This is a study of Jesus being a banner for the peoples. This is an end time theme when the people see Jesus and HIs glorious rest and become a part of HIs Kingdom.

1. JESUS WAS A BANNER FOR THE PEOPLES
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Isaiah11:10 On that day the root of Jessewill stand as
a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him,
and His place of rest will be glorious.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Judah And The Nations
Isaiah11:10-16
E. Johnson
I. HONOR TO THE ROOT OF JUDAH. The scionfrom the ancient trunk
will be honored far and wide among the heathen, because ofthose virtues
already describedin the preceding section. It will be a banner to which they
will flock, a center of light and living oracles.
II. REDEMPTION OF THE REMNANT. The mighty hand of Jehovahwill be
stretchedforth to gatherthe scatteredones from all the four quarters of their
dispersion. When the banner is raised, the heathen will ownits powerand the
captives will be released.

2. III. INTERNALUNITY. The two great tribes will remain side by side, but
then enmity will cease.The recentdestruction of Samaria had been causedby
that enmity; which ceasing, it will be found that union is strength, and the
nations will submit on the Westand East. And those greatthreatening
neighbors, Egypt and Assyria, will feelthe weightof Jehovah's hand and the
punishment which the word of his mouth inflicts. And as the greatriver is
smitten into sevenfordable streams, the company of pilgrims will flow back, a
way made for them by the hand of their God, as in the days of their
forefathers, and the exodus from Egypt. The scion from the old stump may be
takenas a figure of the revival of true religion in times of decay. And such
revival means the union of long-sundered hearts, the recognitionof an
internal unity among all the faithful, the restorationof influence, and the
dismay of the ungodly world. - J.
Biblical Illustrator
There shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people.
Isaiah11:10
Messiah, the root of Jesse
J. Benson, D. D.
If, through the infallible guidance of the Divinely inspired apostles and
evangelists, we canfind the Messiahspokenofin many passagesofthe Old
Testament, in which we should not otherwise have found Him; in many others
He is so evidently intended and set forth, that, even without that guidance, no
intelligent person, possessedof any degree of spiritual discernment, can fail of
discovering Him (Psalm 2:7, 8; Isaiah9:6; Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah61:1; Isaiah
35:4-6; Isaiah50:6; Psalm 22:16-18;Psalm69:21; Isaiah52:13; Isaiah53:2, 3;
Daniel Daniel9:26 Zechariah 6:12, 13). This paragraph is so manifestly meant
of Christ, and of His kingdom, that it is perfectly incapable of any other
application.

3. I. THE PERSONAND ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL OFFICESOF THE
MESSIAH, — "A ROOT OF JESSE";"AN ENSIGN OF THE PEOPLE."
1. In the preceding verses, He is setforth in His human nature, as the "Rod"
which should "come forth out of the stem of Jesse," "the Branchwhich should
grow out of his roots" (Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah3:8); but here, in His Divine
nature, in which alone He could be the "rootof Jesse";the creating "word"
(Colossians1:16). The word here rendered "root," is properly so translated,
and never means branch, or rod. This is the case likewisein Revelation5:5. In
Revelation22:16, we find both natures mentioned and distinguished; and also
in Romans 1:3; Romans 4:2. His office. "He shall stand for an ensignof the
people." Where they may take oath and swearallegianceto the greatKing
and bind themselves by covenantto be His loyal subjects. Where they may
enlist, and engage to be His faithful soldiers to their life's end. But how is He
an ensign, a banner, or standard, visibly displayed? By manifestation of His
real character, and showing Himself to be the very Messiahthat should come.
By unfurling and unfolding the truth in His doctrine. By exerting and
displaying His power in miracles. By manifesting His love in all His actions
and sufferings. As lifted up upon the Cross (John12:32). As exalted to the
Father's right hand (Acts 2:33). As preachedand declaredto every creature,
to every nation under heaven, for the obedience of faith. As coming in the
clouds of heaven, gathering His elect, gathering "all nations and tongues," to
see His glory.
II. THE APPLICATION THAT IS TO BE MADE TO HIM BY THE
GENTILES. "To Him shall the Gentiles (Hebrews, 'the nations') seek." He
Himself came to seek and save the lost, and He is often found of those that
before sought Him not. Those, however, that are first found of Him do
themselves also seek Him.

4. 1. But for what purposes? As an infallible Teacher, fortruth and grace. As a
Mediator, for pardon, etc. As an all-sufficient Saviour, expecting deliverance
from the powerand pollution of sin, from the flesh, the world, and the devil.
As their rightful Sovereign, to give law to them, to rule, protect, and exalt
them. As the Captain of their salvation, to go before them and conquer for
them, to enable them to conquer, and to crownthem as victorious.
2. But how do they seek Him? By desire, earnest, constant, increasing, restless
(Isaiah 55:1; John 7:37; Revelation22:17). By prayer (Joel2:32; Acts 2:21;
Romans 10:13; 1 Corinthians 1:2). By faith and trust (Isaiah 28:16; Romans
10:11;Romans 15:12).
III. THE EFFECTSTHAT SHALL FOLLOW. "His rest shall be glorious."
As a Teacher, the "light of the world," and as made of God to His people
"wisdom," He gives rest to the understanding from the uncertainties of error,
by the clearand satisfactoryknowledge ofthe truth, and faith therein, or "the
full assurance ofunderstanding." As a Priest, and as made of God to us
"righteousness,"He gives restto the conscience. As a Saviour from sin, and as
made of God unto us "sanctification,"He gives rest to the will, affections, and
passions, humbling our pride, subduing our rebellious dispositions (Matthew
11:29). As a King, by delivering, defending, governing, ordering, disposing,
and making all things work for good, and setting up His kingdom in our
hearts, He gives us rest from cares, fears, andanxieties. As the Captain of our
salvation, He gives the rest consequenton victory over our enemies, in
deliverance from all tormenting fear of them, even the fearof death, and
enabling us, while on earth, to live in peace, love, and harmony, with one
another. He gives rest to the earth during the millennium (Isaiah 11:6-9;
Isaiah9:7; Isaiah 32:15-19;Micah 4:1-4; Zechariah 14:6-9).
(J. Benson, D. D.)

5. The root of Jesse
H. M. Booth, D. D.
I. THE SURROUNDINGSWITHWHICH THE REDEEMER WOULD BE
CONNECTED. He was to be "a root of Jesse."Elsewhere in his prophecy
Isaiahspeaks ofHim as "a root out of a dry ground." The dry ground in
which this root yielded the Plant of renown was the barren soilof a corrupt
age, a worn out civilisation, a depraved humanity. His descentfrom Jesse
associatedHim vitally with a notable family of the Jews. But centuries had
passedsince the descendants of Jessehad made themselves conspicuous. The
energy of that vigorous family had expended itself in the luxury and the
frivolity of many kings. Josephof Nazareth, the village carpenter, and Mary
his espousedwife, were the living representatives ofan illustrious ancestry;
and they were so poor and so humble that Bethlehem, their native city, had no
welcome for them when they went thither to be enrolled. The Child Jesus
shared their lot. He could not have frequented the schools,forHis townsmen
were astonishedat His wisdom when He began to teach. He evidently had the
Old TestamentScriptures in His hands, and He had the swatinfluence of His
mother, and the wise counsels ofJoseph, and He had the synagogue. Thatwas
His environment — so far as His environment was helpful. He could draw no
inspiration from the ordinary Jewishlife of Nazareth, and still less from the
Greek or Roman life of Galilee. His Jewishlineage is unquestioned, and yet
there is nothing Jewishabout Him. He is larger than the nation, largereven
than the race. None of the important laws of heredity can explain Him.
II. THE ATTITUDE WHICH THE REDEEMERWOULD ASSUME. He was
to "stand for an ensignof the people." Ideas are symbolised by standards. A
national flag represents a national idea. Isaiah declaredthat Jesus would
"stand for an ensignof the people" — not of the Jews merely, but of the
Gentiles also;and Jesus made a similar declarationconcerning Himself. "And
I, if I be lifted up from the earth," etc. He anticipated universal supremacy.
This is surely a very remarkable expectationto be cherishedintelligently by
an ordinary Jew of that period of history. Raciallines were then sharply
drawn. Yet Jesus — a Jew, and a Jew in a small provincial town, rose to an
appreciationof the essentialonenessofhumanity, and presented Himself, with

6. His idea, as the ensign of the people, so that Paul, a Hebrew of the Hebrews,
was able to write to the Gentiles of Ephesus:"Ye are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God."
This expectationwas not cherished by one who was marching at the head of
an invincible army, but by a very humble young man in the quiet village of
Nazareth. He had never been abroad. He had enjoyed but little contactwith
the world. Yet He made this claim of universal authority. The sobriety of His
claim will appear, and the wisdom of His purpose will be evident, if attention
is directed to the characteristicsofHis idea, and if the trend of human
progress is regarded. The idea of Jesus, the idea illustrated by His character
and life, the idea around which Christendom is crystallising, is clearly
expressedin the words, "not to be ministered unto, but to minister." This
idea, the service of self-sacrifice, is one which is capable of transforming life.
Now that idea is beginning to assertits power.
III. THE INFLUENCE WHICH THE REDEEMERWOULD EXERT. "His
rest shall be glorious." This is the promise of peace which Jesus Himself
repeated. Very simple are the terms, and yet men draw back from their
simplicity. They want the rest, but they do not want to kneelat the feet of
Christ. This work — so glorious — is not an experiment. It has approved
itself. In Christ, all men may find rest.
(H. M. Booth, D. D.)
The holy war
F. W. Brown.
Our Lord as an Ensign—
I. MUSTERS HIS FORCES FOR THE BATTLE. Under the Old Testament
dispensation, JehovahrevealedHimself as the Lord of hosts — as a man of
war; and God manifest in the flesh was the Captain of salvation, and setup

7. His standard for men to rally around, that they might overcome sin without
and sin within. As soldiers of the Cross, we are to muster around our great
Ensign, for discipline, drill, and for battle. The royal proclamationhas gone
forth; war has been declaredagainstthe powers of darkness;the trumpet of
the Gospelhas sounded, calling upon "all the world" and "every creature";to
it the Gentiles have come, and the Church militant is going forth in this holy
war.
II. MARCHES WITH HIS FORCES TO THE BATTLE. He goes in front as
Leader and Commander, to guide, stimulate, and cheer. The strength of His
arm and the light of His eye are to act as inspiration to His troops.
1. He goes before in His example. He fought with Satan, and He overcame the
world. He conqueredits frowns and smiles, and always went His way. "He
was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."
2. He goes before us in precept. He has given us commandments how we shall
march and how we shall fight; and He is ever present to give powerto His
Word by the illumination and demonstration of His Holy Spirit. The early
Christians were heroic and successfulin battle, for they realisedthe presence
of the greatEnsign with them.
III. MINGLES WITH HIS FORCES IN THE BATTLE. "His restshall be
glorious." It shall not be a doubtful or drawn battle; it shall end in complete
victory. The Saviour, when He finished the greatatonement, ascendedup on
high, and "satdown" in peace and power, — He entered into glorious rest.
(F. W. Brown.)

