Today I am commenting on Isaiah 2:1-5, which tells us:
2:1 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2:2 In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.
2:3 Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
2:4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
2:5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
The House of the Lord which Isaiah prophesied about would seem to include the reign of God over His people, and the lifestyle and community of God’s people whom He redeemed from their sin through the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. What does Isaiah tell us about the House of the Lord?
The House of the Lord is Established on High
Isaiah’s vision of God here and also in Isaiah 6:1-8 reveals a God that is righteous and holy; He is pure and above mankind and the rest of His creation. Not only is He higher in nature and personality than creation, He is also worthy of being lifted up and exalted. He is worthy of our praise and our worship!
In his audience with God in Isaiah 6, Isaiah saw this holiness of God and it frightened him, because it revealed his own sin and human frailties. This is an essential part of the character of God that we can never forget. God is transcendent and high above us. However, Isaiah 2:2 gives us a second dimension to God also: He is high and lifted up so that people will come to Him.
Throughout the ages, military units have used flags, banners, and streamers to rally their troops. These markers are lifted up on poles so that the troops can see them and array themselves accordingly. The same is true for God. People are looking for someone, something, or some cause to believe in. Isaiah predicts that people will come running to God when they see His goodness and mercy.
People come to God because of who He is; because He meets their innermost needs with His power, authority, goodness, and love.
The House of the Lord is for All Nations
The job of a prophet is not an easy one. Journalist Finley Peter Dunne once said that the role of a newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. The same could be said of a prophet of God, and Isaiah was no exception. His message often challenged the accepted beliefs of his day among Israel.
The Children of Israel were convinced that God had chosen them and that He would preserve and restore them. When we think about the covenant that God made with Abraham it is apparent that they were . . . almost . . . right!
God had chosen them, yes, but not just to be His people, but to also be a blessing to all the nations of the earth. Isaiah is just one of the first messengers of God to proclaim the truth that God loves all people and He wants all people to come unto Him for salvation, restoration, and blessing.
The fact that God wants to draw all peoples unto Himself is easy to see in the New Testament. Passages which reflect this truth are many, including Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, 2 Peter 3:9, and Revelation 7:9-17. What is so interesting here, is that Isaiah was making that same point long before the birth of Christ and the establishment of the New Covenant. Not only does this passage provide Old Testament support for important New Testament doctrines, it also reminds us that God, in His love, never changes!
The House of the Lord Instructs us in Righteousness
Isaiah goes on to remind us that God doesn’t just want to save us from our sins, He also wants to to walk in a new way after He does. Jesus, in the Great Commission, didn’t tell the church just to make converts, but to make disciples.
This principle, too, is found in many places in the New Testament, but it is also found in the Old Testament as well, in such books as the Psalms, Proverbs, and also here in Isaiah. The Biblical record is clear: we can’t save ourselves from our sin, but, once we are saved through the blood of Jesus, we are to grow into mature followers of Him.
Not only is it right and good to walk in the way of the Lord and, as Paul said, “put off the old man” it is also what produces peace in our lives!
The House of the Lord Produces Peace as We Walk in His Light
Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, people have struggled to find peace in their lives. We struggle to find peace with God, with Creation, with our family, friends, and neighbors, and with ourselves. We need help!
Israel had God’s Word, but even with that advantage they struggled. The pattern they lived out was established in the Book of Judges: they devolved into sin and then they were oppressed and afflicted by the foreign people they had allowed to remain in the promised land. Next the Children of Israel would repent and turn back to the Lord, who would deliver them from their oppressors. Soon thereafter, Israel would fall back into sin. In many ways they acted like a person addicted to drugs or alcohol. That’s why the coming of the Messiah is so important.
The coming of Jesus allowed for His sacrifice on the Cross, and the salvation it offers. It also allowed for Jesus to send the Holy Spirit, which made operational in our lives the promise of Jeremiah 31:33, which promised, "This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
When we are redeemed from our sin, and when God’s law is written on our hearts, we are “raised to walk in newness of life.” In this way we can have the peace in our lives we so desperately need.
Conclusion
For many people, a great holiday season involves a house full of family, enjoying fellowship around the table, and sharing gifts. In many ways, that picture of joy is a symbol of what life in the House of the Lord should be like all the time!
