Isaiah 11
Branch of Jesse verse 1- 5
And there shall come forth a ROD out of the stem of Jesse
AND a BRANCH shall grow out of his roots
AND the SPIRIT of the LORD shall rest upon HIM
Spirit of Wisdom – Spirit of Understanding
Spirit of Counsel – Spirit of Might
Spirit of Knowledge – Spirit of the
FEAR of the LORD
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
BUT with righteousness shall HE judge the poor
reprove with equity for the meek of the earth
AND HE shall smite the earth with the rod of HIS mouth
with the breath of HIS lips shall HE slay the wicked
AND righteousness shall be the girdle of HIS loins
and faithfulness the girdle of HIS reins
Reign of Branch of Jesse verse 6- 9
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb
the leopard shall lie down with the kid
the calf and the young lion
and the fatling together
A little child shall lead them
And the cow and the bear shall feed
their young ones shall lie down together
and the lion shall eat straw like an ox
And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp
and the weaned child shall
put his hand on the cockatrice’s den
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all MY mountain
for the earth shall be
full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea
Root of Jesse shall gather the people verse 10- 16
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
AND it shall come to pass IN THAT DAY that
the Lord shall set HIS hand again the SECOND TIME
to recover the remnant of HIS people
which shall be left from Assyria – Egypt
Pathros – Cush – Elam – Shinar
Hamath – the islands of the sea
And HE shall set up an ensign for the nations
and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel
and shall gather together the dispersed of Judah
from the four corners of the earth
The envy of Ephraim shall depart
and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off
Ephraim shall not envy Judah
and Judah shall not vex Ephraim
BUT they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines
toward the west
They shall spoil them of the east together
they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab
and the children of Ammon shall obey them
The LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea
and with HIS mighty wind shall HE shake HIS hand
over the river and shall smite it in the seven streams
and make men go over dryshod
And there shall be an highway for the remnant of HIS people
which shall be left from Assyria
LIKE AS it was to Israel in the day
that he came up out of the land of Egypt
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 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. (5117 “rest” [nuwach] means settle down and remain, to reside, or be in alliance.)
DEVOTION: Here we have a description of the Holy Spirit in relationship to the Messiah. The Messiah was to fulfill the prophecies regarding a future generation king from the family of David.
When Jesus Christ was baptized the New Testament book of Matthew described what happened when Jesus came out of the waters of baptism. The Father made a comment from heaven “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” [Matthew 3:17] Also on the same occasion we find the Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit descending like a dove and lighting upon Jesus. The Holy Spirit was in alliance with Jesus Christ. The next thing that HE did was lead Jesus Christ into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
In the book of Revelation Jesus is described “…and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne ….” This description goes along with the verse we are covering now.
This chapter gives us a glimpse of the relationship between the persons of the Trinity or Godhead. The Father is the one that they stand in awe of when they have the fear of the LORD. The Spirit encourages the people to realize that true wisdom comes for God alone. Jesus Christ is described as reigning in a world that is without conflict between humans and animals. HE is described as one who rules with righteousness. HE is faithful.
Followers of Jesus Christ now will reign with HIM during this time period. This gives us something to look forward to as we sometimes think that it isn’t worth it to live for Christ now. That is a wrong attitude. Serving the LORD now is an honor. It is a time period in which we can witness for the LORD to a lost world. It should excite us when we see individuals understand the truth of the Word of God and with this make a choice to follow the LORD. Then they can be with us for eternity.
CHALLENGE: Patience is what is necessary in our service to the LORD. Waiting for a time to reign with HIM seems like it is too hard but it will be worth it all. Don’t be like most of the world and think that instant gratification has to happen for true satisfaction.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 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. (3198 “reprove” [yakach] means rebuke, correct, plead, chasten, be right, or to act between parties with a view to reconciling difference and administering justice.)
DEVOTION: It is not us that are going to be the judge but the LORD only. Too often we would like to be the judge of people but we would always do it wrong because we don’t have all the facts. The LORD does!
When every individual meets the LORD they will know that the judgment that HE gives will be true and honest. There will be no excuses accepted. Either we have the LORD Jesus in our heart or we don’t.
There were many in Israel who were followers of the LORD. They were trying to live a life that was pleasing to HIM but the majority were those who didn’t want to obey HIM because they thought HIS rules were too strict.
Many today think that same thoughts regarding a life that is pleasing to the LORD. We want to have all our fun but not have all the rules of the LORD. Many even in churches are changing to making God in their own image instead of the image the Bible presents of HIM.
On judgment day there will be many surprised individuals. It will be sad for those who thought they were OK with God but didn’t really dedicate their lives to HIM according to the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: We need to make sure we are not making God in our image but that we are trying to live a life that is pleasing to HIM in the image of Jesus Christ.