8. Jesus the Ensign
J. W. Cole.
I. THE WORK OF CHRIST.
1. Jesus may be calledan ensignbecause He is a gathering or rallying point
for men. There always have been persons who have stoodforth prominently
from their fellows, in travel, in science, in ethics, in art, in song. These have
founded particular schools ofthought or philosophy, and men have claimed
them as leaders, rangedthemselves round their standards, and been proud to
be called by their names. Such individuals have been "ensigns of the people,"
gathering or rallying points for their own followers. Justso is Jesus
preeminently "an ensign for the people."
2. An "ensign," is a banner to fight under. The watchwordof the true believer
in Jesus is, "Jehovahnissi!" There are different regiments enrolled in the
Lord's sacramentalhost, and therefore are they spokenof as "an army with
banners"; but every sectionalflag droops and dips in the dust as it is borne
before the "Captainof our salvation."
3. An "ensign" is a guide to travellers. And such is Christ to the travellers
from earth to heaven.
II. THE REST OF CHRIST. "His rest shall be glorious."
1. Becauseit will be the rest which follows victory.
2. The rest of abiding peace. In 1815, when the British Parliament were voting
honours and emoluments to Wellington, and considering "the measures
necessarytowards forming a peace establishment," suddenly all their plans

9. were interrupted and their peace projects dissipatedby the intelligence that
Napoleonhad escapedfrom Elba. Nothing like this will occurduring the rest
of Christ; His enemies once subdued will be subdued forever.
3. Becauseit will be the rest which follows successfulattempts at salvation.
Like the restof the life boat crew, whenthe mariners have been all brought
from the tempest tossedand torn and tottering wreck;like the restof the
firemen when they have rescuedthe last inmate who was ready to perish from
the burning building. His rest shall be glorious, for "He shall see of the travail
of His soul and be satisfied."
4. Becauseit shall be the restof socialenjoyment, unmarred by pain or
sickness, by separationor death.
5. The rest of joyous activity.
6. A rest of unending duration.
(J. W. Cole.)
Christ the Ensign for His people
E. Auriol, M. A.
I. THE PERSONOF CHRIST.
II. THE EMBLEM BY WHICH HE IS REPRESENTED.

10. III. PRACTICAL APPLICATION.
1. The need we have of the Holy Spirit's work. Christ may be faithfully and
constantly preached, but it is by the Holy Spirit convincing us of our need,
and giving us a living faith, that we range ourselves under His banner.
2. We must expect a conflict.
3. Christ will come to take His saints to Himself, to claim that glory which He
has purchasedby having died for them.
(E. Auriol, M. A.)
His restshall be glorious
The Christian's glorious rest
T. Snow, M. A.
I. CONSIDERWHEREIN THIS REST CONSISTS.
1. In that greatobedience which Christ has rendered unto God, in the human
nature, for man. There is a rest of conscienceto those who are in Christ.
2. Another ground of this rest of the spirit is in the victory that Christ has
obtained over all His enemies. Death, sin, Satan, the world. The enemies of the
believer are vanquished through Christ Jesus.
II. IN WHAT SENSE IT MAY BE CALLED GLORIOUS.

11. 1. It is glorious to God the Father;whose wisdom and love it manifests. It is
glorious to God the Son; who obtained it for His whole spiritual Church by
His incarnation and toil and agony. It is glorious to God the Spirit; who
foretold it, who describedit, who reveals it, and seals them for it. It is glorious,
because allGod's attributes are honoured in it. His justice is satisfied:His
mercy also is infinitely displayed.
2. The rest is glorious and honourable to all those who are brought into it. For
they are washedfrom their sins wholly, through the blood of the Lamb, and
stand as candidates for heaven in those blessedgarments, which grace has
purchased for them and calledthem to wear. They ceasefrom the impious
intention of asking heaven for their own obedience, from a deep and heart-felt
conviction of God's infinite holiness and their own unworthiness. They place
the crownof honour on the head, where God would have it placed— evenon
that head that wore the crown of thorns.
3. There remains a more glorious rest hereafter.
(T. Snow, M. A.)
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

12. (10) In that day there shall be a root of Jesse . . .—The “root,” as in Isaiah
53:2; Deuteronomy 29:18, is the same as the “rod” and “branch” growing
from the rootin Isaiah11:1. The new shoot of the fallen tree of Jesseis to
grow up like a stately palm, seenafaroff upon the heights of the “holy
mountain,” a signal round which the distant nations might rally as their
centre. So the name of “the root of David” is applied to the glorified Christ in
Revelation5:5; Revelation22:16. The word for “seek” implies, as in Isaiah
8:19; Isaiah 19:3; Isaiah55:6, the specialseeking forwisdom and illumination.
His restshall be glorious.—Better, his resting-place shallbe glory; i.e., he shall
abide evermore in the eternal glory which is the dwelling-place of Jehovah.
BensonCommentary
Isaiah11:10. And in that day, &c. — We have here the latter part of this
prophecy, which sets forth some more illustrious events of this kingdom, with
their consequences. The events are set forth Isaiah11:10-16, and are three.
1st, The remarkable conversionof the Gentiles, Isaiah11:10. 2d, The calling
of the dispersedJews to the communion of the kingdom of Christ, Isaiah
11:11 to Isaiah 14:3 d, A diminution of the powers of the adverse empires,
Egypt and Assyria, Isaiah11:15-16. The consequenceofthese events is
representedto be a remarkable thanksgiving of the Jewishpeople, converted
to the Messiahforthe redemption granted to them, Isaiah12:1-6. There shall
be a root of Jesse, &c. — This verse, is more literally rendered, And it shall be
in that day, — Namely, in that glorious gospelday, that the Gentiles shall seek
to the root of Jesse, whichstands for an ensignof the people; and his rest shall
be glorious. By the root of Jesse,we may either understand a branch growing
from that root, and so may interpret it of Christ’s human nature, or, referring
it to his divine nature, we may take it for a root properly so called, as the
expressionis to be understood Revelation22:16; where Christ is represented
as being as well the root, as the offspring of David. Which shall stand, or
which stands, for an ensignof the people — Which shall grow up into a great
and high tree, shall become a visible and eminent ensign, which not only the
Jews, but all nations may discern, and to which they may and shall resort; to

13. it shall the Gentiles seek — As the gospelshallbe preachedto the Gentiles, so
they shall receive it, and believe in the Messiah;and his rest — That is, either,
1st, His resting-place, his temple, or church, the place of his presence and
abode; shall be glorious — Filled with greaterglory than the Jewish
tabernacle and temple were;only this glory shall be spiritual, consisting in the
plentiful effusion of the gifts and gracesofthe Holy Spirit. Or, 2d, The rest
enjoyed by those who are true worshippers in this temple, or true members of
this church: their restof grace, offaith, hope, and love: the restconsequenton
the justification of their persons, and the renovation of their nature; the rest
which they enter into by believing, (Hebrews 4:3,) which they receive in
consequence ofcoming to Christ, wearyand heavy laden, and learning of him,
Matthew 11:28; their peace with God, peace ofconscience, andtranquillity of
mind, is glorious, for it passethall understanding, Php 4:7. And it shall be
much more glorious in a future world, when they enter the rest remaining for
the people of God, Hebrews 4:9. Then their restshall be not only glorious, but
glory: and glory shall be their rest, as the words may be also rendered.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
11:10-16 When the gospelshould be publicly preached, the Gentiles would
seek ChristJesus as their Lord and Saviour, and find rest of soul. When
God's time is come for the deliverance of his people, mountains of opposition
shall become plains before him. God can soonturn gloomy days into glorious
ones. And while we expect the Lord to gatherhis ancientpeople, and bring
them home to his church, also to bring in the fulness of the Gentiles, when all
will be united in holy love, let us tread the highway of holiness he has made for
his redeemed. Let us waitfor the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal
life, looking to him to prepare our way through death, that river which
separates this world from the eternal world.
Barnes'Notes on the Bible
And in that day - That future time when the reign of the Messiahshallbe
established;Note, Isaiah3:2; Isaiah4:1. The prophet, having describedthe
birth, and the personalcharacteristicsofthe greatpersonage to whom he
referred, togetherwith the peacefuleffects of his reign, proceeds to state the

14. result of that reign in some other respects. The first is Isaiah11:10, that the
"Gentiles" wouldbe brought under his reign; the secondIsaiah 11:14, that it
would be attended with the restorationof the scatteredpeople of Judea; and
the third Isaiah11:15-16, that it would be followedby the destruction of the
enemies of the people of God.
There shall be a root of Jesse - There shall be a sprout, shoot, or scionof the
ancient and decayedfamily of Jesse;see the note at Isaiah5:1. Chaldee,
'There shall be a son of the sons of Jesse.'The word "root" here - ‫ׁשרׁש‬ shoresh
- is evidently used in the sense of a rootthat, is alive when the tree is dead; a
root that sends up a shoot or sprout; and is thus applied to him who should
proceedfrom the ancientand decayedfamily of Jesse;see Isaiah53:2. Thus in
Revelation5:5, the Messiahis called'the" root" of David,' and in Revelation
22:16, 'the root and the offspring of David.'
Which shall stand - There is reference here, doubtless, to the fact that military
ensigns were sometimes raisedon mountains or towers which were
permanent, and which, therefore, could be rallying points to an arm or a
people. The idea is, that the root of Jesse,that is, the Messiah, shouldbe
conspicuous, and that the nations should flee to him, and rally around him as
a people do around a military standard. Thus the Saviour says John 12:32 :
'And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.'
For an ensign - Fora standard, or a sign round which they shall rally.
Of the people - That is, as the parallelism shows, ofthe Gentiles.
To it shall the Gentiles seek - The paganworld shall look to it for safety and
deliverance. In the Scriptures, the world is spokenof as divided into Jews and
Gentiles. All who are not Jews come under this appellation. This is a distinct
prophecy, that other nations than the Jews should be benefited by the work of

15. the Messiah, andconstitute a part of his kingdom. This fact is often referred
to by Isaiah, and constitutes a very material feature in his prophecies;Isaiah
42:1, Isaiah42:6; Isaiah 49:22;Isaiah 54:3; Isaiah60:3, Isaiah60:5, Isaiah
60:11, Isaiah60:16; Isaiah61:6, Isaiah61:9; Isaiah 62:2; Isaiah66:12, Isaiah
66:19. The word "seek" here, is used in the sense ofseeking as a Deliverer, or
a Saviour: they shall apply to him for instruction, guidance, and salvation; or
they shall apply to him as a nation looks to its deliverer to protect it; compare
Isaiah8:19; 2 Kings 1:3; Isaiah65:1.
And his rest - The rest, peace, and quietness, which he shall give. This
evidently includes all the rest or peace which he shall impart to those who seek
him. The word ‫החונמ‬ menûchâh sometimes denotes "a resting place," ora
habitation Numbers 10:33;Micah 2:10; Psalm132:8; but it also denotes "a
state of rest, quietness;" Ruth 1:9; Jeremiah45:3; Psalm23:2; Psalm95:11;
Deuteronomy 12:9; Isaiah28:12; Isaiah46:1. Here it evidently means the
latter. It may refer,
(1) To the peace which he gives to the conscienceofthe awaenedand troubled
sinner Matthew 11:28-30;or
(2) To the prosperity and peace which his reign shall produce.
Shall be glorious - Hebrew, 'Shall be glory.' That is, shall be full of glory and
honor. It shall be such as shall confersignal honor on his reign. The Chaldee
understands this of his place of residence, his palace, orcourt. 'And the place
of his abode shall be in glory.' The Vulgate renders it, 'and his sepulchre shall
be glorious.'

16. 'By his rest, we are not to understand his grave - or his death - or his Sabbath
- or the resthe gives his people - but his place of rest, his residence. There is
no need of supplying a preposition before glory, which is an abstractused for
a concrete - glory, for glorious. The church, Christ's home, shall be glorious
from his presence, andthe accessionofthe Gentiles.' - (Alexander.) This is a
beautiful rendering; it is, moreover, consistentwith the letter and spirit of the
passage. Some include both ideas.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary
10. root—rather, "shootfrom the root" (compare Note, see on[705]Isa 11:1;
Isa 53:2; Re 5:5; 22:16).
stand—permanently and prominently, as a banner lifted up to be the rallying
point of an army or people (Isa 5:26; Joh12:32).
the people—peoples, answering to "the Gentiles" in the parallelmember.
to it … seek—diligently(Job 8:5). They shall give in their allegianceto the
Divine King (Isa 2:2; 60:5; Zec 2:11). Horsley translates, "OfHim shall the
Gentiles inquire"; namely, in a religious sense, resortas to an oracle for
consultationin difficulties" (Zec 14:16). Compare Ro 15:12, which quotes this
passage, "InHim shall the Gentiles trust."
rest—resting-place(Isa 60:13;Ps 132:8, 14;Eze 43:7). The sanctuary in the
temple of Jerusalemwas "the resting-place of the ark and of Jehovah." So the
glorious Church which is to be is described under the image of an oracle to
which all nations shall resort, and which shall be filled with the visible glory of
God.

