The Righteous Reign of King Jesus

Intro/Hook/Context

What do you do when everything around you crumbles? When leadership and structures that you depend upon fail; when you feel neglected by those who should care for you; when the force and pressure in the world seems to bear down on you…what do you do? Where does your mind turn? Most importantly, what do you look to for hope? These questions will be answered by all of us in this life. And if right living really does flow from right belief, then in order to have the right hope, answer with the right response, and live with the right aims, we must look to what the God of the Bible promises.

Turn with me in your mind to southern nation of Judah in Isaiah’s time—they were under threat. Under the wavering and faithless leadership of King Ahaz, Judah faced pressure from Ephraim (also called Israel) and Syria, who sought to force them into an alliance against the growing power of Assyria. In this moment of crisis, God sent Isaiah to Ahaz with a promise to deliver—a word Ahaz could have received by faith. But he doesn’t.

It’s in this context that we encounter what many have called “The Book of Immanuel” (Isaiah 7–12). Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord reveals a child to be born—Immanuel, “God with us.” God’s presence through this child would deliver Judah from the immediate threat posed by their enemies. But Ahaz refused to trust the Lord. Instead, he turned to Assyria for help, paying tribute to a foreign king and exposing the nation to greater danger. His compromise highlights the stark difference between trusting God’s promises and relying on human power.

In the midst of Judah’s unfaithfulness—failed leadership, misplaced trust, and looming exile—Isaiah 11 breaks in like a shaft of light in a dark room. Here, once again, we are given a vision of the Messiah. This king would not lead with political savvy or military might, and certainly not by trampling over his people for personal gain. He would come from an unlikely place—like a shoot from a seemingly lifeless stump.

Christian, this is no time for doubt. We must fix our gaze on the Messiah—Jesus Christ—whose reign will usher in an eternal peace for all who bow to him. Today, we look to the future—to Christ’s return—to catch a glimpse of the character and glory of his eternal reign.

Isaiah helps us ask and answer a vital question: What kind of King does God tell us to hope in? And if this King truly deserves our hope, what does that mean for our deepest fears and present allegiances?

With God’s help, we will find the answer in His Word, by His Spirit, as the great King of Isaiah 11 is glorified among us.

Let us pray and ask for His help.

(prayer)

The question is, what kind of King does God demand that the world place its hope in? To answer that, let’s look first at the essence and character of the king.

Point 1: The Essence and Character of the King (or, A Davidic and Divine King; vv. 1-5)

Isaiah 11:1 “1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”

The line of David, which has its roots in David’s father, Jesse, has been a line of mostly failed kings ruling in the southern kingdom of Judah. A shoot, which is a plant stem, will come forth from a stump. And from the roots of the tree, in other words, from the line of David, there will be a branch which bears fruit.

The image of a stump stands in stark contrast to the kind of forever-reign promised to come from the kingly line of David. The mighty trees that should have towered like legends in the history of mankind through the line of David have been decimated by their unfaithfulness to God. God’s people have fallen far from the height of Solomon’s kingdom.

The condition of the Davidic line is not so different from the image of the Assyrian ruin the Lord promised at the end of chapter 10. God will cut down the thickets of the forrest of Assyria with an axe, laying the lofty low. Felled trees serve as a symbol of God’s power over the wicked. What man considers high and lofty, God brings down to earth, cutting the glory of kings who despise him to the ground.

But with the wicked Davidic kings, though they are felled, God has done so to bring forth life from them. David’s line has been reduced to a stump, humbled back down to earth. But there will be growth from the ground, and the new king will come to Judah as David came to Israel as king – through a humble beginning.

David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, was an afterthought when Samuel came to seek out the new King of Israel at the Lord’s command. This is why David is not mentioned here, to recall what God is pleased by in the King over his people. David was not a man like his brothers or Saul in height and stature. But his heart was inclined to obey the Lord, to fear God and keep his commandments. It is this kind of king which will bear fruit from the stump of Jesse. And the king will be of the Davidic line, just as the Lord has promised.

The essence of the king will be Davidic. But it is not his lineage that alone that suffices for this man to take the office of king. This King will be utterly unlike Ahaz—His reign will be empowered by the very Spirit of the Lord. Indeed, the full unity of the godhead will be present in this messiah.

