A King from Jesse’s Line
A branch will spring up from Jesse’s family line—a fresh shoot growing from ancient roots. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and reverence for the Lord. He’ll delight in honoring the Lord. He won’t judge by what he sees with his eyes or make decisions based on what he hears with his ears. Instead, he’ll bring justice to the poor and fairness to the humble. His words will strike down the earth, and his breath will destroy the wicked. Righteousness and faithfulness will be woven into everything he does.
Peace in All Creation
The wolf will live peacefully with the lamb. The leopard will lie down beside the young goat. The calf, the lion, and the fattened calf will graze together, and a little child will lead them all. The cow and the bear will feed side by side, their young lying down together. The lion will eat straw like an ox. A nursing baby will play near a cobra’s den, and a toddler will reach into a viper’s nest. Nothing will harm or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain, because the earth will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as water fills the sea.
The Lord Gathers His People
When that day comes, a descendant of Jesse will stand as a banner for all peoples. The nations will seek him out, and his resting place will be glorious. When that day comes, the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to bring back the remnant of his people—those scattered in Assyria and Egypt, in Pathros and Cush, in Elam and Shinar, in Hamath and the islands of the sea. He’ll raise a banner for the nations. He’ll gather the exiles of Israel and bring home the scattered people of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Ephraim’s jealousy will fade away, and Judah’s enemies will be cut off. Ephraim won’t envy Judah anymore, and Judah won’t harass Ephraim. Together they’ll swoop down on the Philistine slopes to the west and plunder the people to the east. They’ll conquer Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will submit to them. The Lord will completely dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea. With his scorching wind he’ll wave his hand over the Euphrates River, splitting it into seven shallow streams that anyone can cross on foot. There will be a highway for the remnant of his people coming out of Assyria, just like there was for Israel when they came up out of Egypt.