Isaiah: Glorious Rest

Isaiah 11

In Genesis, we learn that God chose a people through whom to send his Son. The Abrahamic Covenant promised that all nations would be blessed through him (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:18-21; 17:7-8; 22:17-18). The Mosaic Covenant described how God’s chosen people should live and demonstrated the need for a new covenant that would be fulfilled in Jesus (Jer. 31:33-34). The Davidic Covenant confirmed that David’s royal line would continue forever (2 Sam. 7:16). Today’s passage presents the One who will come through the descendants of David and reign forever. That will be a day of spiritual renewal!

At the end of Isaiah 10, we learn that God will destroy Assyria and its dominance over his people. Isaiah describes Assyria’s demise as God cutting down giant trees in a forest (Isa. 10:33-34). But one day there “shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit” (Isa. 11:1). Jesse was King David’s father, and the “shoot” is Jesus Christ who will rule forever (Isa. 9:7). He is the “branch,” called the “righteous Branch” in Jeremiah 23:5, who will bear fruit, that is, will nourish and refresh many. The attributes of God’s Holy Spirit will characterize the Messiah.

Isaiah 11:2
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Isaiah refers to the Holy Spirit more than any Old Testament prophet (11:2 [four times]; 30:1; 32:15; 34:16; 40:13; 42:1; 44:3; 48:16; 59:21; 61:1; 63:10-11, 14). It is that Spirit who brings renewal and refreshment into our lives daily. Be sure to note that in Isaiah 11:1-2, the prophet includes the Trinity—God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Isaiah continues to give characteristics of the coming Messiah.

• He will delight in living a life of obedience, trust, and worship to the Father (Isa. 11:3a).
• He will not be swayed as a human judge, but he will judge with perfect righteousness (Isa. 11:3b-4).
• Isaiah says that he will wear righteousness as a belt, that is, his whole person will be supported by justice, honesty, faithfulness, and compassion (Isa. 11:5).

The entire earth will know who this Messiah is and what he stands for. The “earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:9). His kingdom will be unlike anything we have ever seen or experienced. All that sin has rendered chaotic will be replaced by peace and order.

Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 

In this new kingdom, Israel will occupy a special place based on the covenants mentioned above, and God will call his people together (Isa. 11:11-16). He “will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isa. 11:12). Sin scattered them; the Messiah will gather them.

But this wonderful day will not be just for Israel. All nations will be blessed, just as promised in the Abrahamic Covenant. People from every country will rally to Jesus, and “his resting place will be glorious” (Isa. 11:10 NIV). When Israel is gathered and all the nations assemble, they will arrive via a beautiful “highway.” 

Isaiah 11:16
And there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant that remains of his people, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt. 

The “highway” is an image often used in Isaiah. It provides a smooth way to travel (Isa. 26:7-8), offers a safe path (Isa. 42:16), and is free from obstacles (Isa. 49:11; 57:14; 62:10). In Isaiah 35:8, God’s highway is referred to as the “Way of Holiness.” Just as God provided a dry path through the sea when Israel “came up from the land of Egypt,” this highway to the Kingdom will provide safe passage. 

Our Anchor Point for today’s passage is Isaiah 11:10.

Isaiah 11:10 (NIV)
In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

Jesus' “resting place” will be glorious, and it is glorious today. Jesus invites all who are tired, discouraged, and in need of renewal and refreshment:

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus is, today and always, the source of glorious rest. I pray that you seek and find your rest in him. 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on the glorious coming kingdom in Isaiah 11. Focus on our Anchor Point: Isaiah 11:10 and Matthew 11:28-30. 

Talking to God: Ask God to provide you with the glorious rest found only in Jesus.

Have Questions?
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Every day is a day of spiritual renewal and refreshment.