Every blessing,
Otis Corbitt
2:1 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2:2 In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.
2:3 Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
2:4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
2:5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
The House of the Lord which Isaiah prophesied about would seem to include the reign of God over His people, and the lifestyle and community of God’s people whom He redeemed from their sin through the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. What does Isaiah tell us about the House of the Lord?
The House of the Lord is Established on High
Isaiah’s vision of God here and also in Isaiah 6:1-8 reveals a God that is righteous and holy; He is pure and above mankind and the rest of His creation. Not only is He higher in nature and personality than creation, He is also worthy of being lifted up and exalted. He is worthy of our praise and our worship!
In his audience with God in Isaiah 6, Isaiah saw this holiness of God and it frightened him, because it revealed his own sin and human frailties. This is an essential part of the character of God that we can never forget. God is transcendent and high above us. However, Isaiah 2:2 gives us a second dimension to God also: He is high and lifted up so that people will come to Him.
Throughout the ages, military units have used flags, banners, and streamers to rally their troops. These markers are lifted up on poles so that the troops can see them and array themselves accordingly. The same is true for God. People are looking for someone, something, or some cause to believe in. Isaiah predicts that people will come running to God when they see His goodness and mercy.
People come to God because of who He is; because He meets their innermost needs with His power, authority, goodness, and love.
The House of the Lord is for All Nations
The job of a prophet is not an easy one. Journalist Finley Peter Dunne once said that the role of a newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. The same could be said of a prophet of God, and Isaiah was no exception. His message often challenged the accepted beliefs of his day among Israel.
The Children of Israel were convinced that God had chosen them and that He would preserve and restore them. When we think about the covenant that God made with Abraham it is apparent that they were . . . almost . . . right!
God had chosen them, yes, but not just to be His people, but to also be a blessing to all the nations of the earth. Isaiah is just one of the first messengers of God to proclaim the truth that God loves all people and He wants all people to come unto Him for salvation, restoration, and blessing.
The fact that God wants to draw all peoples unto Himself is easy to see in the New Testament. Passages which reflect this truth are many, including Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, 2 Peter 3:9, and Revelation 7:9-17. What is so interesting here, is that Isaiah was making that same point long before the birth of Christ and the establishment of the New Covenant. Not only does this passage provide Old Testament support for important New Testament doctrines, it also reminds us that God, in His love, never changes!
The House of the Lord Instructs us in Righteousness
Isaiah goes on to remind us that God doesn’t just want to save us from our sins, He also wants to to walk in a new way after He does. Jesus, in the Great Commission, didn’t tell the church just to make converts, but to make disciples.
This principle, too, is found in many places in the New Testament, but it is also found in the Old Testament as well, in such books as the Psalms, Proverbs, and also here in Isaiah. The Biblical record is clear: we can’t save ourselves from our sin, but, once we are saved through the blood of Jesus, we are to grow into mature followers of Him.
Not only is it right and good to walk in the way of the Lord and, as Paul said, “put off the old man” it is also what produces peace in our lives!
The House of the Lord Produces Peace as We Walk in His Light
Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, people have struggled to find peace in their lives. We struggle to find peace with God, with Creation, with our family, friends, and neighbors, and with ourselves. We need help!
Israel had God’s Word, but even with that advantage they struggled. The pattern they lived out was established in the Book of Judges: they devolved into sin and then they were oppressed and afflicted by the foreign people they had allowed to remain in the promised land. Next the Children of Israel would repent and turn back to the Lord, who would deliver them from their oppressors. Soon thereafter, Israel would fall back into sin. In many ways they acted like a person addicted to drugs or alcohol. That’s why the coming of the Messiah is so important.
The coming of Jesus allowed for His sacrifice on the Cross, and the salvation it offers. It also allowed for Jesus to send the Holy Spirit, which made operational in our lives the promise of Jeremiah 31:33, which promised, "This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
When we are redeemed from our sin, and when God’s law is written on our hearts, we are “raised to walk in newness of life.” In this way we can have the peace in our lives we so desperately need.
Conclusion
For many people, a great holiday season involves a house full of family, enjoying fellowship around the table, and sharing gifts. In many ways, that picture of joy is a symbol of what life in the House of the Lord should be like all the time!
Every blessing,
Otis Corbitt
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