17. Matthew Poole's Commentary
A root; a branch growing upon the root; of which see on Isaiah 11:1.
Shall stand for an ensign; shall grow up into a great and high tree, shall
become a visible and eminent ensign. Of the people; which not only the Jews,
but all nations may discern, and to which they may and shall resort.
To it shall the Gentiles seek;as the gospelshall be preachedto the Gentiles, so
they shall receive it, and believe in the Messiah. His rest; his resting-place, as
this word frequently signifies, as Genesis 8:9 49:15 Psalm 132:8,14 Isa 34:14
Micah2:10; his temple or church, the place of his presence and abode.
Shall be glorious;shall be filled with greaterglory than the Jewishtabernacle
and temple were; of which see on Haggai2:9; only this glory shall be spiritual,
consisting in glorious ordinances, in the plentiful effusions of the excellent
gifts, and graces, andcomforts of the Holy Spirit.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse,.... The Messiah, so called, either
with respectto his human nature, who was to spring from Jesse;so the
Targum,
"and there shall be at that time a sonof the sons of Jesse;''
who, when incarnate, was like a root under ground, hidden to men, as to the
glory of his person, and the fulness of his grace, and was mean, abject, and
contemptible in their view; or rather with respectto his divine nature, just as
he is called "the root and offspring of David", Revelation5:5 the former as
God, the latter as man; and so the phrase may denote his eternity, being
before Jesse, orany other man or creature whatever;and his being the

18. Creatorand preserverof all, of Jesse, andof all others;and, as Mediator, he is
the rootfrom whom Jesse, andall the electof God, are; they have their being
in him; they are rootedand grounded in him; and are bore by him as the
branches by the root; and they have their life and nourishment, their
fruitfulness, holiness, and perseverance thereinfrom him. This is understood
of the Messiah, by ancient and modern Jews (e):
which shall stand for an ensignof the people; in the ministration of the
Gospel, for the gathering of the people of God to him, to enlist in his service,
and fight under his banner, where they may be sure of victory; an ensign set
up, a banner displayed, is for the gathering of soldiers together;it is a sign of
preparation for war, and an encouragementto it; and is sometimes done when
victory is obtained, see Isaiah5:26 and is a direction where soldiers should
stand, when they should march, and who they should follow, as well as it
serves to distinguish one company from another; and of all this use is the
preaching of Christ and his Gospel:
to it shall the Gentiles seek;that is, to Christ, signified by the root of Jesse,
and setup for an ensignof the people; being sought out by him in redemption
and calling, and being sensible of their need of him, and that there is
something valuable in him, having had a manifestation of him to them; and
therefore seek to him, not out of curiosity, nor with worldly views, nor in the
last, but in the first place, and chiefly; not hypocritically, but sincerely, and
with their whole hearts; not carelessly, but diligently and constantly;not
partially, but for everything they want; principally for the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness, foreternal glory and happiness, and for a justifying
righteousness, as the title to it: or to him shall they "betake themselves"(f),
see Deuteronomy12:5 as to an ensign, standard bearer, captain-general,
leaderand commander of the people; or as to a stronghold, for protection
from enemies;or as to a city of refuge, to secure from avenging justice and
wrath to come;and, under a sense ofdanger and ruin, to one that is able to
save;and for help to one that is mighty; or him "shall" they "consult" (g); or

19. seek to him for advice and counsel, see Isaiah8:19 who is a most proper
person to be consulted on all occasions, he being the wonderful Counsellor,
Isaiah9:6. This is a prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles, and which had its
accomplishment, in part, in the first times of the Gospel, and will be
completely fulfilled in the last days:
and his rest shall be glorious; either that which Christ gives to those that seek
unto him, and which is both a spiritual rest here, from the burden and guilt of
sin, and the tyrannical power of it; from the bondage, curse, and
condemnation of the law;from a sense ofdivine wrath; and a rest in
afflictions, though not from them; and an eternal rest hereafter, a "rest in
glory" (h); as the words may be rendered here; it will be a glorious one, the
bodies of the saints at death rest in the grave, and their souls in the arms of
Jesus;and after the resurrection, body and soulwill rest togetherfrom sin
and Satan, from unbelief, doubts, and fears, and from all enemies;or else this
rest is what Christ himself enjoys. Some understand it of his death, which,
though ignominious in itself, yet glorious in its consequences;a glorious
display of the condescensionand love of Christ was made in it; and glorious
things have been effectedby it: others, of his grave, which was an honourable
man's; his grave was made with the rich; though perhaps better of his rest in
glory; when he had done his work, and satdown at the right hand of God, he
was crownedwith glory and honour; or rather it may designhis church,
which is his rest, Psalm 132:13 which is glorious, with his righteousness, grace,
and presence, andbeing put in order by him, as an army with banners; and
especiallyit will be, when all the glorious things spokenof it shall be fulfilled.
(e) Zohar in Exod. fol. 71. 1. BereshitRabba, sect. 98. fol. 85. 3. Midrash in
Yalkut Simeoni, par. 2. fol. 97. 2. BaalHatturim in Numbers 26. 10. (f) "non
significatquaerre, sed tendere, aut se confere", Bootius, Animadv. l. 1. c. 5.
sect. 6. (g) "Ad eum consulent", Junius. (h) So Ben Melechobserves thatis
wanting, and the sense is "in", or, "with glory".

20. Geneva Study Bible
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse,which shall stand for an ensign
of the {e} people; to it shall the Gentiles seek:and his {f} rest shall be glorious.
(e) He prophecies of the calling of the Gentiles.
(f) That is, the Church which he also calls his rest, Ps 132:14.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges
10. This verse occupies a position somewhatdetachedfrom those that follow,
as is shewn by the repetition of the introductory formula in Isaiah11:11. The
thought also is distinct and complete. It is a prophecy of the attractive
influence of the true religion over the nations of the world; and resembles ch.
Isaiah2:2-4, although here the personalMessiahis the central figure. Comp.
John 12:32.
The constructionof the sentence involves a casus pendens (Driver, Tenses,pp.
264 ff.). Render thus: and it shall come to pass in that day, the rootof Jesse
who shall stand as a signal to the peoples—to him shall, &c.
a root of Jesse]i.e. the “branch from the roots,” of Isaiah11:1. The expression
seems to have become a technical title of the Messiah(cf. ch. Isaiah 53:2; Sir
47:22;Revelation5:5; Revelation22:16). The variation of the figure from
Isaiah11:1 rather tells againstthe Isaianic authorship of this passage.
an ensign] as rallying-point, see on ch. Isaiah5:26.

21. to it shall the Gentiles seek]Rather, of him shall nations enquire—a phrase
used of the consulting of an oracle (ch. Isaiah8:19, Isaiah19:3). The Messiah
is to be the greatreligious TeacherandAuthority of the world.
his restshall be glorious]his resting-place (Genesis 49:15,—here alone usedof
a royal residence)shall be glory, cf. ch. Isaiah4:5.
Pulpit Commentary
Verses 10-13. -THE JEWS AND GENTILES SHALL BE GATHERED
TOGETHER INTO MESSIAH'S KINGDOM. It is characteristic of"the
evangelicalprophet" that he dwells earnestlyand frequently on the calling of
the Gentiles (see Isaiah2:2; Isaiah19:22-25;Isaiah 25:6; Isaiah27:13, etc.).
The prophecies to Abraham had repeatedly declaredthat "in him," or "in his
seed," "allthe families of the earth should be blessed" (Genesis 12:3;Genesis
18:18;Genesis 22:18;Genesis 26:4);and some of the psalmists had echoedthe
glad sound and spokenof God as worshipped generally by "the nations"
(Psalm 117:1;Psalm 148:11). But the idea had takenlittle hold upon the
chosenpeople generally; and was practically new to them when Isaiah was
inspired to preach it afresh. To render it the more palatable, he unites with it
the promise of a greatgathering of the dispersed Israelites from all quarters
to the banner of Messiah, whenit is setup. Verse 10. - There shall he a root of
Jesse. The "root" ofthis place is the same as the "rod" and "branch" of ver.
1. The "rod" springs up out of a "root," and is inseparably connectedwith it.
Which shall stand for an ensignof the people; rather, of the peoples. The
"rod" shall lift itself up, and become an ensign, seenfrom afar, and attracting
to itself the attention of "the peoples" or "nations" generally. The Acts and
Epistles show how speedily this prophecy was fulfilled. Greeks, Romans,
Galatians, Cappadoeians, Babylonians (1 Peter5:13), saw the ensign, and
sought to it. His rest shall be glorious; rather, his resting-place;i.e. his
Church, with which he abides forever (Matthew 28:20). The Shechinah of his
presence makes the Church "glorious" (literally, "a glory") throughout all
ages;but the glory will not fully appear till the time of the "new heavens and
new earth" (Isaiah 65:17; Roy. 21, 22.), when he will dwell visibly with it.

22. Keil and DelitzschBiblical Commentary on the Old Testament
This is the standard according to which He will judge when saving, and judge
when punishing. "And judges the poor with righteousness,and passes
sentence with equity for the humble in the land; and smites the earth with the
rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He slays the wicked. And
righteousness is the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His hips."
The main feature in Isaiah11:4 is to be seenin the objective ideas. He will do
justice to the dallim, the weak and helpless, by adopting an incorruptibly
righteous course towards their oppressors, anddecide with
straightforwardness for the humble or meek of the land: ‛ânâv, like ‛ânı̄, from
‛ânâh, to bend, the latter denoting a person boweddown by misfortune, the
former a personinwardly boweddown, i.e., from all self-conceit(hōcı̄achl', as
in Job 16:21). The poor and humble, or meek, are the peculiar objects ofHis
royal care;just as it was really to them that the first beatitudes of the Sermon
on the Mount applied. But "the earth" and "the wicked" (the latter is not to
be understood collectively, but, as in severalpassages in the Old Testament,
viz., Psalm68:22; Psalm110:6; Habakkuk 3:13-14, as pointing forward
prophetically to an eschatologicalperson, in whom hostility towards Jehovah
and His Anointed culminates most satanically)will experience the full force of
His penal righteousness.The very word of His mouth is a rod which shatters
in pieces (Psalm2:9; Revelation1:16); and the breath of His lips is sufficient
to destroy, without standing in need of any further means (2 Thessalonians
2:8). As the girdle upon the hips (mothnaim, lxx την̀ ὀσφύν), and in front upon
the loins (chălâzaim, lxx τὰς πλευράς), fastens the clothes together, so all the
qualities and active powers of His personhave for their band tzedâkâh, which
follows the inviolable norm of the divine will, and hâ'emūnâh, which holds
immovably to the course divinely appointed, according to promise (Isaiah
25:1). Specialprominence is given by the article to 'emūnâh; He is the faithful
and true witness (Revelation1:5; Revelation3:14). Consequentlywith Him
there commences a new epoch, in which the Son of David and His
righteousness acquire a world-subduing force, and find their home in a
humanity that has sprung, like Himself, out of deep humiliation.

23. PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
BRUCE HURT MD
Isaiah11:10 Then in that day the nations will resortto the Rootof Jesse,Who
will stand as a Signal for the peoples and His resting place will be glorious.:
in that day: Isa 11:1 2:11 Ro 15:12 Rev 22:16
Will: : Isa 59:19 Ge 49:10 Jn 3:14,15 12:32
Signalfor the peoples:Isa 60:3,5 66:12,19 Mt2:1,2 8:11 12:21 Lk 2:32 Jn
12:20,21 Ac 11:18 26:17,18 28:28 Ro 15:9-12
glorious:Heb. glory, Ps 149:5
Then - Always be alert to this expressionof time so that enabled by prayerful
dependence on your Teacherthe Holy Spirit (1Cor 2:10-13), you can
profitably observe and query this "time phrase," especiallyin prophetic
writings, as it marks a sequence (Webster - Then - "following next after in
order of position, narration, or enumeration : being next in a series.")
Brenton's English of the Greek Septuagint(Lxx) renders Isaiah11:10 as
follows…
And in that day there shall be a Rootof Jesse, andHe that shall arise to rule
over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles trust (hope), and His rest shall be
glorious.

24. Paul quotes from the Greek rather than the Hebrew in Romans 15:12…
And againIsaiah says, "THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE,
AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM
SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE."
In that day - What day? The day of universal peace when the Messiahreturns
to rule and reign over the regeneratedearth during the Millennium.
See RelatedTopic - Day of the Lord.
Compare Isaiah's other uses of the time phrase in that day - Isaiah 2:11, 17,
20; 3:18; 4:1, 2; 5:30; 7:18, 20f, 23; 10:20, 27;11:10; 12:4; 17:4, 7, 9; 19:16, 18,
19, 21, 23, 24; 20:6; 22:8, 12, 20, 25; 23:15;24:21; 25:9; 26:1; 27:1, 2, 12, 13;
28:5; 31:7; 52:6; Jer 4:9; 48:41;49:22, 26; 50:30
The nations (01471)(goy) - The Gentiles, synonymous with the peoples. Isaiah
has numerous prophecies that deal with the nations and peoples (Gentiles) -
Isaiah2:2, 3, 4, 12:4, 42:1, 6, 49:6; 52:10;60:3; 66:18.
Jamiesonon signalsays that Messiahwill
permanently and prominently, as a banner lifted up to be the rallying point of
an army or people (Is 5:26; Jn 12:32).

25. Will resort(KJV = seek)(01875)(darash)means to seek withcare, to inquire,
to care about, to study, to investigate, to examine, to ask.
Paul translates this Hebrew verb darash in Isa 11:10 with the Greek verb
elpizo (word study), which conveys the primary meaning of to hope, which
conveys the idea of that in which one hopes as being so certain as to surely
come to pass! (Does this not call for an "Amen"?)The idea is to look forward
with confidence to that which is goodand beneficial. Elpizo means to express
desire for some goodwith the expectationof obtaining it (cp Titus 2:13-note).
Thus the KJV renders Ro 15:12KJV with the word "trust."
The Rootof Jesse -This is another name for the Messiah, the Shootand the
Branch of Isaiah11:1. Messiahpictured as Root indicates that Jessesprang
from Him. John gives us a similar picture of Messiahin the Revelation…
One of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping;behold, the Lion (Messiah)that is
from the tribe of Judah, the Rootof David, has overcome so as to open the
book and its sevenseals.” (Rev5:5-note)
I, Jesus, have sentMy angelto testify to you these things for the churches. I
am the root and the descendantof David, the bright morning star. (Rev 22:16-
note)
Mal Couchwrites that…
As the ‘root’ of David, He existed before David, that is, He is eternal. And as
the ‘offspring’ or descendantof David, He is the rightful Heir to the throne of
David, and the One who will fulfill the covenantedblessings promisedto

26. David.” (Mal Couch, ed., A Bible Handbook to RevelationGrand Rapids, MI:
Kregel Publications, 2001)
JESUS CHRIST
KING OF KINGS
Dr John Walvoordexplains that Jesus Christ will be the King of kings in His
millennial kingdom…
In Psalm 2:6, in spite of the opposition of the kings of the earth, God declares
His purpose: “Yet I have setmy king upon my holy hill of Zion.” This purpose
will be fulfilled in the millennial kingdom in the reign of Jesus Christ as the
Son of David. As Lewis Sperry Chaferhas succinctlystated: “Every Old
Testamentprophecy on the kingdom anticipates His kingly office:
(a) Christ will yet sit on the throne as David’s heir (2Sa 7:16; Ps 89:20-37;Isa
11:1-16;Jer 33:19, 20, 21).
(b) He came as a King (Luke 1:32, 33).
(c) He was rejectedas a King (Mark 15:12-13;Luke 19:14; cf. Ge 37:8; Ex
2:14).
(d) He died as a King (Mt 27:37).

27. (e) When He comes again, it is as a King (Rev 19:16; cf. Luke 1:32, 33)”
(Chafer, Systematic Theology, VII, 233).
Walvoord explains that Jesus Christ will be the King of kings in His millennial
kingdom…
In Psalm 2:6, in spite of the opposition of the kings of the earth, God declares
His purpose: “Yet I have setmy king upon my holy hill of Zion.” This purpose
will be fulfilled in the millennial kingdom in the reign of Jesus Christ as the
Son of David. As Lewis Sperry Chaferhas succinctlystated: “Every Old
Testamentprophecy on the kingdom anticipates His kingly office:
(a) Christ will yet sit on the throne as David’s heir (2Sa 7:16; Ps 89:20-37;Isa
11:1-16;Jer 33:19, 20, 21).
(b) He came as a King (Luke 1:32, 33).
(c) He was rejectedas a King (Mark 15:12-13;Luke 19:14; cf. Ge 37:8; Ex
2:14).
(d) He died as a King (Mt 27:37).
(e) When He comes again, it is as a King (Rev 19:16; cf. Luke 1:32, 33)”
(Chafer, Systematic Theology, VII, 233).

28. The fact that Christ will reign over the earth is of course imbedded in
practically every prophecy concerning the millennial kingdom.
The absolute characterof His reign
is indicated in Isaiah11:3-5.
This central prophecy is confirmed by the angelto Mary in announcing the
coming birth of Christ in these words:
He shall be great, and shall be calledthe Son of the MostHigh: and the Lord
God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over
the house of Jacobforever;and of his kingdom there shall be no end (Lk 1:32,
33).
It should be clearfrom the details surrounding these predictions that these
prophecies are not being fulfilled in the present age, nor are they a description
of the sovereigntyof God in the heavenly sphere.
Many other Scriptures can be cited to substantiate the reign of Christ as King
in the millennium of which the following are representative:Isaiah2:1-4-note;
Isa 9:6, 7-note;11:1-10 ; 16:5 ; 24:23 ; 32:2 ; 40:1-11 ; 42:3, 4 ; 52:7-15 ; 55:4 ;
Da 2:44-note; Da 7:27-note;Mic 4:1-8; 5:2-5 ; Zech 9:9; 14:16, 17 . These
passagesif interpreted in the ordinary literal meaning lead to the conclusion
that Christ is the King who will reign over the earth in the millennial period.
(The Righteous Government of the Millennium)
Jamiesonadds that Messiahis

29. “Notmerely ‘a sucker come up from David’s ancient root’ (as Alford limits
it), but also including the idea of His being Himself the root and origin of
David: compare these two truths brought together, Mt 22:42, 43, 44, 45.
Hence He is callednot merely Sonof David, but also David. He is at once ‘the
branch’ of David, and ‘the root’ of David." (Comments on the Revelation)
Who will stand as a signal for the peoples (Gentiles) - While the Messiah's
coming kingdom will fulfill His promises to Abraham (Ge 15:18, 19, 20, 21
17:7, 8; 22:17, 18), to David (2Sa 7:16) and to Israelas a nation (Jer 31:31, 32,
33, 34), His kingdom will also be a kingdom for Gentile believers and the
MessiahHimself will serve as the banner or rallying point for all the nations.
Zechariah alluded to this same truth in chapter 14…
And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be
the only one, and His name the only one… Then it will come about that any
who are left of all the nations that went againstJerusalem(Referring to those
Gentiles who had placedtheir faith in the Messiah)will go up from year to
year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feastof
Booths. (Zec 14:9, 16)
Isaiah11:10, 12 are in essence a fulfillment of the promise God made to
Abraham…
And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Ge 12:3).

30. Comment: Clearly all the families refers to both Jew and Gentile families.
Luke records a parallel description of Jesus serving as a signal for the peoples
(Jesus speaking)And they (an allusion to Gentile believers) will come from
eastand westand from north and south, and will recline at the table in the
kingdom of God. (Lk 13:29-note).
Signal(05251)(nec/nes)means a banner, an ensign, a standard, a signalpole
(woodpole which was visible when raised - Nu 21:8), a signal(non-verbal
communication - Nu 26:10, Jer4:6), a sail(for a boat - Isa 33:23). Nec/nes
served as a rallying point or standard which drew people togetherfor some
common action for or for the communication of important information. The
banner could be an ornamental piece of cloth on the end of a staff or pole as a
leader’s signal. Usually the signal was placedon a high place in the camp.
Here the signalpole stands for (is a metaphor if you will) the MessiahWho
was raised(pun intended) to give hope to the Gentiles. Hallelujah! AMen
Nec/nes - 21vin the OT - Ex 17:15; Nu 21:8, 9; 26:10; Ps 60:4; Isa 5:26; 11:10,
12; 13:2; 18:3; 30:17;31:9; 33:23; 49:22;62:10; Jer4:6, 21;50:2; 51:12, 27;
Ezek 27:7.
NAS = banner(2), distinguishing mark(1), sail(1), signal(4), standard(12),
warning(1).
In the wilderness, Moseslifted up bronze serpent on pole (nec) (Nu 21:8,9)
which was a "signal" to the Israelites who had been bitten by the serpents that
they might obtain healing and life, this signal serving as a shadow or type (See

31. Study of Biblical types) of the lifting up (crucifixion) of the Messiahandthe
healing He provided from the deadly "bite" of sin (cp Jn 3:14, 15).
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and setit on a
standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks
at it, he shall live." And Moses made a bronze serpent and setit on the
standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he lookedto
the bronze serpent, he lived.
There are severalrelateduses of nec/nes in Isaiah…
Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and
setup My standard to the peoples;And they will bring your sons in their
bosom, And your daughters will be carried on their shoulders. (Isa 49:22)
Comment: God would raise His hand and His banner, the Messiah, to
summon the Gentiles to usher Israelites back into their homeland (cp Isa 5:26;
11:10, 12;13:2; 30:17;62:10).
Go through, go through the gates. Clearthe way for the people;Build up,
build up the highway (cp Isaiah7:3; 11:16; 19:23;33:8; 35:8; 36:2; 49:11;
59:7); Remove the stones, lift up a standard over the peoples (Gentiles). (Isa
62:10)
Comment: God was calling His people Israelto prepare for the return of the
Redeemerto the land of Israel. They were to raise the banner to announce to
the Gentile nations that the Lord was coming to Jerusalem.

