Sermon notes

INTRODUCTION

Yahweh sends Assyria as an axe to lop down the proud trees of Judah (10:33-34). But the Lord will also bring new growth from the stump of Jesse, a new Davidic king (11:1).

THE TEXT

“Behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, will lop off the bough with terror; those of high stature will be hewn down, and the haughty will be humbled. He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One. Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse . . . .” (Isaiah 10:33-12:16).

BY MY SPIRIT

“Jesse” is surprising here, suggesting that the Branch is more than just another Davidic king; He is David redivivus . And He is not just “branch” but “root” (v. 10), Alpha as well as Omega. The Branch-Root will become fruitful by the Spirit. The word “Spirit” is used four times (v. 2), but the fourfold Spirit is also sevenfold: He is the Spirit of Yahweh, who brings wisdom, understand, counsel, strength, knowledge, and the fear of Yahweh (v. 2). The Spirit of knowledge spreads from the branch to fill the earth (v. 8).

JUDGMENT AND PEACE

The Branch is king and judge, clothed in the armor of righteousness (v. 5). He judges fairly, giving attention to the rights of the weak (v. 4). His sentences are effective: The rod of His mouth strikes the earth, and the breath (“spirit”) of His mouth blows away the wicked. He will restore Eden on Yahweh’s holy mountain of Zion (v. 9). Adams, fresh as toddlers, will rule the earth (vv. 6, 8; cf. 1 Kings 3:7). The enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent will vanish (v. 8). The lamb will welcome the wolf as a resident alien in its home (v. 6), and all the animals will graze the same food together (v. 7).

STANDARD OF THE NATIONS

In that same day, the Branch/Root will raise up a standard to assemble people to Zion. He will be a standard for the remnant, who gather from the corners of the earth back to Zion (vv. 11-12). Ephraim and Judah will be reunited (v. 13). But His work extends beyond Israel, and the standard calls all nations to gather to Zion (vv. 10, 12; cf. Isaiah 2:1-4). Verses 14-16 represent the renewal as a conquest. Like David, the Branch and his army will conquer Philistines to the west and Edom, Moab, and Ammon to the east (v. 14). It is also a new exodus. By His hand (vv. 11, 15), Yahweh will break up the Euphrates so that His people can walk over it on dry ground, a highway of return (vv. 15-16).

SONG OF NEW MOSES

Chapter 12 follows neatly on the exodus imagery at the end of chapter 11, drawing on the Song of Moses: Compare Isaiah 12:2, 5 with Exodus 15:1-2. Yahweh not only delivers in a new exodus, but provides water for His people (v. 3), as He gave them water in the wilderness. The song of Isaiah 12 moves from singulars (vv. 1-2) to plurals (vv. 3-5). The “I” who celebrates salvation at the beginning of the chapter is part of a saved community. And this saved community exists to publicize Yahweh’s works among the nations (v. 4). As the following chapters will detail (chs. 13-24), the salvation of Israel reverberates throughout the world.