THE RIGHTEOUS BRANCH

Isa. 11:1-10, “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, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and 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, 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.  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.   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.

   And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.   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.   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.”

I. FROM A STUMP TO A SHOOT

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

In chapter ten, the Assyrian army and leader are seen as this flourishing forest that would soon be rooted up by the Lord. The Messiah would come out of a decayed tree. A little sprout that would grow an eternal kingdom.

The stem of Jesse meant that this Messiah would rise out the family lineage of Jesse, the father of David. Mary would be like Jesse. She would poor, obscure, and unknown.

II. FROM A SPIRIT TO FLESH

“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.”

And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, The definitive attributes of the Spirit are named, in which Jesus possessed. First, wisdom and understanding are underlined. Matt. 13:54, “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?”

Luke 2:47, “And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.”

HIS QUALITIES 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, 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. 

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

1) Righteously Judge: 2 Tim 1) Righteously Judge: 2 Tim. 4:1, 8, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom… Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

2) Slay the Wicked: “and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” Hos. 6:5, “Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.”  Rev. 1:16, “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. “The sense of this verse is plain. He will always exhibit himself as a just and faithful king. “The girdle of the loins” refers to the cincture, or band, with which the ancients girded themselves” (Albert Barnes).

3) Unique Peace: Isa. 11:6-9, “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.   And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.   And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.  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 WOLF WITH THE LAMB

THE LEOPARD WITH THE KID

THE CALF AND THE YOUNG LION

THE COW AND THE BEAR FEEDING WITH EACH OTHER

Peace and Security are at the heart of this prophecy Peace and Security are at the heart of this prophecy. It speaks of those who were once prey laying down in harmony with the predators. “And a little child shall lead them,” has been often misinterpreted. Some feel this speaks of Christ. However, it refers to the harmony of these beasts. They become so tamed that even a small child could lead them.

III. FROM THE ROOT OF JESSE TO AN ENSIGN OF THE PEOPLE

Heb. 11:9, 10, “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.   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.”

THE HOLY MOUNTAIN “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.” This refers to the church which is an allusion to the Mount Zion. The disposition of people, naturally ferocious and cruel, shall be changed so entirely, that the causes of strife and contention shall cease. They shall be disposed to do justice, and to promote each other’s welfare everywhere (Barnes Notes).

Acts 4:32, “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”

A HOLY ENSIGN “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.” The prophet, having described the birth, and the personal characteristics of the great personage to whom he referred, together with the peaceful effects of his reign, proceeds to state the result of that reign in some other respects.

The banner was the flag which instructed the army The banner was the flag which instructed the army. It told where they should stand, when they should march, and when they should fight. It also served to distinguish one company from another.

“…to it shall the Gentiles seek.” This Messiah was be sought out by the Gentiles. Gal. 3:14, “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

“…and his rest shall be glorious.” 1 Pet. 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”