32. JEHOVAH NISSI— THE LORD IS OUR "SIGNAL"
In Exodus after Israeldefeated the Amalekites at Rephidim (resting place)
Moses recordedthe first use of nec/nes in Scripture…
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this in a book as a memorial, and
recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from
under heaven." 15 And Moses built an altar, and named it The LORD is My
Banner; 16 and he said, "The LORD has sworn; the LORD will have war
againstAmalek from generationto generation." (Ex17:14, 15, 16-note)
Moses namedthe altar JehovahNissi -The LORD Our Banner to
commemorate Israel's defeatof the Amalekites. Mosesalso reminded Israel
that the LORD would be at war againstthe Amalekites from generationto
generation, which many commentators parallel with the conceptof spiritual
warfare which is lifelong lot for every believer (For more discussionsee notes
on Exodus 17:8-16).
When the Israelites fought the Amalekites at Rephidim, Mosesheld up his
hand, thus becoming in a sense a living banner symbolizing God’s presence to
help His people win the victory (Ex 17:8-16). After the battle, Moses built an
altar and calledit JehovahNissi -The LORD Our Banner (Ex17:15, KJV; The
Lord Is My Banner). Beloved, the Lord is also our BannerWho goes outin
front of us as we march forth before in battle (cp spiritual warfare). While we
have a responsibility to march forward and fight the goodfight of faith for the
glory of Jehovah, we must do so remembering that the battle is the Lord's!
(1Sa 17:47, 2Chr 20:15, 16, 17, Ps 46:11)

33. Resting place (04496)(menuchah) means resting place or a place to repose
when tired (Ge 49:15;Nu 10:33;Dt 12:9; 1Ch 28:2ESV;Ps 132:8, 14;Isa
11:10;28:12; 32:18;Mic 2:10). Menuhah also conveys the idea of rest in the
sense offreedom from activity or labor, being at peace in mind and spirit, or
exhibiting relative inactivity (Ru 1:9; 2Sa 14:17;1Ki 8:56; 1Ch 22:9; Ps 95:11;
Jer 45:3)
Menuchah - 23vin the OT - Ge 49:15; Num 10:33;Dt 12:9; 28:65;Jdg 20:43;
Ru 1:9; 2Sa 14:17; 1Ki 8:56; 1Chr 22:9; 28:2; 2Chr 6:41; Ps 23:2; 95:11;
132:8, 14;Isa 11:10;28:12; 32:18;66:1; Jer45:3; 51:59; Mic 2:10; Zech 9:1.
NAS Usage = comforting(1), permanent(1), place(1), place of rest(1),
quartermaster*(1), quiet(1), rest(8), resting(1), resting place(7), resting
places(1).
Glorious (03519)(kabod)is derived from a root which means to be heavy or
weighty but is only rarely used literally. The fig use ("heavy with sin") is the
more common use and gives rise to the idea of a "weighty" person in society,
one who is honorable, impressive, worthy of respect, which is the meaning in
>50% of the OT uses. The most significantuse of kabod is to describe the
glory or splendor of God. Glory is a “technicalterm for God’s manifest
presence (Ex 16:7) and is often connectedwith the cloud (Ex 16:10 - see
Shekinahglory cloud) and with the Ark of the Covenant. God's glory is
essentiallythe profound, glowing, visible, confluent expressionof His
attributes which bear witness to an even more transcendent and
incomprehensible reality of His essence.
His resting place will be glorious (Isa 32:17,18 66:10-12Ps 91:1,4 116:7 Jer
6:16 Hag 2:9 2Th 1:7-12 Heb 4:1,9-16 1Pe 1:7-9 5:10) - It will be glorious

34. because the Glorious One, the Messiahis there, the One Who is our Rest
forever (cp Mt 11:28, 29).
Isaiah11:11 Then it will happen on that day that the Lord will againrecover
the secondtime with His hand the remnant of His people, who will remain,
from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the
islands of the sea.:
Will again:Isa 60:1-66:24 Lev 26:40-42 Dt 4:27-31 30:3-6 Ps 68:22 Jer23:7,8
Jer 30:8-11 31:36-40 33:24-26Eze 11:16-20 34:23-2836:24-28Eze 37:1-48:35
Ho 1:11 3:4,5 Joe 3:1-21 Am 9:14,15 Mic 7:14,15 Zec 10:8-12 12:1-14:21 Ro
11:15,26 2Co 3:16
Assyria: Isa 11:16 27:12,13 Mic 7:12) (Egypt: Isa 19:23 Jer 44:1
Pathros:Eze 30:14
Cush: Isa 45:14 Ge 10:6,7
Elam: Ge 10:22 Jer 25:25 Da 8:2
Shinar: Ge 10:10 11:2 Zec 5:11
Hamath: Isa 10:9 Jer49:23 Zec 9:2
islands: Isa 24:15 42:4 66:19 Ge 10:5 Jer 31:10 Eze 27:6 Da 11:18 Zeph 2:11
On that day (expressionof time) - What day? The day Messiahreturns to rule
and reign over the regeneratedearth during the Millennium.
Adonai - The SovereignMaster(See study of Adonai - My Lord, My Master).
Recoverthe secondtime with His hand the remnant of His people (NET Bible
= "reclaimthe remnant") - The remnant refers to the Jews who have placed

35. their faith in the Messiah. His people in this contextrefers to the Jews (as is
made blatantly clearfrom Isa 11:12 "Israel… Judah") and is not a reference
to the church.
F. C. Jennings - The "first time" is identified in v. 16: "Like as it was to Israel
in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt". "This first deliverance is
made a kind of pattern for the secondfuture one when His hand shall againbe
active, only this secondtime it shall not only be from Egypt but from every
country of the earth"
Recover(07069)(qanah)means to buy, to purchase, to acquire. A second
meaning is to create orto beget. Qanah in the present contextcould have
either the sense ofGod "buying back" (cp redeeming) or of Him "creating" a
people for His own possession(see commentbelow).
Terror and dread fall upon them; By the greatness ofYour arm they are
motionless as stone;Until Your people pass over, O Lord, Until the people
pass over whom You have purchased. (Ex 15:16, see similar use of qanah in Ps
74:2).
Comment: By bringing his people out of Egypt, their ownership had passedto
him from the Egyptians, just as if he had bought them. (See Ex 6:6, 7; 19:5).
In essencethe use of qanah in the context of Exodus 15 is a picture of
redemption (pay the price to seta captive free) as in Ex 15:13 ("the people
whom You have redeemed"). One other thought should be consideredfor the
verb qanah can also mean create or even beget. If this is the intended
meaning, then Israelwould appearhere as God’s newly createdpeople. To
translate qanah the Lxx uses the verb ktaomai which means to acquire or
obtain as one's possession. Thus God"purchased" Israeland they were now
"His possession."

36. Qanah is translatedwith the Greek verb prostithemi which means literally to
put or place to and then to add, to join to or to gatherwith as uniting a people
into a societyalreadyexisting.
Secondtime - Note first that this "time reference" cannotrefer to the re-
creationof the Jewishstate in May, 1948 and the presentAliyah (literally
"ascent" andrefers to the return) of many Jews to the State of Israelbecause,
that can only be fulfilled when Messiahrules on the earth.
The natural question (always remember to interrogate the text with the
5W/H'S) is "When (or what) was the first time?" Mostauthorities favor that
first time was God's deliverance of Israelfrom Egypt (NET Bible Note, John
MacArthur, ESV Study Bible). In support of this interpretation is that Ex
15:16 (see comments above)uses the same verb qanah to describe God's
deliverance of Israelfrom Egypt and making them His own possession. Others
(Thomas Constable, Jamieson)feelthat the first time they were "recovered"
was after the Babylonian exile that began in 586BC andlasted for 70 years.
Guzik writes that…
In the reign of the Messiah, there will be another Exodus of the Jewishpeople,
delivering them not only from Egypt, but from all nations where they have
been dispersed.
After the Exodus under Moses,the Jewishpeople sang a song, the Song of
Moses (Exodus 15:1-18)and so it is fitting that after this secondand final
"Exodus" so to speak, they will also sing a hymn, a song of praise (Isaiah 12:1-
6 -see notes).

37. Arnold Fruchtenbaum comments that…
The regathering of Israel, following the regeneration, is another high point of
prophetic revelation to be found in many of the prophets. In Isaiah 11:11–
12:6, the final regathering is described as the secondofthe world-wide
regatherings of Israel. The first regathering is the one in unbelief prior to the
GreatTribulation in preparation for judgment. The regathering described in
this passageis the secondone (v. 11a), in faith and in preparation for the
millennial blessings. This regathering is not merely localfrom the nations of
the Middle East(Isa 11:11b), but from all over the world (v. 12). Isaiahthen
goes onto developcertain characteristicsofIsrael’s final regathering.
(Israelology:The Missing Link in Systematic Theology. Tustin, Calif.: Ariel
Ministries)
Be aware of some interpretations (and remember that while a verse has only
one valid interpretation, there can by many applications)of this verse which
are questionable (especiallyinterpretations that see these passagesas a
directed to the "church"). Such interpretations are making the text say
something it does not say literally and as noted below they are completely
dismissing the context which is crucialand king in accurate interpretation!
For example the Africa Bible Commentary (which I think is a well done work
overall) says…
If (Ed: Note that "if" introduces an assumption, an approachto hermeneutics
[science ofinterpretation] which should be assiduouslyavoided if one truly
desires to know God's one intended meaning) the prophecy is understood as
being interpretable on more than one level, it canbe arguedthat this
prophecy is fulfilled in the church (Ed: If one totally ignores the context, then
one canargue in this way. But if one is true to the context, this interpretation
is incorrect. Beloved, Isaiahwas not addressing the church but Judah and
Jerusalem- see Isaiah1:1!), in which there should be no distinction between

38. races, nations and tribes (Gal 3:28). (Ed: This prophecy is not fulfilled in the
church but is fulfilled when Messiahthe Deliver returns to save His people
Israel, who will then enter into the Millennial Kingdom!)
With His hand - God's hand signifies God's power. He will accomplishthe
recoveryfor He is faithful to keepHis promises.
The remnant of His people, who will remain - Remnant is the Hebrew word
shearand remain is the verb shaar which means to be left over or those who
have been spared. There is a similar prophecy of the returning remnant in
Isaiah59:9, 10, 11.
MacArthur summarizes the important doctrine of the remnant of Israel
noting that they are…
A small nucleus of God’s (chosen)people (Ed: most of whom rejectedHis
choosing them as His treasured possessionand thus were not believers in
Messiah), preservedby His sovereigngrace, form this righteous remnant in
the midst of national apostasy(Israel). There were always the obedient few
(Jews)who preserved, obeyed, and passedon God’s law (Ed: They were not
savedby that Law but like Abraham they were saved by grace through faith -
Ge 15:6). There will always be a remnant (of believing Jews)because Godwill
never forsake the Abrahamic Covenant(cf. Mic 2:12,13;Ro 9:27; 11:5) (Ed:
See also Abrahamic versus Mosaic andAbrahamic vs Old vs New)
(MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word)
Isaiah11:12 And He will lift up a standard for the nations and assemble the
banished ones of Israel, and will gatherthe dispersedof Judah from the four
corners of the earth.:

39. Lift up: Isa 11:10 18:3 59:19 62:10 Rev5:9
assemble:Isa 27:13 43:6 49:11,12 56:8 Dt 32:26 Ps 68:22 147:2 Zep 3:10 Jn
7:35 Jas 1:1
PREDICTIONOF ISRAEL'S FUTURE REUNION AND RETURN
He will lift up… assemble… willgather - The Messiah(some saythis is better
viewed as a reference to God and the "standard" is the Messiah)will
accomplishthese tasks with His sovereign, supreme, supernatural strength.
Wiersbe…
In a limited sense, this promise was fulfilled after the Assyrian conquestand
when the Jews leftBabylonian Captivity; but the ultimate fulfillment will be
at the end of the age when Messiahre-gathers His people (Isaiah 27:12, 13;
49:22, 23;56:7, 8; Mt 24:31;Ro 11:25-29). The centuries-long division
betweenIsraeland Judah will come to an end, and even the Gentiles will walk
on “the highway” that leads to Jerusalem. (Be Comforted)
And He will lift up a standard for the nations - This passageteachesthat
although Israel plays a major role in the Millennium, God is by no means
finished with the Gentiles.
Walvoord explains that…
The lesserrole of Gentiles in the millennium is the subjectof many Old
TestamentScriptures such as the following: Isaiah2:4; 11:12 ; 16:1-5 ; 18:1-7

