Isaiah 11-12

Hello from France!  This blog will be pretty quick and to the point due to the fact that I am writing this at 8:30am in the morning on July 8. This may seem quite normal, but that means that it is 2:30am back where you are.  So I am a little behind in completing this, so my apologies.

In order to get some clarity on Isaiah 11-12, I want you get some context what has been told to Israel prior to this passage.  Israel has just been told they are being put to judgment.  This is something that they were told would happen. They would be enslaved not only by the Assyrians, but also the Babylonians for their neglect to follow The Lord and to worship the idols of the world. This judgement was fully justified and deserved.  The judgement would end in the destruction and death of people, land, and livelihood.  The picture of brokenness is extremely clear and the result of brokenness is grim.

Then, we see the passage in Isaiah 11-12.  There would come this "peace" from The Lord. He says that he will destroy their enemies and that there will be peace given to them. Not just present enemies, but also enemies from the past that have brought pain and suffering to the people of Israel.  We see images of peace like wolves dwelling with lambs, leopards lying down with goats, cows among bears, and lions among calves.  The crazy thing about this is that there is no death.   This peace harnesses no destruction where a wolf doesn't devour a lamb, a bear doesn't eat the calf, and prey lies down with the predator.   All of this comes for the purpose of the words in Isaish 12.  That The Lord would be our song of salvation, our hope, and peace.  That we would delight in him and his glory would be declared throughout the world.

How is this true peace really accomplished?  It would seem logical for Israel to hear this truth, return to him and live in the peace that would come through the politics and treaties that would come at the end of this struggle, but this is not what happens.  In fact, eventually Israel would fall into sin again.  The peace and restoration of Israel was just a picture of what would come from The Lord.  We see this phrase that peace would come from "the root of Jesse".  Jesse was the father of David, who was promised by God that his family lineage would always rule and have a kingdom that would have full control and will never end.  We see this title have true connection with the title of Son of David, the very title that is stated to Jesus.  True peace that would one day come will come through The Lord, Jesus Christ.  We he returns there will be no more death, destruction, war, or bondage.  The peace that Israel will see is only a picture of what would come through the reign and rule of Christ The Lord.