The Second Remnant

This prophecy of Isaiah was for the immediate future, but it also concerned a further distant future, one where Assyria and also Lebanon would fall. The Day of the LORD is at hand, where Israel once again is trusting in other nations instead of God, so God will come against the nations Israel trusts in and decimate them. Their strength will be removed, so that there will be no earthly help for Israel. Israel will be forced to turn to the LORD alone for help and deliverance, but they will only do that when all of their own strength is also gone. A complete destruction is once again decreed for the Land of Israel. Their enemies will surround them and only a small remnant will remain, preserved by the miraculous power of their God. 

Prophecy in the Bible often has an immediate fulfillment, and then perhaps even several fulfillments after that. As with the prophecy of the virgin being with child being fulfilled with Ahaz's wife, and then much later finding it's full fulfillment in Jesus Christ, this lengthy sermon from Isaiah is directed to Israel, Judah, Assyria, and many other surrounding countries for the time in which he lived but also for the future.  After the decreed destruction of Assyria in the days of Isaiah, which happened when Babylon sacked Nineveh in 612 BC, thus also fulfilling the Word of the LORD from Jonah the prophet concerning their destruction, Isaiah foretells of the stump of Jesse that would have been cut down - meaning they would lose their kingship at some point. From that stump a Branch would grow, filled with the sevenfold Spirit of God.

The word Branch is the Nebrew words Neser. Isaiah prophesied of a branch from Jesse. Jeremiah prophesied of the Righteous Branch who would be called "The LORD Our Righteousness", and Zechariah prophesied twice of the Branch who would be King and Priest. Neser is where the town of Nazareth gets its name, where Jesus grew up. This is the area Isaiah identifies earlier in this prophecy as the place where the people in darkness would see a great Light - the land of Naphtali and Zebulon in Israel, which would be conquered by Assyria and taken into exile. The remnant would return and the Branch would grow 700 years after this prophecy.

The Branch is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He will not judge by what He sees or hears, but with righteousness He will bring justice. He will strike the earth and slay the wicked with His breath. Righteousness will be His belt and Faithfulness His sash - pointing the the garments of the High Priest, the role Jesus completely fulfills. This prophecy looks far forward to the Millennial Reign of Christ where He brings true peace to all Creation. The wolf will lay down with a lamb, the leopard with the goat, calves, lions and yearlings would play together. Even little children would lead them and infants play with cobras without fear of harm. The common fear of man from animals will be gone and they will no longer devour one another. The whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD because the LORD will be present, reigning as King. 

When Jesus returns in the near future, He will stand as a banner for the peoples. Nations will rally to Him and His resting place will be glorious. He will reach out His hand and reclaim the surviving remnant of His people from the nations that have fought Israel - Assyria, Egypt, Cush, Elam, Babylonia, Hamath, and the islands of the Mediterranean. The exiles of Israel from all nations who survive the short Time of Great Tribulation - and there will only be a small portion of humanity who survive - will be gathered once again to their God. Israel and Judah will be gathered from the far reaches of the globe and they will no longer be hostile to one another. 

Philistia will be subdued. Edom and Moab will be subdued. The Ammonites will be subject to the LORD. Jesus will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea. He will bring a scorching wind over the Euphrates River and break it up into seven streams that people can walk across in sandals. A highway for the remnant from Assyria will be built for them to return to their God in Jerusalem. This will be just like the Exodus from Egypt - but better. In that Day, the children of Israel will sing a new song of praise to God. It's text is found in Isaiah 12. They will sing of His salvation (Jesus), in whom they will trust and not be afraid. The LORD will be their shield and defense. They will proclaim His Name among the nations and exalt Him for all the good things He has done. The whole world will know the LORD.