1:26-30; 2:19). 2. (vs. 7). Continuing his description of kingdom conditions, Isaiah said And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The prophet s illustration continues with the cow and the bear grazing or eating together while their young ones shall lie down together. Remarkably, the lion shall eat straw like the ox. This verse reveals that not only will behavioral changes take place among animals, but their diets will also be changed. Whereas lions and bears are carnivores, meaning they eat flesh, in Messiah s kingdom they will once again eat plants as they did in Eden. We must remember that all animals were originally herbivorous or plant eaters not carnivores or flesh eaters (see Genesis 1:30). The curse that was placed on the earth as a result of sin (see Genesis 3:17-19; 5:29) will be lifted in the messianic kingdom and Edenic conditions will be revived. God will restore nature to what He intended at the beginning. 3. (vs. 8). In this verse Isaiah continues to say And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den. Further conditions in the kingdom reveal that the sucking child shall play on the hole of the
asp. The sucking child is an infant. We are told that infants will play on the hole of the asp meaning a snake s hole. The weaned child would be a toddler. Like the infant, the toddler will put his hand on the cockatrice den. Both the asp and the cockatrice are snakes, but the Hebrew words don t give us a precise idea of what type of snakes they were. But the point is that snakes which were once poisonous will be no threat even to the youngest children. In Messiah s kingdom, even the youngest children, infants and toddlers will have no fear of being bitten by snakes even if they inadvertently interfere with the snakes habitat or way of life. The peace that will prevail in the messianic kingdom is truly remarkable! B. There will be worldwide knowledge of God (Isaiah 11:9). This verse says They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. The word They no doubt includes the animals mentioned in the previous verses as well as human beings. The term my holy mountain usually refers to Jerusalem (see Isaiah 2:2-3; 27:13; 56:7; 66:20) which will be the seat of worship in the kingdom. However, the peace that will characterize Jerusalem will also cover the whole world because Christ s reign will extend throughout the whole earth (see Isaiah 9:7). The fact that They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain stresses the idea that the Messiah s rule will be accompanied with safety for everyone. People will not have to fear for their lives, either because of evil men or because of hostile animals. Violence will be absent from the Lord s holy mountain. The reason
that these peaceful conditions will prevail is because the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. The Hebrew word for earth can also be translated land and refer to Israel. However, here it most likely refers to the whole earth, because even though Jesus will reign from Jerusalem, all nations will be under His control (see Isaiah 2:3-4; 66:18-20). In that day, the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth just as the waters cover the sea. The word knowledge here is more than having a passing acquaintance with Israel s God. It speaks of an experiential, personal and intimate relationship with Him. To know God in this way is to share His values, and value the things that are important to Him. Note: Even today, the knowledge of God in the lives of His own helps to restrain evil and promote good. Imagine the social impact that will follow when this knowledge covers the earth as the waters of the sea. Just as water works its way into every crevice in the sea, so the knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth and leave an impact on its peace and safety. C. The Banner for the nations (Isaiah 11:10). Our final verse says And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. Of course the phrase in that day refers to the millennial reign of Christ. He is referred to as a root of Jesse. In other words, Jesus Christ will be an heir from the family of Jesse who was David s father. The fact that Christ will stand for an ensign of the people means that He will be like a banner or signal around which people will
rally (see Romans 15:12). Isaiah prophesied that even the Gentiles or non-jews will come to Him. The last part of this verse says and his rest shall be glorious which can be translated literally as And His resting place shall be glory. Here the word rest refers to the place where the Messiah will settle down to rule (see Psalms 132:8, 13-14). The actual location of His rule will be Jerusalem, and Scripture testifies that nations will flock there to learn from Him (see Isaiah 2:2-4; Zechariah 8:19-23), because Christ Himself will be the glory that lights up His place of rest. V. Conclusion. God is always sovereign, whether mankind recognizes it or not. During most of human history, He has demonstrated His sovereignty to fallen humans in a variety of ways to convince them that He is worthy of their faith, worship, and obedience. But as this week s lesson has shown, God will one day demonstrate His sovereignty through a thousand year reign of peace and righteousness over regenerated people on a rejuvenated earth. ***The Bible Expositor and Illuminator, Union Gospel Press Curriculum***