Isaiah 11:2 “2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”

Several times in the Old Testament, the Spirit of God is given to individuals tasked with important roles among God's people—including some monarchs. But this scene presents more than a general indwelling for leadership or craftsmanship. Here, the Spirit comes upon the Messiah in a way unlike any previous figure. He is no ordinary ruler; eternity belongs to Him. His very essence is divine. God is fully with him.

First, we read that the Spirit of the Lord—of YHWH—shall rest upon Him. Immediately, this distinguishes Him from Ahaz and every other earthly sovereign. God’s hand will be unmistakably upon this ruler, shaping His reign. And the Spirit’s resting presence will bring a threefold blessing. Certainly this evokes the image of the Spirit of the Lord descending upon Jesus like a dove in the Gospels, a representation of the beginning of his earthly ministry to bring light and salvation to the world.

The endowment the messiah receives from the Spirit begins with wisdom and understanding—divine insight to govern with righteousness and justice. Then comes counsel and might—the strength and strategy to triumph over every enemy. Lastly, He will possess knowledge and the fear of the Lord, guiding the people into true, God-honoring worship. All His work will flow from reverence for the Lord, revealing a reign ordained from above.

Imagine a society under such a leader: perfect governance, unassailable security, and pure devotion to the living God. This is the vision of God’s kingdom—and it requires One filled with the Spirit, the very essence of God Himself.

Now what does this king love? Isaiah 11:3a “3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.” The underlying Hebrew text implies that the fear of the Lord is a pleasing aroma to the Messiah. When you enter your home and a warm, delightful meal is being prepared, this pleases you by it’s aroma, doesn’t it? Well, the aroma which will please the king is the fear of the Lord. He will be most delighted by reverence to God – a heartfelt devotion to God above, beyond, and which would overwhelm the disposition of a person to deny anything beneath what would please the Lord. Fearing the Lord means delighting in God’s commands and rejecting anything opposed to Him. This is what the King will love!

If this is the essence and character of the messiah, it should lead us to ask, “Do I want that king? Do I look forward to his reign? Would I submit to that kind of rule? Is there anything tugging on my heartstrings that would not be welcomed by him?” Friends, with this kind of man coming, it requires that we ask, “Do I want him reigning over me?” How would each of us respond to a King whose delight is to fear God above all else? If there’s anything that holds you back from saying, “Yes, and Amen!” to Christ, then time is short for you to have a challenging conversation about your response to his reign, because he is coming, and we will all be subject to him, either as citizens of His kingdom through faith, or as enemies doomed to eternal condemnation through our rebellion.

If hesitancy to or rejection of his rule is one side of the coin of human response, the other side surely is hope—hope that the kings of Ahaz’s faithlessness are coming to an end, and that we can put fears to rest knowing that the one, true living God has established his throne forever, and his reign will be marked by what pleases God. Friends, nothing can overwhelm your greatest fears like the promise of Jesus Christ to rule and reign forevermore in a kingdom that will never end with you as his happy subject.

How can you be confident that God will make good on these promises? Two reasons. One from this text, and another from the most famous sermon ever preached.

Look again in Isaiah 11:3–4 “3b He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4a but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.”

Remarkably, this Messiah will be so well equipped to rule over his people that he need not even gaze upon them or listen to what they say in order to render righteous judgement and equity. This is not because he does not desire to see or hear them, but because his disposition will never be to act as the wicked kings of Isaiah’s time–kings who would trample on the poor to stuff their own houses with riches and possessions, and those who fail to exercise justice on behalf of the lowly for the sake of personal political gain. Rather, he will act with justice and never take advantage of anyone given their lowly and poor state. God promises that the Messiah will judge and decide disputes based on righteousness and equity. He will do what is right every time. He is immune to the pressures of political systems. He cannot be bought, bribed, or bargained with. He cannot give in to sin or ignore the needs of the lowly, even the lowest in society, because righteousness doesn’t come with a dollar sign and equity doesn’t come with social status. Righteousness and true equity are of God.

