THE VIEW FROM THE TOP
Opening Prayer
I praise You Lord. There is no power in heaven or on earth like Yours. You have done wondrous things!
Read Isaiah 2:1–5
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
Can you envisage Christ’s reign on earth? What do you believe would be the distinctive features of such a kingdom?A fascinating aspect of Bible study is the interaction we find between the literal and the metaphorical. God’s Word contains truth in both forms. In this passage, you can find statements of clear, historical fact. There actually was a temple built on a high place in Israel. At one time, people worshipped the true God there (indeed, they still do). However, the mountain’s position, higher than other hills (2), is about its spiritual status rather than its altitude. Then again, Christians do believe that the events described here will take place. This passage is a glorious vision of a future in which the worship of the Lord is central, when justice is achieved and when peace will prevail. The famous images of the swords and ploughshares are no less relevant, beautiful and true for us just because our own ‘swords’ and ‘spears’ are, perhaps, missiles and cyber-attacks. Could our ploughshares and pruning hooks be fair trade policies and sustainable international farming practices?
In verse 5 we have one of those “time jumps” which seem to come more easily to God and His prophets than to us.
The previous verses are a prophecy of ‘the last days.’ This joyful invitation, beginning with the word ‘Come,’ is for then, for now and for all eternity.
Apply
Meditate for a few minutes on the idea of walking ‘in the light of the Lord’ (5). What would that look like in your life. Are there things that need to change and be brought into the light?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, I remember Your words, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons and daughters of God” (Matt. 5:8). Enable me to show others how to cooperate rather than compete or fight.
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