Year 2, Week 1, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 1, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Isaiah 2-3

Today’s reading continues Isaiah’s words to Judah. Isaiah 2 opens with an abrupt change of tone: "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 the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3). The threatening words of rebuke and devastation that opened the Book of Isaiah, have given way to words of hope-filled invitation. And yet, Isaiah 2 quickly returns to the themes of rebuke and confrontation: “Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty. The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day” (Isaiah 2:10-11). Isaiah 3 continues the hard words of Isaiah as he continues his confrontation: “For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence. For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves” (Isaiah 3:8-9).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the ultimate vision that Isaiah proclaims concerning the final outworking of His plans upon earth: “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills” (Isaiah 2:1-2a). While Isaiah foretells of devastation, he also foretells deliverance. Beyond the days of judgment and condemnation, Isaiah also sees days of blessing and restoration. As we read through the rest of Isaiah, it may serve to note that Isaiah seems to be structured with seven cycles that each repeat with opening words of rebuke and condemnation before shifting to concluding words of restoration and comfort. The first of Isaiah’s cycles is 1:1-2:4. Each subsequent cycle repeats the same pattern, but with each new cycle, new details are added that provide a more complete statement of the things that Isaiah addresses. As the seven cycles unfold, Isaiah presses further and deeper into the themes of judgment and hope that are introduced in the very first cycle.

The first cycle of Isaiah concludes with a glorious vision of the future—a future that may have had a more immediate fulfillment, but a more ultimate fulfillment awaits. Each subsequent cycle ends with the same glorious vision, but as the cycles unfold, more information is provided about the glorious vision. What this first cycle describes is a restored Zion in which the pure and beautiful worship of the LORD is flourishing. The hypocritical worship that was presently occurring in Jerusalem: “Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them” (Isaiah 1:14); would be judged: “I will turn my hand against you and will smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your alloy” (Isaiah 1:25). But that present reality and its subsequent judgment would not be the last word. Isaiah 2:1-4 concludes the first cycle with a vision of true worship returning. Jerusalem’s sin would not thwart the LORD’s plans. As Jerusalem would face judgment, a renewed Jerusalem would be put in its place: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God…And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:1,10).

Another amazing aspect to this glorious future of a new Jerusalem, is that it would not be only for the Jews; the nations will gather: “and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come” (Isaiah 2:b-3a). The worship of the LORD would be a multinational, multi-ethnic gathering. This is not a new twist, but simply that fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham: “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). God’s universal worship would result in true peace: “and 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 anymore” (Isaiah 2:4b). Redeemed humanity will no longer be at war with each for they will be united around the worship of God: “And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10). And while this reality has yet to occur, it has begun, for it is the church’s commission: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe