Isaiah 11:4

With righteousness. The judges were corrupt, taking advantage of the poor and the unfortunate, and the rich were grinding down widows and orphans (Isa. 1:23; 10:1, 2; Jer. 5:28; Amos 2:6; 4:1; 5:10, 11; 8:4-6; Zech. 7:10). The spirit of the promised Messiah was in striking contrast with the spirit of the times. Justice, equity, mercy, and a sympathetic consideration for the needs of the poor and downtrodden are the principles constantly set forth as characterizing the ideal king (see Ps. 72:2, 3, 12-14).

Reprove. Heb. yakach, “to call to account for,” “to decide.”

Smite the earth. Isaiah pictures Messiah returning to the earth to subdue His enemies and to take His kingdom (see Dan. 2:43, 44; Rev. 19:11-21; cf. Rev. 12:5; 14:14-20). Then He will “smite” the unjust rulers of earth. When Christ sets up His kingdom He will “break in pieces and consume” all the kingdoms of earth (Dan. 2:44) and “rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers” (Rev. 2:27; cf. Ps. 2:8, 9). In Rev. 1:16 “a sharp twoedged sword” is pictured as coming from the mouth of Christ, and in 2 Thess. 2:8 He is described as destroying the Antichrist “with the spirit of his mouth” (see also Hosea 6:5). As Christ created all things by the word of His mouth (Ps. 33:6, 9; John 1:1-3), even so will He destroy all that is evil.