Isaiah 11

When is the Messiah going to rule like this? In one sense, His rule has already begun. But surely Isaiah is looking beyond this present Church age to Christ’s second coming, at which time His kingdom will be fully established.

6–9 These verses clearly point to a future Messianic kingdom in which hostility and killing come to an end—even among animals. The great predators will recognize that human beings are rulers over all living creatures (Genesis 1:28), so that even a little child will be able to lead them (verse 6). Isaiah seems to be describing an earthly restoration of the Garden of Eden, in which everything live sin harmony and there is freedom from decay⁶⁷ (see Romans 8:19–22).

10–11 Here the “Branch of Jesse” is called the Root of Jesse (see Revelation 22:16). In that day—either this present day or the day of Christ’s second coming—the Gentile nations will rally to Christ⁶⁸ (verse 10). In that day the Lord will for a second time⁶⁹ reclaim a remnant of Jews who have been scattered among the nations (verse 11).

12–16 In these verses Isaiah continues his vision of the in gathering of Jews from the four quarters of the earth. These Jews will include both exiles of Israel (the northern kingdom) and exiles of Judah (the southern kingdom); a remnant of all God’s chosen people will be gathered (verse 12). Earlier God’s people had been torn in two because of the sin of a son of David (1 Kings 11:9–13); one day they will be reunited under the rule of another Son of David, Jesus Christ.

When that happens, Ephraim (Israel) and Judah will no longer fight each other. Together they will regain the territory and influence they had lost⁷⁰ (verse 14). The Lord will make a highway leading to Jerusalem from all the surrounding nations, and He will bring His people safely back to their “promised land.”⁷¹