Isaiah 11 - Introduction

This chapter Isaiah 11 is connected with the preceding as part of the same general prophecy. In that, the prophet bad described the invasion of Sennacherib, and had given the assurance that Jerusalem should be safe, notwithstanding the threatened invasion. The general design of that prophecy was “to console the people with the assurance of their deliverance from impending calamity.” But it was a general principle with the Hebrew prophets, and particularly with Isaiah, when “any” event tending to console the people, or to excite the nation’s gratitude, occurred, to east the eye forward to that great future deliverance which they anticipated under the Messiah; see the Introduction, Section 7, (3.) The contemplation of “present” objects dies away; the mind fixes more intently on the glories of the Messiah’s reign; the prophetic vision ranges over the beauties of his person, and the glories of his kingdom, until the prophet seems to have forgotten the subject with which he commenced.

This was perfectly natural. It was by an obvious law of association in the mind, by which the mention of deliverance, in any form, however humble, would suggest that great deliverance on which the eye of every Jew would rest. It hence follows, that wherever the prophet begins, he usually ends with a glowing description of the reign of the Messiah. However far from this central object of revealed religion he may commenee, yet there is a tendency everywhere “to it” in the prophetic writings; and the moment that, by any law of association, this object is suggested, or the eye catches a glimpse of it, the former object sinks out of view, and the person and reign of the Messiah becomes the sole theme of the prophetic description. This is the case here. Isaiah had commenced the prophecy with an account of the invasion of Sennacherib; Isaiah 10:5, ... He had described the deliverance from that danger; Isaiah 10:33. The mention of this deliverance directs his thoughts to that far greater deliverance which would take place under the Messiah; and immediately Isaiah 11 he commences a glowing description of his coming and his reign. The “language” with which he commenced the prophecy, is retained; the illustrations are drawn from the subject “before” under consideration; but the description pertains to the glories of the reign of the Messiah. The proof of this will appear in the note at particular passages in the chapter. Its general design is, to console the people by the prospect of a great future deliverance under the Messiah, and by a prospect of the glosses of his reign. He describes,

(i) The certainty that he would come, and his character; Isaiah 11:1.

(ii) The peace and prosperity which would follow from his advent; Isaiah 11:6.

(iii) The fact that, the Gentiles would he called to partake of the privileges of his reign; Isaiah 11:10.

(iv) The restoration of the exiles to their native land under his reign; Isaiah 11:11.

(v) The fact, that his reign would put a period to dissensions and strifes between the contending nations of the Jews; Isaiah 11:13; and

(vi) The universal prevalence of his religion, and the deliverance of his people; Isaiah 11:14.