already fulfilled in Christ, who will raise His brethren, for whom He
tasted death, to partake in His dominion. The present order of things is
transient; and if earth is to be, as some shadowy hints seem to suggest,
the scene of the future glories of redeemed humanity, it may be the
theatre of a fulfilment of such visions as this. But we cannot dogmatise
on a subject of which we know so little, nor be sure of the extent to
which symbolism enters into this sweet picture. Enough that there surely
comes a time when the King of men and Lord of nature shall bring back
peace between both, and restore 'the fair music that all creatures made
To their great Lord.'

Verse 10 begins an entirely new section, which describes the relations
of Messiah's kingdom to the surrounding peoples. The picture preceding
closed with the vision of the earth filled with the knowledge of the
Lord, and this verse proclaims the universality of Messiah's kingdom. By
'the root of Jesse' is meant, not the root from which Jesse sprang, but,
in accordance with verse 1, the sprout from the house of Jesse. Just as
in that verse the sprout was prophesied of as growing up to be
fruitbearing, so here the lowly sucker shoots to a height which makes it
conspicuous from afar, and becomes, like some tall mast, a sign for the
nations. The contrast between the obscure beginning and the conspicuous
destiny of Messiah is the point of the prophecy. 'I, if I be lifted up
from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.' Strange elevation for a king
is a cross! But it is because He has died for men that He has the right
to reign over them, and that they 'shall seek' to Him. 'His
resting-place shall be glorious.'

The seat of His dominion is also the seat of His repose. The beneficent
activity just described is wielded from a calm, central palace, and does
not break the King's tranquillity. That is a paradox, except to those