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: 10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to HIM shall the Gentiles seek: and HIS rest shall be glorious. (5251 “ensign” [nec] means standard, flag, rallying point, pole, banner, something lifted up or signal.)
DEVOTION: The trumpet was blown to tell the troops to gather around the banner. They were to be ready to fight. The rallying point seems to imply that it is a person. The person is of the root of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David.
In verse one HE is of the stem of Jesse. HE is a Branch. Most Biblical scholars say that this is none other than the Messiah come back to reign the world. Throughout this chapter we have a description of the coming time when the Messiah shall reign over the earth. This time period is known as the Millennium.
HE will be the ensign. HE was lifted up on a cross. In the wilderness, a pole was raised with a serpent on it for the people to look on to be healed from the bites of the snakes the LORD had sent to judge the people. The cross was likened to this pole in the wilderness.
Christ is the Messiah. HE is going to gather the children of Israel together again, just as HE did from Egypt in the exodus. Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah-nissi, which means “the LORD is my banner.” We find in this passage that the Gentiles would seek HIM.
The rest that HE would give the world would be glorious. The time is coming. The Bible informs us that there will be a time of judgment before the Millennial reign of Christ.
Before this time of judgment the church will be taken to heaven for the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is the place where individuals who have chosen to follow the LORD are given their crowns and rewards.
Are we ready for the LORD to return? Will there be any stars in our crowns? Have we made the right choice regarding following HIM? Are we living in such a way that HE would be pleased if HE called us today? We should be. We are going to reign with HIM!!!
We need to spread the word regarding the LORD’S plan for the future. Then we need to inform them that they can join the family of God by becoming a follower of Jesus Christ. It is an exclusive group of people. They will be the only ones who will rule and reign with Christ during the time period described in this chapter.
CHALLENGE: Our choice is to believe the Word of God or not. We will enter into the eternal rest that HE plans for HIS children.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of HIS people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. (7605 “remnant” [sha’ar] means remainder, residue, rest, something left after other parts are removed, or part of a whole.)
DEVOTION: Throughout the Word of God as the LORD dealt with people there were some chosen and others left behind. There was always a group that were believers and a group that were heathen. Today it is the same. There is a smaller group that are genuine believers and then a group that is religious but not genuine if their following of the LORD. Those who are just religious will be in the same group as those who are heathen when it comes to the final judgment of all people who have ever lived.
During the time just before the Millennium there will be those who have become believers during the Tribulation time period that will enter into this time period with Jesus Christ will reign from Jerusalem.
This verse gives us the idea that there will be no impediments to people traveling to Jerusalem to worship Jesus. The LORD is going to cause a highway to exist that will allow people to travel to worship HIM. There will be no excuse. There will be no reason for people to say they can’t get to this place of worship.
Today we have many who claim Christ who will use any excuse not to attend church. Some of the excuses might seem genuine but most are just lies that people tell themselves as to why they don’t fellowship with believers every Sunday.
The LORD expects and wants our worship every day but especially on the LORD’S Day Christians should gather to love and encourage one another.
CHALLENGE: Only each one of us knows what it will take to put a road block between our times of worship each Sunday as to whether it is genuine or something that we make up to excuse our lack of worship.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 2, 3, 15
Fear of the LORD verse 2, 3
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 11
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Rod verse 1
Branch verse 1
Spirit of the LORD rest upon HIM verse 2
Quick understanding verse 3
Fear of the LORD verse 3
Not judge after sight of eyes verse 3
Judge righteously verse 4
Reprove with equity verse 4
Righteous verse 5
Faithful verse 5
Control over animals verse 6- 8
Root of Jesse verse 10
Ensign verse 10
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit of the LORD verse 2
Spirit of Wisdom verse 2
Spirit of Understanding verse 2
Spirit of Counsel verse 2
Spirit of Might verse 2
Spirit of Knowledge verse 2
Spirit of the fear of the LORD verse 2
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Meek of the earth verse 4
Gentiles verse 10
Assyria verse 11, 16
Egypt verse 11, 15, 16
Pathos verse 11
Cush verse 11
Elam verse 11
Shinar verse 11
Hamath verse 11
Islands of the sea verse 11
Nation verse 12
Philistines verse 14
Edom verse 14
Moab verse 14
Ammon verse 14
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Wicked verse 4
Envy verse 13
Adversaries verse 13
Vex verse 13
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Wisdom verse 2
Understanding verse 2
Counsel verse 2
Might verse 2
Knowledge verse 2, 9
Fear of the LORD verse 2, 3
Righteousness verse 4, 5
Faithfulness verse 5
Remnant verse 11
Highway for the remnant of HIS people verse 16
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Stem of Jesse verse 1, 10
Holy Mountain verse 9
Israel verse 12, 16
Judah verse 12, 13
Ephraim verse 13
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
In that day verse 10, 11
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QUOTES regarding passage
16. The work of new creation has been done and the world is ready for the one people. This coming exodus is as it was for Israel. We could translate the remnant of his people as ‘his remnant people’ (see 24:16), the gathering of his elect from the four corners of the earth (Mark 13:27). What the New Testament will yet call ‘the Israel of God’ is thus envisaged by Isaiah as he foresees the one people brought together by divine action. (Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, p. 122). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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15–16 The nations mentioned in v.14 were small and insignificant when compared with the great militarist regimes of Egypt and Mesopotamia. God’s hand of power will be stretched forth in fulfillment of his purposes for his people in both areas. He had dried up the water of the Red Sea before. He would act again to dry it up and for the same liberating purpose (v.15). He had used a great wind (Exod 14:21) at the Exodus; he would do so again to bring the people back from Mesopotamia, for the wind would produce there a delta not unlike that at the mouth of the Nile.
