Bible Study Lesson for Isaiah 11:1-3: the Messiah, the Branch from Jesse

(When I taught my two year long Bible study on Isaiah, I used The Pulpit Commentary Volume 10: Isaiah edited by H.D.M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell to give me a starting point and rough outline of the material covered in the chapters. In this article, when you read the phrase "my commentary", I am referring to this volume.)

This chapter is one of hope and grace, filled with prophecies regarding the Messiah and the Messianic Kingdom. Isaiah does all the talking in this chapter, speaking of the Lord and the Messiah in the third person. This is a very difficult chapter, one very much open to different interpretations. I am going to be presenting my interpretation, but this is not necessarily the correct one. When studying a difficult book like Isaiah you must always understand that people bring in their own views and prejudices when writing commentaries; be wary of accepting anything at face value.

The first thing that jumped out at me when I started to study this chapter was the magnitude and range of Isaiah's prophetic gift. I found myself looking at the different events being prophesied about in view of a time line. { Have two people hold up the computer paper time line. } Remember, this is my view of what is going on in this chapter.

{ Here are some notes about what is listed in the time line. Time Begins. This chapter was written approx. 750 BC; In verse 1 Isaiah talks about the Messiah's birth, 3 BC; verses 2-3 talk about the Spirit resting on Jesus: reference this to the Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove and the beginning of his ministry, 27 AD; Jesus dies and rises again; the church is born 30 AD; have two panels for "today" to the future, with the Jews and Gentiles come to Christ verses 10-13 (from 30 AD to Jesus' return); Israel's/the Church's enemies are defeated verse 14-16 (after "today" to Jesus' return); Jesus returns as king, warrior & judge verse 4-5 (date unknown); final panel is the Millenium/Peaceable Kingdom of verse 6-9 (date unknown). Time Ends }

Read Isaiah 11:1 Here we have more tree images; this seems to be a common theme with Isaiah. Notice how we have growth: a shoot, a branch, and fruit coming from a stump, after last chapter's images of the cedars of Lebanon being utterly destroyed. The "tree" of Judah was cut down, too, but a branch will come from it, unlike Assyria.

Who was Jesse? David's father. Isaiah is reminding the Jews of a much happier time, during the Golden Age of King David's rule. The Messiah will come from David's line. This is the second time a branch is mentioned in Isaiah. The first time was in Isaiah 4:2

Jeremiah also uses the image of a Branch for the Messiah. Read Jeremiah 23:5-6

The Apostle Paul, in Romans, completes the picture and shows how we, as Gentile Christians, become part of this "branch", which is Christ. Read Romans 11:11-24

Though we are born of wild, worthless stock, by Christ's grace we are grafted into Jesus' tree, nourished by Him. Those born of the cultivated stock, the Jews, who have rejected Jesus, are cut off the tree.

The next section of verses talks about what the Messiah's character will be like, as given him by the Holy Spirit. Read Isaiah 11:2-3a. The Holy Spirit was with Jesus, utterly and completely. This is different from how the Holy Spirit had interacted with people prior to Jesus' coming. The Holy Spirit would come on a person for a time, then leave. One example we have is how the Holy Spirit interacted with Saul.

Read 1 Samuel 10:9-13 Later the Holy Spirit comes to David and leaves Saul. Read 1 Samuel 16:10-14

We know from studying Saul and David's lives that though the Holy Spirit came upon them and was with them, they still fell into sin, rejecting the Holy Spirit's counsel. This was not, obviously, what happened with Jesus. Let's review when the Holy Spirit came upon him. Read Matthew 3:13-17

From the gospels we know that Jesus was led by the Spirit. Read Matthew 4:1

We know that he drove demons out by the Spirit. Read Matthew 12:28

And that he was filled with joy through the Spirit. Read Luke 10:21

There are numerous other examples in the stories of Jesus life to support Isaiah's prediction that the Holy Spirit would be with him and that he had wisdom, understanding, power, and knowledge.

Let's re-read Isaiah 11:3a. We know that all of Jesus' being was centered on doing God's will - the Spirit gave him the knowledge of what the will of God was, and his fear of the Lord ensured that he was dedicated in doing God's will. For me one of the most dramatic pictures we have of Jesus' submission to his Father's will is what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he was praying. Read Matthew 26:36-39. It is hard to associate "delight" with such agony and such a difficult decision, but he followed through with being crucified because he knew this was what the Father wanted and because he loved the Father.

Read Isaiah 11:3b The Messiah, Isaiah is saying, won't judge by outward appearance or by what people say. He will know men's thoughts and he will judge their hearts. Read Matthew 9:1-4 and 1 Corinthians 4:5. I found an interesting mini-commentary on this verse in Corinthians from the book Angels on Assignment. This is a book written by a pastor who was visited regularly by angels (which I believe is a true story, but I recommend reading it and deciding for yourself.) In this book he asks the angel he is currently talking with what this verse means.

"I asked the angel to explain what is meant by 'things of darkness and the counsels of the hearts,' and this was his answer: 'God will shine his light on the hidden corners of the hearts of those who have served him because of their love, not expecting thanks. For these things, too, they will hear God say thanks.' This does not mean in relation to evil deeds. The angel referred to it as the beautiful, but hidden things that people have not known about your life. God is going to tell you good things that you don't even know about yourself! He knows all your thoughts, and even those good thoughts are worthy of praise!" (Taken from Angels on Assignment by Roland Buck, page 142.)

To be continued...

Sources
Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford (notes). The Student Bible. NIV Version
H.D.M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell (editors). The Pulpit Commentary Volume 10: Isaiah
Roland Buck. Angels on Assignment