And with righteousness he must judge the lowly ones, and with uprightness he must give reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth. And he must strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the spirit of his lips he will put the wicked one to death. And righteousness must prove to be the belt of his hips, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.”

18. (a) How does the symbolic “twig” strike the earth with the rod of his mouth? (b) How does he put wicked ones to death with the spirit of his lips?

¹⁸ During the coming “great tribulation” the symbolic “twig out of the stump of Jesse” will indeed “strike the earth with the rod of his mouth.” Royal orders issuing from his mouth will become like a rod that smashes to bits the earthly social arrangement of mankind, the old order of things. His commands are forceful, urgent, stirring to action, and they are propelled from his lips with death-dealing effect upon his obstinate earthly enemies.

19. How does the King, backed by God’s spirit, deliver the meek and lowly ones from the wicked oppressor forever?

¹⁹ This speaking with the authority of an executioner against wicked enemies corresponds with the “sharp long sword” pictured as protruding out of the King’s mouth in order to “strike the nations with it, and he will shepherd [the nations] with a rod of iron.” (Revelation 19:11-15) By doing this, the Messianic king, backed by Jehovah’s spirit, delivers the meek and lowly ones on earth. When he reigns with his 144,000 fellow kings, he will not permit the wicked oppressors to come to power again on earth.

Isaiah 11:1-5