And so instead of turning a blind eye to or manipulating his people, he will bless them, and he promised to in the greatest sermon every preached. Matthew 5:3 “3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:5 “5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” In God’s kingdom, in his economy, what do the poor in spirit receive? The kingdom of heaven. Those who come to God with their nothing and say, “Lord, I cannot offer you anything to accept me, but I know that if I have you, I have everything. Take me, guilty, vile, and wretched sinner that I am, and make me yours forevermore.” He promises to the meek that they will inherit the earth…those who say, “As Christ has served me, I will serve others. As Christ gave himself for me, I will give myself for others. As Christ has loved me, so I will give my love to others. As Christ has blessed me, so I will share His blessing with others. As Christ has cared for me, so I will care for others. As Christ set emptied himself, so I will count others as more significant than myself. I am willing to be the least important person in the room so that others may be served well.” Psalm 37:11 says that the meek “delight themselves in abundant peace.” They are the ones who inherit the land.

We have a messiah King who will decide with equity the meek. What does this mean? Those who believe in the promises of God in humility will receive what God has promised them! They will not have their inheritance taken away by some king come to take advantage of their lowly state in an egregious and wicked power grab. No. Those who have humbled themselves before God will inherit the earth, and the Messiah is coming to rule and reign forever to ensure that His people receive the rewards they have been assured of by God. Christian, your meekness in the Lord will be blessed by God. You will receive what He has promised, and Jesus is returning one day to make sure of it. So come to him; bring your nothing, and receive absolutely everything. For the meek and lowly, this King is the long-awaited deliverer. He will rule not with partiality or corruption but with righteousness and equity.

But to the proud, the evildoer, the self-sufficient — this King is a terror. Friends, we should feel implored toward this disposition of meekness in God because those who are arrogant and wicked will receive the full wrath and justice of God. To resist this King is to declare war on heaven — and that is a war no one wins. Look again at verse 4. Isaiah 11:4 “4b…and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.” The divine power of the Messianic King is further demonstrated by showing that his judgements come forth by the very words he utters. For the wicked, all the Messiah must do to usher in their swift destruction is to say the word. The rod of his mouth is the instrument of his wrath, and the mere breath that comes from his lips shall bring death to the evildoer. When God wages war against the wicked, he doesn’t need weapons, only words.

With a word from his mouth, the wicked are slain. Not because he is cruel—his mercy shows his compassion—but because he is perfectly just and cannot overlook sin. He wears his righteousness and faithfulness like garments about him. Isaiah 11:5 “5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” Oh, you can hope in this good king.

Point 2: The Peace and Expanse of His Reign (or, A Worldwide Reign of Peace; vv. 6-9)

Let’s now look at the King God demands us to hope in by exploring the Peace and Expanse of His Reign. Point 2. If point one asks, “Do you want this King?”, then point two presses in on the one who says “no” to that question. So here’s a follow up question: Do you not want the very things His kingdom gives — perfect justice, peace, and the permanence we all long for? Even if you resist the King, aren’t you still yearning for His kingdom? It reminds me of a quote Tim Keller once posited: Even if you don’t believe in Christianity, you still long for the world it describes. Verses 6-9 present the kind of world that we all desire, and it can only come about by the King of verses 1-5.

Isaiah 11:6–9 “6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. 9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

In Isaiah 9:6, we were told that this Immanuel would be known as the prince of peace. Perhaps nowhere else in Scripture do we see a more vivid, idyllic picture of the peace His reign will bring.. Barry Webb wrote that these verse show a return to Eden in which the Messiah has put all of creation back into joint. Here we have the most remarkable, unexpected, unimaginable condition of world in which predator and prey are coupled together in a state of harmony where blood-thirst has been replaced by a commune of trust, gentleness, and peace. A wolf and a lamb. A leopard and a goat. Even the lion and bear graze like the ox—predators turned peaceful, their instincts remade. A cobra and a pit of vipers are no threat to a helpless child, and the illustration of an animal kingdom being so at peace with each other that a child could lead it indicates the type of security, safety, and tranquility that will be enjoyed in God’s kingdom. No longer will those at enmity with one another feel indignation and fear, but they will be brought to peace.

