Upon reaching chapter 11, I walked joyfully into a mountain meadow, bathed in golden rays of sun and filled with wildflowers.  This chapter occupied my mind with brilliant rainbows of color, vividly connecting precedent studies about the Messiah in Romans 15:12 and latter meditation in John 3:34.  The Spirit brought the pieces together for me in three biblical books of my investigation to drive home to my heart the supreme exaltation of Jesus Christ as the rod, the branch, and the root.  He is everything to mankind, both Jews and Gentiles. 

Obviously, the natural concern of any missionary heart, especially when he or she looks around, is this question:  “Will Gentiles glorify God?”  The answer is yes!  Paul tells every Christian who is yearning for people to glorify God for his mercy, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13).

The work of the Triune God (Spirit, Father, Servant-Messiah) in Isaiah 11:2a is actually fulfilled right in front my eyes with such verses as John 2:32-33 and 3:34-35.  No wonder the wrath of God is involved for unbelief (John 3:36).

So with the Spirit teaching me such amazing things about the Christ in Scripture, I become astonished when later reading LDS interpretations of verses like Isaiah 11:1 and 10.

For example, David Ridges in Isaiah Made Easier (2002) writes,

“And there shall come forth a rod (Hebrew: twig or branch) out of the stem (Christ), and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:  (Christ-like qualities of leadership are described.)  And the spirit of the Lord 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 the Lord; . . . [verse 10] And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse (probably Joseph Smith), which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious” (19-20).

David Minert in Simplified Isaiah for the Latter-Day Saints (2006) comments on verse 1 and 10:

“In the last days, God will call a prophet (Joseph Smith – rod) who will be a servant in the hands of the Savior, He who is of the royal lineage of David (stem of Jesse).  In that day, the gospel of the Savior (who is the Branch) will grow and fill the earth.  The keys of the priesthood and the gathering of the Lord’s people will be conferred upon a latter day prophet (Joseph Smith – root) who will be commissioned to begin that work. (Jeremiah 23:5; Zachariah 3:8; 6:12; D&C 113:1-6; see also BD/Christ, Names of; Lost Books) . . . In the last days, the Lord will call a prophet (Joseph Smith), who will be given the priesthood and the authority to establish the church in the last dispensation.  This restoration of the gospel will serve as a signal to the nations that the people of the Lord are being gathered among the gentiles.  After he finishes his work of restoration on earth, he will be welcomed into the rest of the Savior.  (Romans 15:12; D&C 113:5-6) (43-46).

The LDS classic, Understanding Isaiah (1998), confirms David and David by sharing on verse 1,

 “Sidney Sperry suggested that the rod  . . . referred to the Prophet Joseph Smith.  It may also refer to another latter-day prophet to come forth” (116). 

The book explains verse 10,

“Latter-day Saints scholars generally agree that the root of Jesse refers to the Prophet Joseph Smith.  He is a descendant of both Jesse and Joseph; he held the priesthood; he possessed the keys of the kingdom; he played a primary role in the lifting of the ensign upon the tops of the mountains; and the keys of the gathering of Israel were committed into his hand (D&C 110:11).  This prophecy may also be fulfilled by another prophet yet to come, who shall also have the characteristics Isaiah saw” (120-121).

Victor Ludlow in Unlocking Isaiah (2003) teaches,

“Verse 1 provides a revealing look into the identity and life of two pivotal individuals in the last days:  Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind, and a powerful servant of the Lord who will come from the lineage of Jesse to rule in righteousness and play a key role in the preparation for the Lord’s millennial reign. . . . This servant, a future ruler of Israel, will do many great things to prepare the world for the Second Coming.  However, he will not become powerful on his own.  Instead, as we learn in verse 2, his power will come through the Spirit of the Lord.  Through the Spirit, this great servant will gain access to heavenly gifts, such as wisdom, understanding, sensitivity, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord.  These powerful gifts will be given to him because of his righteousness and devotion to the Lord” (168-169).

Though I am far from the status of a biblical scholar like William Tyndale, I offer you my observations as a southeastern Idaho spud who has just been learning lots about God through his KJV scriptures:  Johannine and Pauline revelation speak of Christ alone, neither John nor Paul, as the hope for Israel in Isaiah 11.  In contrast, Joseph Smith revelation injects Joseph Smith or some other LDS prophet into Isaiah 11 for hope.

If no one else but Christ is your hope when you are backed against a wall in complete physical and spiritual helplessness, then you truly will sing the song of the redeemed in Isaiah 12.