A PICTURE OF PERFECT PEACE
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Opening Prayer
Holy Spirit, instruct me today as I reflect on the words of Isaiah. Help me to apply in tangible ways what you show me; give me greater vision for how I can bring God glory.
Read ISAIAH 2:1–5
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
The Mountain of the Lord
2 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.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
In a world of increasing stress, anxiety, and interpersonal or international conflict, how do you picture peace? What images come to mind?Most of our readings this week are a mixture of judgment and hope—today’s is solely a message of hope, which is repeated almost word for word in Micah 4:1–3. Did the Holy Spirit give the same message to both Isaiah and Micah who were contemporaries? Did one of them copy the other, or perhaps they were both quoting another anonymous prophet? We don’t know, but the repetition challenges us to take note!
A stereotypical beauty pageant contestant might have claimed that what society needs is ‘world peace’ but without offering any idea of what that looks like and how it could be achieved. Here, Isaiah describes the Messiah’s rule as bringing about ‘world peace.’ It will be a time when worshipping God will be a central focus throughout the world (v. 2). All people will acknowledge God as Lord and will want to follow his ways (v. 3).
There will still be disagreements and conflicts, but they will be settled fairly and decisively (v. 4). Money currently spent on defense and weapons of war can be redirected into food production and ensuring the well-being of all (v. 4). We look forward to that time!
Apply
After painting the picture of God’s future reign on earth, Isaiah challenges his readers to be counter-cultural and to choose to live under God’s reign now (v. 5). What does it mean to you to ‘walk in the light of the Lord’ today?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, make the peace you offer so evident in my life that others are drawn to you because of what they see, and not just because I tell them about you.
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