How could this be? Verse 9. The reason for no harm or destruction in all God’s holy mountain, which is apparently now the whole earth, is rooted in and caused by the totality of the earth being imbued with the knowledge of the Lord. The knowledge of God is so expansive that Isaiah compares it to the water that covers the sea. I don’t know if you’ve ever been out in the middle of the ocean before, but when you’re there, there’s no land. Just water. Nothing but the ocean and its depths. So it shall be with the knowledge of God.

This second advent of Jesus Christ, the Messiah King, will bring to completion in creation what He has already begun in us in His first advent. Romans 8:19-21 illustrates this perfectly when Paul wrote,

Romans 8:19–21 ESV

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

The creation state which Isaiah prophesied is the world Jesus is bringing—not just in the illustration of the tranquility of creation, but internally among people, and eternally with God. This is the mission of the Prince of Peace: not just to still nature’s chaos, but to kill hostility—between Jew and Gentile, between man and God.

Listen to the testimony of Scripture about the mission of the Prince of peace, and the already-but-not-yet nature he is bringing into the world in his people.

Ephesians 2:14–16 ESV

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Friends, if you long for the kind of peace that Isaiah prophesied among creation, the testimony of Scripture and this people called Covenant Life Church, and all faithful members of Christ’s global church is that Christ has come and has brought this peace among us through his perfect life, death on the cross in our place, resurrection from the dead, and ascension into heaven. In other words, that peace which you long for is here in part now, and it is coming in full later.

How can you be a recipient of this peace? You must believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ and repent of your sins, turning from them and turning to God in submission to his commands. You must come to the end of yourself! Think of how this text of Isaiah 11 demonstrates the essence of what God requires in his kingdom. For those who are self-righteous, he demands his own righteousness. For those who are faithless, he demands faithfulness. For those who are at enmity with one another, he demands peace. For those who lack a fear of the Lord, he demands reverential, glad obedience to his commands and a delight over His presence. For those who judge others with inequity, trample over the vulnerable for personal profit, and work to enjoy unrighteousness, he demands equity, humility, and meekness. For those that despise the knowledge of God, he commands that we be filled with it. Friend, you cannot come to God to be accepted on the merits of your own character, impressive as you think you might be, because the standard-bearer in God’s kingdom is Christ Jesus himself, the King of Isaiah 11. If you want to enter God’s kingdom on your own merits, Isaiah 11 condemns you. That’s the standard. Do you meet it? Does anyone? Can anyone? Only Christ.

Friends, the only way you can enjoy the peace of God in Isaiah 11 taking an honest look at yourself through the lens of God’s word and coming to the inescapable conclusion that you are a vile, wretched sinner in need of grace whose only hope in life and in death is the mercy of Jesus Christ on your behalf found in His gospel alone. And by God’s grace, the promised King of Isaiah 11 who destroys his enemies with his breath is the same God who breathes newness of life into everyone who calls upon Him for salvation in humble faith and repentance.

The justice, peace, and permanence you long for is here and is available for you. The righteousness that belongs to the king can also be your righteousness through faith. And with God’s people, you can also look forward with faith and hope to the return of Christ Jesus.

Point 3: The Restoration and Unity of His People (or, A Restored and Unified People; vv. 10-16)

The third and final point of this sermon considers the King God calls us to hope in—by seeing the restoration and unity of His people.

The text continues in verse 10. Isaiah 11:10–11 “10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. 11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.”

There is a day coming when the nations will flock to Christ, in whose presence there is a glorious place of rest.

It would be easy to make assumptions about the specific meaning of this text—whether Isaiah meant to point to a final generation of elect Israelites, or whether this is clearly a vision of the church age, where exiled believers are brought into Christ through suffering and perseverance. Whichever interpretive tradition you hold—dispensational or covenantal—we must not shy away from the weight and wonder of this promise.

Why? Because the Scripture’s great themes are here: the second exodus, the light of the gospel shining upon the nations, and the gathering of the remnant to the King. These are fulfilled in Christ, and they should stir our hearts with hope and joy.

The Root of Jesse—Jesus Christ—will stand as a signal to the world. The Messiah will be recognized by the nations as King over all.

Look at what the Lord promises to do.

