Isaiah 11

Isaiah 11:1

3. Messiah’s Millennial Kingdom (Chaps. 11, 12)11:1 Isaiah 11 is one of the greatest passages on the Millennium in either the OT or the NT. In one of the quick transitions, so frequent in the prophets, we are now carried forward to the Second Coming of Christ. First we see the lineage of the Son of David, a Rod from the stem of Jesse, who was David’s father (1Sa_17:12). 11:2 Messiah’s anointing with the spirit of the LORD is expressed in three pairs of spiritual attributes. W. E. Vine explains them clearly and concisely: The first, “the spirit of wisdom and understanding”, relates to powers of mind: wisdom discerns the nature of things, understanding discerns their differences. The second, “the spirit of counsel and might”, relates to practical activity: counsel is the ability to adopt right conclusions, might is the power exercised in carrying them out. The third pair, “the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord”, relates to fellowship with Jehovah; knowledge is here a knowledge of Jehovah (both details of this pair go with “of Jehovah”); Christ Himself said “ye have not known Him (ginsk, i.e., ye have not begun to know Him), but I know Him (oida, i.e., I know Him intuitively and fully)”, Joh_8:55. 11:3-5 Next the absolute equity of Christ’s rule is described in majestic poetry; then His punishment of the wicked, His personal righteousness, and His reign of peace and safety. 11:6-9a Even wild animals will submit to Messiah’s rule, making it possible for a nursing child to play by the cobra’s hole. 11:9b One of the most glorious promises in all of Holy Scripture is the second half of v. 9, giving the reason for the ideal conditions during the Millennial Kingdom. Jennings translates it into rhymed English verse, bringing out the poetic name for the Lord (Jah): For full of Jah’s knowledge shall the land be, E’en as the waters cover the sea. 11:10-16 The Messiah will be a banner, attracting the Gentiles to Himself, and the seat of His authority will be glorious. The Lord will regather the remnant of His people from all directions of the compass. Judah and Israel (Ephraim) will live together in peace, and will subdue their enemiesthe Philistines, Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites. The tongue of the Sea of Egypt (the Red Sea) will be dried up, and the River (the Euphrates) will be reduced to seven streams so that the Jews can return to the land. A highway will connect Assyria and Israel so that the return from the north will be made easy.