READING: Isaiah 2-3 – Future House of God & Arrogance of Israel

VERSE FOR THE DAY: In days to come the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains. All nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall say, “Come, let us go up to the LORD’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us His ways and we may walk in His paths. Out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:2-3)

Isaiah 2:2-4 is a great Messianic prophecy that looked more than 700 years into the future. The words of verse 4 have not yet been completely fulfilled. The ultimate fulfillment will be a time of peace when nations will no longer war anymore. That will be in the time after Jesus returns to be the Judge of the nations.

In the meantime, judgment is pronounced against the arrogance of the elites of Judah. “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD! For you have forsaken the ways of your people.” You are full of diviners from the east and soothsayers like the Philistines. You consort with foreigners whose land is filled with silver and gold. They are wealthy with many horses and no end to their chariots. Their lands are filled with idols, the works of their hands.

“Haughty eyes and everyone’s pride will be brought low and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.” Idols will pass away. Hide in the caves and holes of the ground from the terror of the Lord and His glory. “People will throw their idols away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold which they made for themselves to worship.”

In chapter three, the sovereign LORD takes away His support for Jerusalem and Judah. He will make boys their princes; babies will be their rulers. “The people will be oppressed, everyone by another and by a neighbor. The youth will be insolent to the elder, and the base to the honorable. They proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. They’ve brought evil on themselves. My people – children oppress them, and women rule over them.”

“The daughters of Zion are haughty. They walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet; the LORD will afflict with scabs the heads of the daughters of Zion.” The LORD will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands and crescents, pendants, bracelets, scarves, headdresses, armlets, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets, signet rings and nose rings, festal robes, mantles, cloaks, handbags, garments of gauze, linen garments, turbans, and veils.

“Instead of perfume, a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-set hair, baldness; instead of a rich robe, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame.” The men die by the sword. “Her gates shall lament and mourn; ravaged, she shall sit upon the ground.” In 4:1, seven women take hold of one man, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes; just let us be called by your name; take away our disgrace.”

Disgrace there is indeed when arrogant pride grinding the face of the poor takes over.

Is there a lesson for us in what God said about Judah?

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PRAY FOR YOURSELF:

Father, I look forward to the time when the swords will be turned into plowshares the spears into pruning hooks. I long for that day to come, and this is my prayer, in Jesus’ holy Name, AMEN!

MY PRAYER FOR YOU (and for me)

Father, I pray for all who read these words that we may each seek peace in our time. While we are waiting for that day, it is in Jesus’ holy name that I pray, AMEN!