40. ; 19:16-25 ; 23:18 ; 42:1 ; 45:14 ; 49:6, 22 ; 59:6-8 ; 60:1-14 ; 61:8-9 ; 62:2 ;
66:18-19 ; Jeremiah3:17; 16:19-21 ; 49:6 ; 49:39 ; Ezekiel38:23; Amos 9:12;
Micah7:16-17; Zeph 2:11; 3:9 ; Zechariah 8:20-22;9:10 ; 10:11-12 ; 14:16-19
(cf., Pentecost, ibid., p. 652).
Outstanding in these Scriptures is the fact that, first, the Gentiles will share
many of the spiritual and economic blessings ofthe millennial reign of Christ.
Second, they will, however, occupya subordinate role to Israel (Isa 14:1, 2;
49:22-23;61:5-9 ).
Third… only Gentiles who are declared righteous by the King will be allowed
entrance into the millennial kingdom at its beginning (Ed: This will occurat
the Judgment of the Sheepand the Goats - Mt 25:31-40). (The Righteous
Government of the Millennium)
Standard (05251)(nec/nes)means a banner, an ensign, a standard. Nec/nes
referred to a rallying point or standard which drew people togetherfor some
common action for or for the communication of important information.
The nations - The Gentiles. As a generalrule when one encounters the name
"nations" in the Old Testamentit is a reference to the Gentiles. The same
generalizationapplies to the term "peoples". And so as I mark my Bible (see
marking key words), I put a brown box around all three of these terms
("nations, peoples, Gentiles" -- being sure to check the context) as descriptive
of the Gentiles as opposedto the Jews. Note thatthe Bible presents only two
main "ethnic" groups - Jews and Gentiles. As an aside, theologicallythere are
also only two families - Saved (Family of God as Father - Jn 1:11, 12, 13, 1Jn

41. 3:1,2-note, 2Cor6:18, Gal 3:26) and Unsaved (Family of Satan as father, cp Jn
8:44, 1Jn3:8, 9, 10, Acts 13:10, Mt 13:38).
Assemble (0622) ('acaph) means to gatherfor any purpose by bringing objects
to a common point.
The banished ones of Israel - In other words "the exiles."
Banished(01760)(dachah)is from a rootmeaning to pursue and castdown
with intent to harm. The verb means to push back, drive away.
Gather (06908)(qabats/qabas)means to bring together, to collect.
Dispersed(05310)(naphats/napas)means to shatter or break and in this
context conveys the meaning of to scatter. The Lxx translates naphats with the
Greek verb diaspeiro (see derivative diaspora)which means to scatterabroad
or spread about.
Naphats/napas - 4v in the NAS - Ge 9:19; 1 Sam 13:11;Isa 11:12;33:3. NAS =
disperse(1), dispersed(1), populated(1), scattering(1).
Israel… and… Judah - Here we see Messiah's supernaturalreversalof
Jehovah's pastjudicial division of the nation into Israel and Judah in 931BC
(See (1Ki 12:16-20).). Becauseofher sins againstGod, the nation deservedto
be divided but not to be re-united which reflects God's amazing grace and
lovingkindness. The so-called"TenLost Tribes " (the Northern Kingdom of

42. Israeltaken into exile by Assyria in 722BC)are not lost to the omniscient
God!
The four corners of the earth (same phrase in Rev20:8-note) - Another way of
describing the assembling and gathering as worldwide. The faithful Jewish
remnant will return to their LORD and their Land from their dispersion
throughout the world.
Garland adds that four corners…
is figurative language indicating the four main compass directions (Ezek 7:2;
Rev 7:1-note).
This verse clearly teaches thatGod is not "finished" with Israelas is often
taught by those who do not accepta literal interpretation. Instead these
observers "replace"the nation of Israel with the Church as the recipient of
these OT prophecies that clearly were originally promised to the literal nation
of Israel.
Dr John Walvoordaddresses the place of the literal nation of Israel in the
future government of Christ noting that…
In contrastto the present church age in which Jew and Gentile are on an
equal plane of privilege, the millennium is clearly a period of time in which
Israelis in prominence and blessing. Thoughmany passagesspeakofGentile
blessing as well, Christ will reign as the Son of David, and Israelas a nation
will be exalted.

43. Passages ofthe Old Testamentwhich have been studied previously
anticipating a future day of glory for Israel find their fulfillment in the
millennial reign of Christ. The regathering of Israel, a prominent theme of
most of the prophets, has its purpose realized in the re-establishment of Israel
in their ancient land. Israelas a nation is delivered from her persecutors in
the time of tribulation and brought into the place of blessing and restoration.
J. DwightPentecostgives anexcellentsummary of the important place of
Israelin the millennium in the following statement: “Israelwill become the
subjects of the King’s reign (Isa 9:6-7; 33:17, 22 ; 44:6 ; Jer23:5; Mic 2:13;
4:7 ; Dan 4:3; 7:14, 22, 27 ). In order to be subjects, Israel, first, will have been
convertedand restoredto the land, as has already been shown. Second, Israel
will be reunited as a nation (Jer 3:18; 33:14 ; Ezek 20:40; 37:15-22 ; 39:25 ;
Hos 1:11). Third, the nation will again be related to Jehovahby marriage (Isa
54:1-17;62:2-5 ; Hos 2:14-23). Fourth, she will be exalted above the Gentiles
(Isa 14:1-2;49:22-23 ; 60:14-17 ; 61:6-7 ). Fifth, Israel will be made righteous
(Isa 1:25; 2:4 ; 44:22-24 ; 45:17-25 ; 48:17 ; 55:7 ; 57:18-19 ; 63:16 ; Jer 31:11;
33:8 ; 50:20, 34 ; Ezek 36:25-26;Hos 14:4; Joel3:21; Mic 7:18-19;Zech 13:9;
Mal 3:2-3). Sixth, the nation will become God’s witnessesduring the
millennium (Isa 44:8, 21; 61:6 ; 66:21 ; Jer16:19-21;Mic 5:7; Zeph 3:20;
Zech 4:1-7; 4:11-14 ; Zech 8:23). Seventh, Israelwill be beautified to bring
glory to Jehovah(Isa 62:3; Jer 32:41;Hos 14:5-6; Zeph 3:16-17;Zech 9:16-
17)” (“BiblicalEschatology,”unpublished Doctor’s dissertation, pp. 651-52).
(The Righteous Government of the Millennium)
JIM BOMKAMP
11:10 - “10 Then it will come about in that day That the nations will resortto
the rootof Jesse, Who will stand as a signalfor the peoples; And His resting

44. place will be glorious.” - Isaiahtells us that it is the One who is the ‘root of
Jesse’to whom the nations will resort
6.1. In Isaiah’s prophesy, the root is the same as the branch (chapters 4
and 11), who is the same as the sonborn of the virgin (Is. 7:14), who is the
same as the son who would would be given and upon whose shoulders the
government will rest (chapter 9), and who is described as ‘Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace’(chapter9).
6.2. According to Strong’s Hebrew dictionary, the Hebrew word
translated ‘signal’in these verses, ‘nace’, means:
6.2.1. Something lifted up, standard, signal, signal pole, ensign, banner, sign,
sail
6.2.1.1.standard(as rallying point), signal
6.2.1.2.standard(pole)
6.2.1.3.ensign, signal
6.2.2. The wordis also translated in other verses as, “standard, ensign, pole,
banner, sail, and sign”

45. 6.3. In Heb. 10:7, Jesus is quoted as saying that ‘in the volume of the book
it is written of Me,’ indicating that all of the scripture from Genesis to
Revelationis really a revelation of Jesus to us.
GENE BROOKS
THE ROOT OF JESSE IS OUR RIGHTEOUS KING (Isaiah11:1-9)
a. 11:1: The stump of Jesse – Jessewas the father of David (1 Samuel 16:1;
Ruth 4:22). With the title, Branch (4:2; 6:13), identifies the personhere as the
Messiah, the descendantof David destined to rule the earth. The word here
for ‘shoot’is netzer, the same word from which we get the word, Nazarene
(Matt. 2:23).
b. 11:2 The Spirit of the Lord – (1 Sam 10:6; Luke 3:21-22). This man filled
with the Spirit will have wisdomand understanding (Gen. 41:39;Exod. 31:2-
3; 1 Kings 3:12; Eccl. 2:26), abundant counseland power (Judges 15:14:Dan
5:14), and knowledge andthe fearof the Lord (Psalm 111:10). It will produce
a righteousness andjustice, the same word pair found in 1:27; 5:7, 16; 9:7, all
referring to the Messiah.
c. 11:3-5 – Messiahwill judge with a pure motive in contrastto 10:7-11 and
6:9-10. As God, Messiahknows perfectly, so he can judge with perfect
righteousness. His decisions, so unlike human government that takes note of a
person’s wealth and socialstanding, insteadwill be in favor of the poor of the
earth. He will enforce that judgment absolutely with the rod of his mouth
(Psalm 2:9: You will rule them with an iron rod; Rev. 12:5; 19:15).
d. APPLICATION: Jesus is coming back. He will rule on his father David’s
throne at Jerusalem. Some view this as the millennial reign of Christ on earth.
Some view this as eternity when Christ will reign forever, but the similarities
are so close, the important thing is that the Rootof Jessewill one day reign in
righteousness. He will right every wrong. He will correctevery injustice. He

46. will rule with absolute purity. Our frail governments will cede their authority
to the king of kings. That should give you greathope. He is your king, if you
have a personalrelationship with him. He ever lives to make intercessionfor
you. He is your righteous king, and he loves you and favors you.
3. THE ROOT OF JESSE IS OUR GLORIOUS REST (Isaiah11:10-16)
a. 11:10 – A banner for the nations: Here it is a standard or a flag, raised
with the intent of rallying people around it. The term ‘peoples’indicates the
Gentile nations. Isaiah sees a messianic age in which all the nations will have a
knowledge ofChrist. Our God is a missionary God!
b. 11:11 – “a secondtime:” Many find this phrase significant. Some of the
Jews returning to the Holy Land after the Babylonian Captivity, partially
fulfilling the OT predictions of a regathering. In 70AD the Jews were
scatteredamong the nations a secondtime, as the Romans destroyed
Jerusalemand expelled all the Jews from Judea. This seconddiaspora was
more severe than the first, and Jews settledin every nation of the earth but
their own. Some take this “secondtime” to mean a secondregathering in the
end times, perhaps beginning in 1948.
c. ILLUSTRATION: The author of Hebrews teaches us in chapter 4 that
hearing Christ and believing in Him will give us Rest, just the opposite of
what Judah wantedto do (Isa. 6:9-10).
d. APPLICATION: Are you resting in him? Do you find your rest in Christ
Jesus? Being a Christian does not mean you work harder to be good. It means
you restbetter in Him and allow His Life to be lived through you. That restis
for all the nations. Our God is a missionary God! Therefore our lives must be
missionary lives. We must pray, go, and give until all have heard the good
news of Jesus Christ. What are you doing to be part of Christ’s commission to
go to the nations? Are you raising the banner of Christ at your work? Are you
raising the banner with your friends? Are you raising the banner with your
family? Are you making Christ knownin your circle of influence?
4. THE ROOT OF JESSE IS OUR SALVATION SONG (Isaiah 12:1-6)

47. a. 12:2 – Isaiahplays on the significance ofhis own name, which means,
“Godis my salvation.”
b. The call to put away fearis followedby a call to praise (12:4ff) for the
wells of salvation.
c. Jesus told us to go to the nations (Matthew 28:18-20;Acts 1:8; 9:15). After
this Isaiahwill turn to the nations until chapter 27, pronouncing judgment on
all them.
d. This thanksgiving hymn brings to an end this sectionof Isaiah, just as in
chapter 5. And just as the end of the Torah.
e. APPLICATION: When Jesus becomesLord of your life, he places a song
of praise there. Your heart overflows, thanking him for what he has done for
you. Christ is our song. He is beautiful, our sweet, sweetsong. Do you have
that song in your heart? Perhaps you do not because you do not know him as
your Savior. Let me invite you now to respond to Him, giving your life to him
and making the Rootof Jesse your Salvation. He will make your heart sing.
Perhaps you are in Christ, but you have forgottenthat glorious song. You
have drifted. Sin has clouded the sheetmusic. You no longersing the song of
salvationas you once did. Todayis the day to renew your walk with Christ.
Let the Rootof Jesse restore the Joyof your salvation(Psa. 51).
Invitation: Come to him today, won’t you?
JAMIESON, FAUSSET, BROWN
Verse 10
root — rather, “shootfrom the root” (compare Note, see on Isaiah11:1;
Isaiah53:2; Revelation5:5; Revelation22:16).

