Reflection on Isaiah 11

In this chapter:

• Isaiah proclaims that there will be a remnant who will survive the harsh judgments mentioned in the previous chapters. The remnant of Israel will return to the Lord their God wholeheartedly, and out of that “stump” a “shoot” will sprout up. The shoot is the Messiah, Christ Jesus our Lord, and Isaiah mentions that this Messiah will spread the full knowledge of the Lord and cause all things to fall in accordance with God’s righteousness.

• Isaiah tells of the retributive justice that will follow the judgement where all Israel will unify and conquer all the nations who attacked them in while they were fighting amongst themselves.

• This chapter shows us that like an onion has many layers, so God’s promises are partially being unfolded from the day of Creation until the day that Christ finally assumes the throne of David son of Jesse, to reign over heaven and earth from Mt. Zion.

Read: Isaiah 11:1-9

The image presented here is that out of a stump, which will be the evidence that a tree (Israel) was cut down (in judgement), a shoot will grow up. This shoot, though small, gets its nourishment directly from the root (it's source), and because it will one day serve as the apex of the new tree it is also a sign of hope for an established future.

This shoot is described as a man of whom the spirit of the LORD rests. Of whom there is also the spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, and the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. We know that Isaiah points to this description based on an earlier description of the Messiah, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:6-7). Therefore many biblical interpreters agree that this “shoot” mentioned by Isaiah is indeed the Messiah. 

Read: Isaiah 11:3-5

This Messiah of whom the spirit of the LORD rests will not delight in the things that other men do, nor will he judge or decide matters the way that other men do. Rather with righteousness he will judge the poor, and bring forth equity (which results in balance and peace) by the weapon of his Word (rod of his mouth and breath of his lips) he will kill the wicked.

The previous verse challenges me because I have come to see killing as an unrighteous act. In fact God himself declares murder an act we should not participate in. Yet God alone, who created life, has the right to decide who will have a long one or short one on earth.

God has all power and reigns as the Sovereign Lord over all the earth, therefore the reign of the Messiah is the establishment of Christ’s singular rule over heaven and earth. With any other ruler this would be a recipe for disaster, but because Christ is adorned with righteousness and faithfulness, his rule is a righteous and just dictatorship, not like those we see today that are rooted in lust for power, selfishness ambition, and pride.

Read: Isaiah 11:6-9

This point brings to mind “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Therefore, take note, that when all creation returns back to God’s righteous way, things will seem strange in comparison to the way they are now.

This world of sin, war, and destruction has only one cure, “full knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea,” and when this is realized there will no longer be need for war. This is the description of the fulfilment of what Isaiah spoke of in Isaiah 2:4.

Read: Isaiah 11:10-12

The stump that remains behind after Israel is cut down is called here “the root of Jesse”, and because Jesse is king David's father we see that the scripture points to his Isrealite bloodline (not just David himself) from which the Messiah would come. Isaiah tells us that on that day everyone will come to the Wonderful Counselor to inquire of him, which tells us that Christ will be the source of all knowledge.

The mention of God’s extended hand a second time highlights God’s mercy and compassion, and points to the fulfillment of Christ’s second coming when he will draw all of the dispersion from every nation unto himself. Isaiah tells us exactly how God will do it, by raising a signal for the outcast of Israel and the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth to return back to Mt. Zion.

Read: Isaiah 11:13-16

Here we see that out of the full knowledge of the Lord (the knowledge which removes fear [see Isaiah 11:2]), Israel will no longer be disunified as they were because of God’s judgement (see Isaiah 9:20-21). Instead, Israel will unify as one nation and together they will attack and plunder their enemies until they submit to Israel and the Lord their God.

Isaiah also references another great exodus like the ones through the Red Sea and the Jordan River. The LORD will wave his hand over the sea of Egypt and a scorching wind will split it into seven channels making the grown dry enough for those Israelites in exile in Assyria to have a straight path back to their home.

Seven (seven channels) is the number of completion in Hebraic cultures, this would mean then that this coming deliverance would be the final time that God’s people would need to be rescued by him, and that all of his promises will be completely fulfilled.

Reflection

1. As you consider how Isaiah tells us that the knowledge of the LORD will one day change the heart of humanity from disunity to unity, think of the ways that your knowledge of God could stir up a spirit unity if you dared to share it with others.

2. In this chapter the Lord shows us repeatedly how much he desires for us to turn to him, in what way is God drawing you closer to him in your spiritual life?

3. In this chapter we also get the promise of retributive justice, where all who dealt wickedly with God’s people will be punished as God avenges his own and releases them from all forms of bondage forever. In light of the African Diaspora’s historical and present oppressive reality, what kind of retributive justice do you hope black people will find in Christ?

You are welcomed to pray this prayer with me:

God of all truth,

I thank you that Jesus was not a plan that man came up with to interrupt my relationship with you. I thank you that your word confirms that you’ve always had a plan to send your Son to be born, to live, and to die for my redemption. Strengthen my faith as I reflect on your promises and stand in awe of what you have already accomplished. Give me patience and renew my strength as I wait for all things to finally be made as your righteousness would have them, for these realities your people face today feel like too much for us to bear. And as you increase my faith, patience and strength, add also to my knowledge the knowledge of you, for according to your word it is through the knowledge of your Son that you take delight. May my portion of that knowledge of your love cause me to live a life that pleases you, in Jesus Name! Amen.