Isaiah 11 and 12
IN order, in our progress through this most instructive book, we have found,
First, the state of man (Israel, it is true, but man nevertheless), and God’s proposal of cleansing and blessing, with the assurance that His enemies would be dealt with (chapter 1).
Second, the declaration that Jerusalem shall be the capital city of the world, the seat of government and the center of earthly blessing of the highest order, when the day of Jehovah has come, and He shall judge among the nations, and wars shall cease (chapter 2).
Third, that in that day there will be a Branch, or Sprout, of Jehovah for beauty and glory, —Jehovah will dwell in Zion (chapter 4).
In chapter 7 we found the promise of the virgin’s Son Immanuel, taking up the declaration of God to Satan in Genesis 3:15.
In chapter 8 the land of Israel under the heel of the invading Assyrian is Immanuel’s land, and He will subdue every enemy, though for a time He would be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but afterwards He is seen with “the children that Jehovah hath given Me,”—the begotten-again of Israel.
In chapter 9 Immanuel, the child born to Israel, is the Head of all Government, the Wonderful, the Counselor, the Mighty God, the Father of the Coming Age, the Prince of Peace.
Chapter 11 briefly describes the Branch, Immanuel, the Hope of Israel, the Lord Jesus Christ who died on Calvary’s cross that sinners lost and perishing might live eternally. He is of the seed of David truly (2 Timothy 2:8; Luke 1:32,33), but here of the stock of Jesse, David’s father, taking His place thus with the humblest of the children of Israel.
Upon Him shall the spirit of Jehovah rest. In verse 3 the best text is “And His delight will be in the fear of Jehovah, and He shall not judge, etc.” Blessed will be this poor world, when He rules it and its present ruler (Matthew 4:8, 9; Revelation 2:13; John 11:30) is deposed and in chains (Revelation 20:1-3).
In that day deep changes will be wrought in the very animals and reptiles, so that the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatted beast together, and a little child shall lead them (verses 6 to 9). Impossible today, for such a thing to be! Romans 8:19-22 is not yet fulfilled.
Then will Jehovah set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His earthly people which shall be left when His judgments are over. Pathros (verse 11) is upper Egypt; Cush is Ethiopia, Elam is Persia; Shinar is west of Persia—pact of Irak. Hamath is north of Damascus.
There will be physical changes too (verses 15, 16). Read “into seven streams” instead of “in the seven streams.”
Chapter 12 Concludes this most interesting and instructive section of the prophecy of Isaiah with a song of praise, Israel’s praise to God. The sighs, and groans and tears of the past will be remembered only to magnify the grace of our Saviour God.
The reader will note that God’s purposes for Israel are entirely distinct from His purposes for the Church; the one is earthly in prospect, the other a heavenly body. The present period of grace, from the cross to the Lord’s coming to take His Church away (1 Thessalonians 4) is entirely passed by in Isaiah’s prophecy.
ML 05/28/1933