The highway promised (v.16) may contain an allusion to Exodus 14:26–29, the dry road through the Red Sea; or it may mean that God will bring them back safely across the desert that stretched between Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean sea board (cf. 35:8). (Grogan, G. W. (1986). Isaiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 91). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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11:15–16. When Israel returns to her land at the beginning of the Millennium, God will prepare the way for her. The Gulf of Suez will be dried up to enable Israelites to return from Egypt and Cush (cf. v. 11), and the Euphrates River will be divided into shallow canals so that the people can return to Israel from the east. This drying of the waters will be reminiscent of the first Exodus when Israel crossed the Red Sea (lit., “Sea of Reeds”) on dry land (Ex. 14:21–22). The return from Assyria (Isa. 11:16), perhaps representative of all places from which the remnant would come, will be like Israel’s “exit” from Egypt. Isaiah did not know when this new Exodus would take place; he may have thought it would occur soon. (Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1058). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The nucleus of the kingdom will be a regathered and reunited Jewish nation (Isa. 11:10–16). The “Root” will become a “banner” for the rallying of the people as the Lord reaches out and gathers His people from the nations where they have been exiled (43:5–6). It will be like a “second exodus” as God opens the way for His people to return to their land. In a limited sense, this promise was fulfilled after the Assyrian conquest and when the Jews left Babylonian Captivity; but the ultimate fulfillment will be at the end of the age when Messiah regathers His people (27:12–13; 49:22–23; 56:7–8; Matt. 24:31; Rom. 11:25–29). The centuries-long division between Israel and Judah will come to an end, and even the Gentiles will walk on “the highway” that leads to Jerusalem.
The “highway” is one of Isaiah’s favorite images. Those who obey the Lord have a level and smooth road to walk (Isa. 26:7–8). When God calls His people back to their land, He will prepare the way for them (40:3–4) and lead them safely (42:16). He will remove obstacles so the people can travel easily (49:11; 57:14; 62:10). God’s highway will be called “the Way of Holiness” (35:8).
When Isaiah looked at his people, he saw a sinful nation that would one day walk the “highway of holiness” and enter into a righteous kingdom. He saw a suffering people who would one day enjoy a beautiful and peaceful kingdom. He saw a scattered people who would be regathered and reunited under the kingship of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come” (Matt. 6:10); for only when His kingdom comes can there be peace on earth. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (p. 40). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Certain geographical and geological changes are indicated here which no doubt will be effected at the time when the feet of our Lord shall stand again upon the Mount of Olives, and there shall be a great earthquake with far-reaching results, as foretold in Zechariah 14. (Ironside, H. A. (1952). Expository notes on the prophet Isaiah. (pp. 79–80). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; alike as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.
From Assyria; as there was another highway from Egypt in the former verse. So the sense is, that all impediments shall be removed, and a way made for the return of God’s Israel from all parts of the world. He mentions Assyria, because thither the ten tribes were carried, 2 Kings 17:23; whose case seemed to be most desperate. (Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 2, p. 355). New York: Robert Carter and Brothers.)
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Ver. 16. And there shall he a highway for the remnant of his people, &c.] That is, through the river; that being dried up, and all hinderances and obstacles being removed, the way will be clear for multitudes to walk in without interruption, like a large common, highway, or causeway; so the Mahometan, Pagan, and Papal kingdoms being destroyed, and with them their several religions, the way of truth, righteousness, and holiness, will be manifest to the remnant of the Lord’s people; who will be at this time in those parts, in which they will be directed to walk, and will walk, and not err, see ch. 35:8: which shall be left from Assyria; the Septuagint and Arabic versions read, which is left in Egypt; and designs the remnant, according to the election of grace, that shall be in any of the antichristian countries, either Mahometan or Papal; rather the former seems intended, who shall at this time be brought to the knowledge of Christ, and to walk in his ways: like as it was to Israel in that day that he came up out of the land of Egypt: that is, as there was a highway made through the Red sea, in which Israel passed, as on dry land, when they came out of Egypt, and went through the wilderness to Canaan’s laud. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, p. 75). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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NAMES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me. Isaiah 61:1
The best way to approach the doctrine of the Holy Spirit is to notice the names or the descriptive titles given to this blessed Person.
