Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart: Isaiah 2:1-5 (NIV)
This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3 Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
I love the poetic imagery of this passage: there is a mountain that the nations “stream” to. The idea is that the reign of God is reversing the natural laws of gravity. This temple, the place that God dwells, is going to be so compelling, so beautiful, so powerful that the nations will “flow” to it. But why? The second part of verse 4 says, “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” and that “nations will not take up sword against nation”. Wouldn’t that be wonderful! What if things could be different? The Kingdom of God claims to be different. God’s promise is that His Kingdom is filled with peace. Can you picture a world where complete peacefulness reigns? Wouldn’t you want to “stream” to that place? That is what Jesus has come to inaugurate. He begins by offering forgiveness and a new start… a new life in the Spirit. When God’s Spirit reigns in us, God makes us a new creation steeped in peace, mercy, righteousness, justice, and love. That doesn’t mean being a Christian makes you perfect! It means that we are learning to surrender our wills to the Prince of Peace. Jesus laid down weapons and took up mercy, grace and forgiveness. He showed us peace and offers his peace to us. His reign in our lives is where the journey of Advent is headed. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, fill us with your Spirit that we might be transformed by your love, mercy and peace and make us agents of your peaceful kingdom now in our relationships at home, at work, with friends, and even with our enemies. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. http://sothrichfield.podbean.com
Isaiah 2:1-5 (NIV)
This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3 Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
I love the poetic imagery of this passage: there is a mountain that the nations “stream” to. The idea is that the reign of God is reversing the natural laws of gravity. This temple, the place that God dwells, is going to be so compelling, so beautiful, so powerful that the nations will “flow” to it. But why? The second part of verse 4 says, “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” and that “nations will not take up sword against nation”. Wouldn’t that be wonderful! What if things could be different? The Kingdom of God claims to be different. God’s promise is that His Kingdom is filled with peace. Can you picture a world where complete peacefulness reigns? Wouldn’t you want to “stream” to that place? That is what Jesus has come to inaugurate. He begins by offering forgiveness and a new start… a new life in the Spirit. When God’s Spirit reigns in us, God makes us a new creation steeped in peace, mercy, righteousness, justice, and love. That doesn’t mean being a Christian makes you perfect! It means that we are learning to surrender our wills to the Prince of Peace. Jesus laid down weapons and took up mercy, grace and forgiveness. He showed us peace and offers his peace to us. His reign in our lives is where the journey of Advent is headed. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, fill us with your Spirit that we might be transformed by your love, mercy and peace and make us agents of your peaceful kingdom now in our relationships at home, at work, with friends, and even with our enemies. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.