Last week we ended with characteristics of the Messiah from Isaiah. He was described as “The Branch, a descendant of David, the stem of Jesse” (11:1), we were told that God's Spirit would rest upon Him (11:2), that He will fear the Lord (11:3), and that He will judge the earth with righteousness (11:4,5). This week the Scripture focuses more on the nature of His rule. We also get some of those flashes past the first time Christ was going to walk the earth to Christ's return.
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. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. 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.
Isaiah 11:6-9
There are a few points here. First, the predator and prey relationships are broken down. We would expect this fulfillment in a spiritual sense as old hostilities among nations are healed. Secondly, the root or stump of Jesse buds out but the impact is world wide. We don't see just a perfect judge (although we see that) but we also see the Holy Spirit move in such a way as to change natures. Thirdly, this is a vision of Eden restored. The nursing child is exercising dominion over a creation that is restored to the place it originally occupied in submission to God's designated stewards. Even the problem with the serpent is gone.
To return to Eden is a common theme even in our popular culture. Generally even in popular culture it has a very bad end because of mankind's sinful nature. So what would a return to Eden mean in a man's life? Adam's nature before the fall made it possible (but not necessary) for him to life without sin. In fact, certainly Augustine would say it was easy for him to life without sin. Once he sinned then his will became corrupted and (as God warned) in the day Adam ate the apple his spirit died and all the physical ramifications began.
Since that time men has sinned willingly according to a nature that was corrupted to the core. Fortunately, God's common Grace written on the hearts of fallen men has kept us from being as bad as we could be but we all sin willfully. Since Eden God has promised a Messiah. The first messianic prophecy was given in Genesis 3:15 to the serpent and the first picture of Christ's work in our lives in given in Genesis 3:21 as the first animals were sacrificed to clothe Adam and Eve's nakedness.
Throughout history God has worked to keep a people who trust in Him for salvation as a result of Grace and Mercy. The Old Testament Saints like Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:25-38) looked forward to the coming Messiah and the New Testament Saints like you, if you are a believer, look back to the perfect work of Christ in atonement.
God's indwelling Holy Spirit means that a Christian can chose to obey God and do what He says to do, when He says to do it, in the way He says to do it with no other thought but for the Glory of God.
Paul in Romans Chapter 7 states what we only know too well. Our sin nature still makes it a struggle for us to live lives that are entirely pleasing to God. Our hope and promise is that at the End of Days we'll no longer have our sin nature. We will not be able to sin because we will not want to sin. Our radical corruption will be gone and Romans Chapter 7 will not be our life story any more. This is the view of Eden given here when the perfect Judge is returns. The influence of the King will cover the earth. There will be no wrong act or corrupt act. Sin of ignorance, no willful sin, no act that appears sinless from a corrupt heart. God promises a creation restored and mankind free from our sin nature and, in a sense, better of than Adam because we'll be free of all desire for sin.
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.
Isaiah 11:10
This is messianic and points to His return and eternal Kingdom. We'd say that is portion is partly fulfilled in that so many nations now serve God and since Jesus has established His kingdom in our hearts already. However, He also taught you to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven” so we understand that He will someday establish a visible earthly kingdom. At that time we'll see a fulfillment of this verse in a complete way.
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