48. stand — permanently and prominently, as a banner lifted up to be the
rallying point of an army or people (Isaiah5:26; John 12:32).
the people — peoples, answering to “the Gentiles” in the parallel member.
to it … seek — diligently (Job 8:5). They shall give in their allegiance to the
Divine King (Isaiah2:2; Isaiah 60:5; Zechariah2:11). Horsley translates, “Of
Him shall the Gentiles inquire”; namely, in a religious sense, resortas to an
oracle for consultationin difficulties” (Zechariah 14:16). Compare Romans
15:12, which quotes this passage,“In Him shall the Gentiles trust.”
rest — resting-place (Isaiah60:13; Psalm132:8, Psalm132:14;Ezekiel43:7).
The sanctuaryin the temple of Jerusalemwas “the resting-place of the ark
and of Jehovah.” So the glorious Church which is to be is described under the
image of an oracle to which all nations shall resort, and which shall be filled
with the visible glory of God.
THOMAS CONSTABLE
Verse 10
"In that day" points to the time when Messiahwould rule ( Isaiah 11:1-9).
Then the Gentile nations would seek outthe king who would represent His
people, the Jews. The signalor standard in view seems to refer to a rallying
point. The fulfillment could not be the return from Babylonian exile as the
fulfillment, and the rallying of all sorts of people around Christ-as preached in
the church age-does notfit the picture either. Many liberal interpreters prefer
the first explanation, and amillennialists [Note:E.g, Young, 1:396.]prefer the

49. second. It must refer to a future worldwide turning to Messiahin which the
Jews will be prominent (cf. Romans 11). No resting place of Messiahwas
especiallyglorious during His first advent, but when He returns, Jerusalem
will become "a glory" because He will rule there.
The title "rootof Jesse" presents the Messiahas the source of the Davidic line
(cf. Genesis 3:15;Genesis 17:6), not just the product of that line ( Isaiah 11:1).
THE KINGDOM IS COMING
Dr. W. A. Criswell
Isaiah11:1-9
8-17-75 10:50 a.m.
You are sharing, you who listen on the radio and watching on television, the
services ofthe First BaptistChurch in Dallas. And this is the pastorbringing
the messageentitledThe Coming Kingdom; The Kingdom is Coming.

50. It is an expounding of a prophecy in the latter part of the tenth chapter of
Isaiahand the first part of the eleventh. Last Sunday, we spoke ofthe
prophecy in the first part of the tenth chapter of Isaiah, and now we go to the
latter part of that chapter and the beginning of the eleventh:
Behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts—the Lord of Sabaoth—
shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn
down, and the haughty shall be humbled.
And God shall cut down the thickets of the forestwith iron, and the cedars of
Lebanon shall fall by the arm and hand of the Mighty One.
But there shall come forth a Rod, a shoot, out of the stem, the stump, the stalk
of Jesse,and a Branch, a netzer, a Nazarene, shallgrow out of his roots:
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and
understanding, the Spirit of counseland might, the Spirit of knowledge and of
the fearof the Lord.
[Isaiah 10:33-11:2]
And then it describes the personof the coming King. Beginning at verse 6 we
have a description of the kingdom. First: a glorious King is coming; and
second, the glorious kingdom over which He shall assuredlyand triumphantly
reign.

51. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the
kid; the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;and a little child shall
lead them.
The cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shalllie down together:
And the carnivorous, ravenous lion will eat straw like an ox.
The sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, the adder; the weaned
child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’den, the cobra’s den.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be
filled with the knowledge ofthe Lord, as the waters coverthe sea.
[Isaiah 11:6-9]
Could you imagine a more glorious and optimistic prophecy than this; the
King and the coming kingdom? All of it arose out of the exigency, tragic and
sorrowful, of the day in which Isaiah lived. From horizon to horizon of the
civilized world, Assyria held the earth in an iron grip, a merciless and cruel
empire. It was Assyria that, invading Palestine, destroyedforever the
Northern Kingdom with its capital at Samaria [2 Kings 17:18, 23]. And four
times in the life of this Isaiahdid he ravage and overrun Judah. Had it not
been for an intervention of God in answerto the prayer of the goodKing
Hezekiah[2 Kings 19:15-19, 32-36], Assyria would have destroyed little
Judah.
But the prophecy begins and concludes in a violent and tremendously distinct
contrast. First, the prophecy concerning Assyria, “God will lop off its boughs;

52. the mighty hand of the Lord will cut it down like a cedarin Lebanon” [Isaiah
10:33-34]. It will be felled. Then, and isn’t it a shame there’s a chapter
heading there? When Isaiahwrote it there was no chapter heading, just
following through immediately. Contrasting the destruction of Assyria, then
he speaks ofthe resurrection, the renaissanceofIsrael. “There shall come
forth a Shoot, a Rod, out of the stem”—the stump, the stock—“ofJesse, anda
Branch shall grow out of his roots” [Isaiah11:1].
The contrastthere is betweena cedarand an oak. Whena cedaris cut down,
belonging as it does to the genus of the pine family, there are no shoots;there
are no suckers;there are no outgrowths. When a cedaris cut down, like all
the pine family, there’s nothing left but the stump, and it rots and decays in
the ground.
The prophet Isaiahsays the great, vast, merciless empire of Assyria will be
like that. God Himself shall fell the giant cedarand when it is cut down, it
shall be forever destroyed. So completely did the Assyrian Empire vanish
from the earth that, in centuries after, the army of Alexander the Great
marched over its great capitalcity of Nineveh unaware, absolutely
unknowing, that a great empire and a greatcivilization lay buried beneath his
feet.
God said Assyria shall be destroyedlike a mighty cedarthat is cut down and
there will be no shoot, there will be no rod that will come out of the stump that
remains. Then the prophet by inspiration contrastingly speaks ofIsraelas an
oak tree. And when an oak is cut down, here from the roots and there from
the stump will you see rods, shoots springing up. It still has life in its roots
and in the stem, the stump [Isaiah 10:33-11:1].

53. And out of the destruction of Israel, and out of the final, ultimate captivity of
Judah, there shall yet be God’s life remaining. And then the marvelous
prophecy, “Out of that stump there will grow a Branch” [Isaiah 11:1].
Matthew refers to this, a netzer, a Nazarene;and He will be the Lord God of
righteousness [Matthew 2:23].
The New Testamentrefers to that verse often. In the twenty-second, the last
chapter of the Revelation, the Lord speaks ofHimself as the Rootand the
Offspring of David, referring to this [Revelation22:16]. Out of the root of
David, the offspring of David, the Messiahshallrise. And then follows after,
the descriptionof the incomparably glorious triumphant kingdom [Isaiah
11:6-16].
Isn’t that a remarkable thing just to look at? And contrasting it with Assyria,
let us contrastit also with the Greek culture and life that so pervaded the
world, and still does. Without exception, the Greeks lookedback to their
golden days. Their heroes lived a long time ago. EvenPlato thought of that
utopian continent, named by him Atlantis, that once existed beyond the Pillars
of Hercules, beyond the gates of Gibraltar, out in the vast ocean, now
submerged, forevergone. The golden day to Plato, was a yesterday, forever
destroyed.
All of the poets and dramatists of the ancient cultured world lookedback to
the primeval time for the day of bliss, and joy, and innocence. The Hebrew
prophets and the apostles andthe child of God in the Bible is just the
opposite;never looking back but always forward. The greatHero is yet to
come. And the marvelous and messianic kingdom is on its way, yet to be
consummated, yet to be realized.

54. That spirit of hope and optimism, how ever abysmal and full of despair the
present might be—that spirit of triumph is always writ large on the pages of
the sacredBook. WhenJosephdies in Egypt, he calls his brethren and makes
them swearbefore God that they will take up his bones and carry them back
to the PromisedLand. “For,” saidJoseph, “Godwill surely visit you”
[Genesis 50:24-25].
When Moses facedanultimate decease,he called his brethren and said, “God
shall raise up a Prophet”—capital“P”—“Godshall raise up a Prophet like
unto me, and to Him shall ye hearken” [Deuteronomy 18:15]. There is a great
Messiahcoming. When the children of Judah were carried into captivity, into
Babylon, the prophet Jeremiah said, “Yet after seventy years, God will visit
you, and you can return to the home in Canaan’s fair and happy land”
[Jeremiah 29:10]. In 70 AD, Titus destroyedthe earthly Jerusalem, but in the
Revelationthe seersees a New Jerusalemcoming down from Godout of
heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband [Revelation21:2].
That spirit of hope and optimism, howeverdark the present hour may be,
ever characterizes the upness, the God-wardness ofthese who are able to see,
by eyes of faith, the purpose of God for the human race.
Now it is that kingdom that is coming of which we speak this holy and present
moment. It is coming in time and in history under a twofold way, manner.
First, the kingdom is coming in time and in history; slowly, gradually, but
surely and really.
A thing that is hard for us to realize—God’s hand is in history. He never
withdraws it; and what to us seems like blackness, anddarkness, and despair,
and failure, and destruction, and decay, and death has in it an ultimate

55. purpose of Almighty God. For the kingdom is coming;and it comes, and it
comes in God’s way and in God’s will, but surely and certainly.
In the first verse in the Bible, Godcreatedthe heavens and the earth [Genesis
1:1]. But the secondverse is a dark verse, “And the earth became waste and
void, and darkness coveredthe face of the deep” [Genesis 1:2]. I think, when
Lucifer fell [Isaiah 14:12], the whole universe fell with him. Greatstars
collided and burst. The whole creationof God was destroyed. Sin always
destroys.
Then what? Does Godleave it chaotic and dark and void and waste? No.
For the verse continues, “And the Spirit of God brooded over the face of the
deep” [Genesis 1:2], bringing order and beauty out of chaos. So it is with
God’s hand in modern history. It is as dark in some places ofthis world as it
can be. But the hand of God is in China. The hand of God is in Russia. The
hand of God is in the nations of Africa and in the isles of the sea and, though
America seems bound to a dissolution and disintegration, the hand of God is
in America.
The kingdom is coming slowly, surely, secretly, clandestinely;it’s on its way.
The Lord Himself said that. The Lord said, “The kingdom of God cometh not
with observation” [Luke 17:20]. You can’t see it. It’s only God that cansee it
and understand, but the kingdom of God cometh not with our observation
[Luke 17:20].
Again, in the fourth chapter of Mark He said the kingdom of God is like a
man that plants a seedin the earth, and he goes to sleep, and he goes to sleep,
and he arises and goes back to sleep [Mark 4:26-29]. And he doesn’tknow
how, he didn’t know the mystery of it, nor does any man ever know the
mystery of it; but out of the dust of the ground the seedsprouts, germinates, a

