Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 11:1-9

"And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah. And his delight shall be in the fear of Jehovah; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears; but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins. And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder`s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea." — Isaiah 11:1-9 (ASV)

The Messiah is called a Rod and a Branch. These words signify a small, tender product; a shoot, such as is easily broken off. He comes forth from the stem of Jesse; when the royal family was cut down and almost levelled with the ground, it would sprout again. The house of David was brought very low at the time of Christ's birth.

The Messiah thus gave early notice that his kingdom was not of this world. But the Holy Spirit, in all his gifts and graces, will rest and abide upon him; he will have the fullness of the Godhead dwelling in him (Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9). Many consider that seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are mentioned here. And the doctrine of the influences of the Holy Spirit is clearly taught here.

The Messiah would be just and righteous in all his government. His threatening will be executed by the working of his Spirit according to his word. There will be great peace and quiet under his government. The gospel changes the nature, and makes those who trampled on the meek of the earth, meek like them, and kind to them.

But it will be more fully shown in the latter days. Also Christ, the great Shepherd, will take care of his flock, so that the nature of troubles, and of death itself, will be so changed that they will not do any real hurt. God's people will be delivered, not only from evil, but from the fear of it. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? The better we know the God of love, the more we will be changed into the same likeness, and the better disposed to all who have any likeness to him.

This knowledge will extend as the sea; so far will it spread. And there have been witnesses to this blessed power in every age of Christianity, though its most glorious time, foretold here, has not yet arrived. Meanwhile, let us aim so that our example and endeavours may help to promote the honour of Christ and his kingdom of peace.