The Peaceful Kingdom

September 4, 2016 Background Scripture: Isaiah 11:1 – 9 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 11:1 – 9 The focus of the next series of lessons shifts to the most prolific of the writing prophets, Isaiah. Isaiah’s writing spans all times from the pre-existence of time to the post-time events recorded in the book of Revelation. Today’s lesson focuses on the future Kingdom of God on earth. Of course, the kingdom is established by the long awaited Messiah of God. The details given by Isaiah begin with the origin and nature of the Messiah. The Messiah will be from the tribe of Judah and a descendant of Jesse (David’s father). This is significant because Judah is spoken of here as a remnant and not the full tribe. This is part of the hope that God provides for His covenant people. The northern kingdom of Israel, which consisted of ten tribes, was decimated by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. The southern kingdom of Judah, the two remaining tribes that inherited land, fell to the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The northern kingdom was never restored but God provided a remnant from the southern kingdom which included the family line the Messiah would come through. Isaiah’s language, which describes a rod from the stem and a branch from the roots of Jesse, refers to a remnant that is analogous to a branch growing out of the stump of a tree that was cut down. This is the hope the Jewish exiles could hold on to even in Babylonian exile. God made promises that were firmly rooted in the covenant He made with Abraham. Israel could not be annihilated without God going back on His promises. God would punish the sins of the nation but He would also preserve a remnant to fulfill His promises. The Messiah would come forth from this remnant. The kingdom established by the Messiah would restore the pre-flood conditions of nature without the presence of sin. In the post-flood covenant God made with Noah, God declared that the fear and dread of man would be in every beast of the earth. Furthermore, animals were added to man’s diet in this covenant. But here, in the Noahic covenant, God also spoke of beasts taking man’s life as well. Nature was literally turned against itself after the flood. The kingdom established on earth by the Messiah would restore the balance of nature and peace would prevail. Animals that we classify today as carnivores because they are meat eaters will return to being herbivores and consume plants for their food. Today’s carnivores and herbivores will share the same diet of plants in the Messiah’s kingdom. They will no longer be predators and prey. Wild beasts will no longer pose a threat to mankind and little children will be able to play with snakes that are classified today as poisonous. Perhaps the most significant aspect of the Messiah’s kingdom will be in the area of human relations. The Messiah’s righteousness will be the standard for justice. The meek of the earth will be vindicated because the Messiah will argue their case for them. The words of the Messiah will be words of justice. The Messiah’s knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and counsel will be given to him by the Spirit of God. The Messiah’s kingdom on earth will be the peaceful kingdom. Robert C. Hudson August 24, 2016