56. little blade, a stalk, a bloom, a fruit. It is God’s secretwayof controlling the
destiny of His createduniverse.
So the kingdom comes and it comes and it comes, and in time and in history,
slowly, gradually, without observation. As the author of Hebrews says, “Do
not be wearynor fall into despair; for He that shall come, shall surely come”
[Hebrews 10:37]. I can’t understand. I don’t see it, but He does. And He has
promised the kingdom to His people, to us. “Be of goodcheer, little children,”
said the Lord. “It is your Father’s goodpleasure to give you the kingdom”
[Luke 12:32]. Notonly is the kingdom in time and in history, coming slowly,
gradually, surely, in God’s infinite wisdom; but in time and in history the
kingdom is coming suddenly, cataclysmically, triumphantly, openly,
victoriously, personally.
In the Revelation, in the twenty-secondchapter, three different times the Lord
will say, “Behold, I come tachu” [Revelation22:7, 12, 20]. “Behold, I come
swiftly”—suddenly, cataclysmically. There is a thousand years in God’s clock
that is as a moment, but as a day [2 Peter3:8]. And when this time of
consummation comes, the kingdom will come. We shall see our Lord, and His
reign shall be establishedin the earth [Revelation11:15, 19:15]. He saidit is
as lightning that shines from the eastto the west—openlyand publicly
[Matthew 24:27]. It is a glorious and triumphant day for the people of God;
the intervention of God in human history.
Paul, in the eleventh chapterin the Book of Romans, said, “When the fullness
of the Gentiles, when the plerōma,”—plerōma is a simple Greek word
meaning full number—“When the full number of the Gentiles be come in”
[Romans 11:25], then, then, is the consummation of the age and the
establishment of the kingdom. When the last man comes downthis aisle
whose name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life [Revelation20:15, 21:27];
when the lastsoul is saved who is knownto God in His elective, predestinarian

57. purpose; when that one responds, the consummation shall come. The Lord
shall appear and establishHis kingdom in the earth [Revelation11:15].
But not only is the kingdom coming twofold: gradually, and without
observation, and cataclysmically, openly and triumphantly; but the kingdom
is also in its componentconstituency, in its inherent nature; it is also twofold.
The kingdom is first, spiritual. The Lord said to Pilate, “My kingdom is not
of this world” [John 18:36]. That is, it’s not like Rome, or Athens, or
Assyrian’s Nineveh, or Babylonia’s Babylon. It is not like a Washingtonor a
London or a Paris or a Peking or a Moscow. “Mykingdomis not of this
world” [John 18:36]. It is of a different order and of a different nature. The
apostle Paul by inspiration wrote, “My brethren, flesh and blood cannot
inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption” [1
Corinthians 15:50]. It is of a different order. It is a spiritual kingdom.
But second, it is also spatial. It is in time. It is in history. It is in place. It is
as real as anything we know that is real. There shall be a new heaven, but it
will be a heaven, an actualheaven. There shall be a new city, a new capital,
but it will be a real city, a capital city. There shall be a new earth, but it shall
be a real earth, this earth, renovated[Revelation21:1-2]. There shall be a
new body, but we shall have a real body [1 Corinthians 15:44-49].
I cannot understand the anomaly, the contradictioninherent in what the Bible
will say—a spiritual body. Those two words are self-contradictory. You
might as wellsay sweet-sour. You might as wellsay hot-cold as to saya
spiritual body. They are contradictory, but God says it. We shall have a
spiritual body in space, in time, in history; this body resurrectedand glorified,
but an actualbody [1 Corinthians 15: 44-49]. And this is the cardinal doctrine
of the Christian faith.

58. Our Lord is marked out—horizō, as Paul wrote it in Romans 1:4. He is
marked out. The word horizon, that’s where the line betweenthe sky and the
earth is marked out. Our Lord is marked out; He is designatedas the Son of
God by the resurrectionfrom among the dead [Romans 1:4]. When they
came to Him in the days of His flesh and said, “What sign do You give us that
You are the Son of God?” [Matthew 12:38]. He said, “As Jonahwas in the
belly of the whale three days and three nights; so the Son of Man shall be in
the heart of the earth three days and three nights” [Matthew 12:40]. His
resurrectionis the greatsign of His deity.
When they came to Him on another occasionand said, “Give us a sign” [John
2:18], He said, “Destroythis temple, and in three days I will raise it up” [John
2:19]. And John writes by inspiration, “But He spake of the temple of His
body” [John 2:21]. The resurrectionof our Lord is the greatsign, is the great
proof, is the greatdesignation, the marking out that this is the Son of God, the
Savior of the world [Romans 1:4].
Now it is the same thing in His presentationof Himself to His disciples. It is
that the real Jesus that gives authenticity to the Christian faith. It is not a
metaphysic; it is not a philosophy; it is not a speculation;it is an actuality. It
is real. The disciples, when they saw Him come into the room with the doors
closed, were afraid. They were terrified, affrighted, thinking that they were
looking upon a spirit [Luke 24:36-37;John 20:19].
And the Lord said, “Why, a spirit hath not flesh and bones such as ye see Me
have. Come, handle Me and see that it is I, Myself.” And when they believed
not for joy, He said, “Have you here any meat, anything to eat? And they
gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and of a honeycomb, and He did eat before
them” [Luke 24:39-43]—the actualLord Jesus. It is a spiritual kingdom, but
it also spatial; it is also real; it is also material. God invented matter. He

59. createdit; He must like it. God invented eating. He createdit; He must like
it, and I do, too.
In the kingdom, we shall sit down at the banquet feastwith Abraham, and
Isaac, and Jacoband shall break bread with the Lord. We shall be party to
the marriage supper of the Lamb [Revelation19:7-9]. The whole kingdom is
as real in its realization, in its actualization, in its consummation, as of any
part of human life that we know today, only it will be immortalized, and
glorified.
The greatcardinal doctrine of the Christian faith is the actualresurrection
from the dead [1 Corinthians 15:50-51;1 Thessalonians 4:14-17]. All other
religions practically believe in some kind of immortality, the continuing life of
the spirit beyond the grave. But the only faith and the only religion that
believes in the resurrectionof this body from the dead is the Christian faith.
And it is a cardinal doctrine because it is based upon Easter;it is basedupon
the Lord’s Day. It is basedupon the triumphant resurrectionof our Lord
over death and sin and the grave [1 Corinthians 15:12-20]. BecauseHe lives,
the apostle says, we shalllive also [John 14:19]. And as He has a glorified and
risen body, immortalized, beautiful, so we shall have a raisedand risen body
glorified, immortalized and beautiful [1 John 3:2]. That’s what God says the
Christian faith is.
You have a saying in physics that all of you are familiar with: nature abhors a
vacuum. That is, whereverthere might be a vacuum in the earth, the whole
forces of the universe will rush to fill it. That’s why you have whirlwinds and
tornadoes and cyclones and what have you in this earth. There is a rushing in
order to fill a place that has somehow become under-pressurized. Nature
abhors a vacuum is an axiom in physics.

60. Now here is an axiom no less factual and no less true. The Christian faith
abhors disembodiment. Unclothing, nakedness,as the apostle calls it, the
spirit without a body, the Christian faith abhors. Look at this glorious
revelation in the fifth chapter of 2 Corinthians:
We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle—talking abouthis
body—it is dissolved, if we die and it decays, we have another house, another
tabernacle, made of God—a house not with human hands, but with God’s
hands—eternalin the heavens.
For in this body we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our
house which is from heaven:
If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked—disembodied.
[2 Corinthians 5:1-3]
Christianity abhors the idea of disembodiment. “If so be that being clothed
we shall not be found disembodied, naked. Forwe that are in this tabernacle
do groan, being burdened” [2 Corinthians 5:3-4]. We get sick, we getold, and
we finally die. “Notthat we would be unclothed” [2 Corinthians 5:4], even
though we grow old and are sick and invalid and die in this house in which we
now live. We don’t want to be unclothed, even though we hurt in this body.
We graspfor breath. We don’t want to die.
“Forwe that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not that we
would be unclothed”—disembodied—“butclothed upon”—in the spirit,
embodied, incarnate—“thatmortality might be swallowedup in life” [2

61. Corinthians 5:4]. God has promised those who trust in Him that He will raise
them from the dead [John 6:40, 54]. This body, these atoms, these molecules,
these muscles and tendons and the skin of the flesh, they shall be raisedfrom
the dead, from the dust, from the depths of the sea, from an oak tree that may
thrust its root through my substance, and its flowers and leaves and sap and
acorns. I don’t understand it. I cannot understand the powerof God.
I don’t understand anything that God does. Mysteryis His signature. If God
does it, all we do is just observe it. We don’t explain it or understand it. So it
is in the resurrectionfrom the dead. God takes these very atoms and these
very molecules and this body, and He raises it from the dead, glorified,
immortalized [1 Corinthians 15:52-53], like to the glorious body of our own
Savior when He was raisedthat Eastermorning from among the dead
[Matthew 28:1-7]. This is the kingdom that is coming. Spiritual? Yes, but
spatial and real and actual; an actualcity; an actualKing [Revelation21:1-5];
people who have actual bodies, who live in actualmansions [John 14:2-3].
This is the Christian faith.
When I first came to the church thirty-one years ago now, we had many
funerals. And when I buried the people, I didn’t know them. It did not find
repercussionin my heart then, as it does today. Now, when we bury our
beloved dead, almostwithout exception, there are those that I have knownfor
years and years. To me it’s like the dissolving of a family. Yesterday, I buried
a man in our congregation. I had known him for thirty years almost.
Tomorrow, I bury a sweetmother, a godly mother. I have known her ever
since I came to be undershepherd of the flock. And it has in my heart a
repercussion. Maybe I cry anyway. I cannot keepback the tears when I lay
these to rest, in the heart of the earth, in the dust of the ground, whom I have
known and loved for over a quarter of a century.

62. We have in the church, a chapelthat is dedicated to our Silent Friends, our
deaf. And for these many, many years, they have had a pastor. We don’t
have room in our congregationfor them to meet with us as we used to do. So
in order to find room for our people here, we took our deaf people and they
have their own service, and they have their own pastor. In those times, there
was a pastorof our Silent Friends named Brother Landon. And one of the
members of his little deaf congregationbecame ill and lay dying.
So he took me to see the chapelmember of our deaf who could not live and
was dying. When we went into the room, there he lay on the bed, facing that
final and inevitable hour that all of us some day shall face. Gatheredaround
him were the members of his family, here, here, here, here. And Brother
Landon, the pastor, and I took our places by the side of the members of the
family looking down on his face.
And while we were there, that deaf mute—who couldn’t speak, becausehe
couldn’t hear—that deaf mute pointed to this member of his family and then
to this one and then to this one and went all around to eachone, pointing with
his finger, and pointed to Brother Landon and pointed to me. After he had
pointed to eachone, who was gatheredaround the bed, he pointed to himself
like this, and then he pointed upward to heaven like that. And Brother
Landon said to me, “What he means to tell you is, ‘You, my sweetfamily, and
you, my pastor, I will meet you in heaven.’”
Do you believe that? If you do, you are a Christian. That’s the heart and the
cardinal doctrine of the Christian faith, that in Christ we shall see one another
again.
I will sing you a song of that beautiful land,

63. The farawayhome of the soul,
Where no storms everbeat on the glittering strand,
While the years of eternity roll.
Oh, how sweetit will be in that beautiful land,
So free from all sorrow and pain,
With songs on our lips and with palms in our hands,
To greet one another again.
[“Home of the Soul,” Ellen M. H. Gates]
An actualSavior; an actual kingdom; in an actualcity; in an actualhome;
living in a realand resurrectedbody. “Blessedhope” [Titus 2:13], Paul calls
it. Oh, precious faith! If you believe that and would trust God for it, would
you give yourselves to Him, with us this solemn morning hour? [Matthew
11:28].
In a moment we shall stand to sing our hymn of appeal. And while we sing it,
trusting the Lord as your Savior, giving your life to Him [Romans 10:8-13];or
a family coming into the fellowshipof the church; or a couple, hand in hand,