11:1-9 Assyria would be like a tree cut down at the height of its power (10:33, 34), never to rise again. Judah (the royal line of David) would be like a tree chopped down to a stump. But from that stump a new branch would grow—the Messiah. He would be greater than the original tree and would bear much fruit. The Messiah is the fulfillment of God’s promise that a descendant of David would rule forever (2 Samuel 7:16).
11:3-5 God will judge with righteousness. How we long for fair treatment from others, but do we give it? We hate those who base their judgments on appearance, false evidence, or hearsay, but are we quick to judge others using those standards? Only Christ can be the perfectly fair judge. Only as he governs our hearts can we learn to be as fair in our treatment of others as we expect others to be toward us.
11:4, 5 Judah had become corrupt and was surrounded by hostile, foreign powers. The nation desperately needed a revival of righteousness, justice, and faithfulness. They needed to turn from selfishness and give justice to the poor and the oppressed. The righteousness that God values is more than refraining from sin. It is actively turning toward others and offering them the help they need.
11:6-8 It is incredible to think of hostile animals living at peace. It is even more incredible for hostile people to live at peace with one another. Only in union with Christ can we love enough to overcome our hostilities. And one day the whole world will acknowledge that Christ is Lord.
11:6-10 A golden age is yet to come, a time of peace when children will play safely with formerly dangerous animals. Not all of this was fulfilled at Christ’s first coming. For example, nature has not returned to its intended balance and harmony (see Romans 8:9-22). Such perfect tranquility will be possible only when Christ reigns over the earth.
11:11 When will this remnant of God’s people be returned to their land? Old Testament prophecy is often applied both to the near future and the distant future. Judah would soon be exiled to Babylon, and a remnant would return to Jerusalem in 538 B.C. at Cyrus’s decree. In the ages to come, however, God’s people would be dispersed throughout the world. These locations represent the four corners of the known world—Hamath in the north, Egypt and Cush in the south, Elam and Shinar in the east, Pathros in the west. Ultimately God’s people will be regathered when Christ comes to reign over the earth.
11:14 Edom, Moab, and Ammon were three countries bordering Judah (along with Philistia). They were the nations who, when Judah was defeated, rejoiced and took their land.
11:15, 16 Isaiah is talking about a new or second Exodus when God will bring his scattered people back to Judah, and the Messiah will come to rule the world. The Lord dried up the Red Sea so the Israelites could walk through it on their way to the Promised Land (Exodus 14). He dried up the Jordan River so the nation could cross into the land (Joshua 3). God will again provide the way of return for his people.