Judah and Ephraim will be reunited. Whether this means a literal political reunification or not, we know for certain that in Christ the dividing walls of hostility are broken down. A new people—a new nation—has been formed in Him. And all who are of those ancient tribes who repent of their sins and believe upon Jesus as God’s Messiah will be saved. Period. The faithful remnant will enjoy salvation in the same way we do—by faith in the messiah and repentance from their sins.

Christ is raised as a banner, a signal to which all peoples will come. God will gather His elect from the four corners of the earth. The second exodus is more spiritual than physical, yes, but we should not ignore the physical reality of God drawing people to Himself from every corner of the globe—even in a literal sense at the end of the age.

Enemies who subdued God’s people will face judgment. Those who refuse to repent will receive God’s justice. The Lord will strike out against all who harassed and oppressed His people and did not turn to Him in faith.

Isaiah 11:12–16 “12 He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. 13 The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart, and those who harass Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah, and Judah shall not harass Ephraim. 14 But they shall swoop down on the shoulder of the Philistines in the west, and together they shall plunder the people of the east. They shall put out their hand against Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites shall obey them. 15 And the Lord will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt, and will wave his hand over the River with his scorching breath, and strike it into seven channels, and he will lead people across in sandals. 16 And there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant that remains of his people, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt.”

What does this mean for us, God’s people?

All will be made well. A.R. Fausset said, “The heathen poets’ dream of the golden age shall then be a joyful reality.”

The unity that long eluded Judah and Ephraim—a rivalry that stretched all the way back before the kingdom split under Rehoboam—will be resolved. And more than that, it will be enjoyed by all who have Christ as their King.

The Lord will vindicate His people. He will restore what has been lost for His name’s sake. What has any Christian given up to follow Christ that will not be returned a hundredfold in the Kingdom of God? This is His promise: all will be made well in Christ. A highway will be opened to Him, like the one Israel walked on when coming out of Egypt—only greater, eternal, unstoppable. God’s Word will ensure it. His power will secure it.

So until that day, we wait. And we long for the full and final realization of Christ’s Kingdom as Isaiah foretold.

Why do we believe it will come to pass?

Because God has already shown Himself faithful. The work He began through the gospel will be brought to completion—not just in us personally, but across the whole world, and throughout all creation, at the end.

What will you do when everything crumbles? Will you trust in the hope of the Messiah King? Will you rest in His promises?

Christian—let your heart be glad. Let your hope be stirred. We are called to believe in a Messiah who brings restoration, unity, and the nations into His glorious rest. He promises to bring home every exile.

God has revealed His eternal King. Will you turn to Him? Will you serve Him? Will you submit to Him?

Lord’s Supper Transition

After Christ fulfilled his mission in the gospel, he ascended into heaven with the promise to return, ultimately to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecies concerning him at the end of all things. And he has not left us alone, but has given us a way to commune with him and one another as we remember his death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins until he returns again. This is why we take the Lord’s Supper. In the supper, we are brought back to the cross to remember his sacrifice again, and we are brought together as His people as one under the signal, the banner of his gospel.

The Lord’s Supper was given by Christ to the church. It is intended only for believers in Jesus Christ who have made their profession of faith public through Christian baptism. If you are not a believer, or are not sure if you are a Christian, we would instruct you to avoid partaking in the supper, and instead use the time to consider your own position before God. The gospel which you have heard preached here is the message of salvation – that forgiveness of sins is given by God alone to any who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ, the son of God, for salvation.

At Covenant Life Church, the Lord’s Supper table is open to baptized believers walking in faith and repentance, who are members in good standing of a local church which preaches the same gospel you heard delivered here today. If that is you, the table is open to you.

In a moment, I will pray, and as the music begins to play I invite you to approach the table, collect the elements, and return to your seat. Once we have all collected the elements, I will offer instructions to you and we will take the supper together.

(pray)

(music plays)

We receive instruction for this meal from the Lord delivered to us through the apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 11. Paul wrote,

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Take and eat.

1 Corinthians 11:25 ESV

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Take and drink.

1 Corinthians 11:26 ESV

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Church, let us stand and rejoice in Christ our savior, our messiah king, who will return one day to bring us to his glorious place of rest.