First of all, there are the many names that relate Him to the Father. Let me enumerate some of them: “the Spirit of God” (Genesis1:2); “the Spirit of the Lord” (Luke 4:18); “the Spirit of our God”(1 Corinthians 6:11). Another is “the Spirit of the Lord GOD,” which is in Isaiah 61:1. Our Lord speaks, in Matthew 10:20, of “the Spirit of your Father,” while Paul refers to “the Spirit of the living God” (2 Corinthians 3:3). “My Spirit,” says God in Genesis 6:3, and the psalmist asks, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit?” (Psalm 139:7). He is referred to as His Spirit—God’s Spirit—in Numbers 11:29; and Paul, in Romans 8:11, uses the phrase “the Spirit of him [God the Father] that raised up Jesus from the dead.” All these are descriptive titles referring to the Holy Spirit in terms of His relationship to the Father.
In the second group are the titles that relate the Holy Spirit to the Son. First, “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:9), which is a most important phrase. The word “Spirit” here refers to the Holy Spirit. In Philippians 1:19, Paul speaks about “the Spirit of Jesus Christ,” and in Galatians 4:6 he says, “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son.” Finally He is referred to as “the Spirit of the Lord” (Acts 5:9).
The third group comprises the direct or personal titles, and first and foremost here, of course, is the name Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. Some people are confused by those two terms, but they mean exactly the same thing. The English language is a hybrid that has borrowed from other languages, and “Ghost” is an old Anglo-Saxon word, while “Spirit” is derived from the Latin spiritus.
A Thought to Ponder: Notice the names or the descriptive titles given to the Holy Spirit.
(From God the Holy Spirit, pp. 6-7, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The first chapter of Genesis reveals God as Creator of the universe.
INSIGHT
In the beginning, God! That is the way it is throughout the Bible. “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3).
“Every knee [will] bow . . . every tongue [will] confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10-11).
God wants to be first and foremost in your life. He is the Author of the first creation, and He is the Author of the new creation in your heart.
In the first creation, the wind and the waves obey the Lord — they have no choice. In the new creation, there is a choice: to obey or not to obey — the pleasures of sin for a moment or the favor of fellowship for a lifetime.
Have you chosen to put God first in your life? Not to decide is to decide. (Quiet Walk)
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The Beginning of the Year
“A land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.” (Deuteronomy 11:12)
This phrase, “the beginning of the year,” occurs only twice in the Bible, here in Deuteronomy 11:12 and in Ezekiel 40:1. In this passage, the Lord, through Moses, is speaking of the promised land which He had prepared for the children of Israel, “a land of hills and valleys, [that] drinketh water of the rain of heaven” (Deuteronomy 11:11), promising great blessing on the land and its people if they obeyed God, but judgment if they disobeyed.
Although these promises were made specifically with reference to Israel, the principle surely would apply worldwide, for God “hath made of one blood all nations of men . . . and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord” (Acts 17:26-27). It certainly has applied to America, for God has certainly blessed our nation most abundantly, founded as it was in its beginnings on the principles of God’s words. Sadly, however, there are now many signs that His blessings are being withdrawn, with judgment imminent, because of the widespread apostasy and moral decay that have overtaken us.
Here, at “the beginning of the year,” we can pray that America will return to the God of our fathers before it is too late and final judgment falls on our once-blessed nation. In the words of our text, “the eyes of the LORD” are on us, “from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.”
In addition to prayer, we personally can work and give and vote and live in ways that demonstrate our own personal trust in God and His Word, as well as our deep concern for our families, our churches, our nation, and God’s eternal plan for His great creation. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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The word mediocre comes from two Latin words and literally means “halfway to the peak.” This makes it an apt description of the progress of many Christians. They are halfway to heaven but halfway up to where they ought to be, halfway between the valley and the peak. They are morally above the hardened sinner but they are spiritually beneath the shining saint. (p. 46 I Talk Back to the Devil by A. W. Tozer)
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Such as these are mediocre Christians. They have not gained the heights where they can feel the warmth of the sun and yet they are not far enough down to be frozen in the valley. (p. 47 I Talk Back to the Devil by A. W. Tozer)
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