Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this Advent season. I love to read various Old Testament passages that deal with the Promise of the Birth of our Lord Jesus. One of those passages is found in Isaiah 2.
There is nothing in all creation that is as majestic and mighty as a mountain. I was born in a village in India surrounded by mountains. We live here in New York close to a majestic mountain region. One summer, as a family, we drove to the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire. In 2000 we spent part of the summer in the Alps of Europe. To look at the mountains from the lower vantage point was to behold a daunting trek to the top.
There is nothing in all creation that is as majestic and mighty as a mountain. I was born in a village in India surrounded by mountains. We live here in New York close to a majestic mountain region. One summer, as a family, we drove to the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire. In 2000 we spent part of the summer in the Alps of Europe. To look at the mountains from the lower vantage point was to behold a daunting trek to the top.
The LORD took Isaiah away into a future place through the Holy Spirit and showed him something awesome. God showed him the glory of Mount Zion.
“In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills…” (2:2). Mount Zion is not much of a mountain. It is a hill among some other taller hills that could be called mountains. Something very important is going to happen here if Zion, not Sinai, is to be the chief mountain.
Mountains played an important role in the religions of those times. To the primitive mind, it was on the mountain that heaven and earth came together. It was thought that the gods could be reached on mountain tops, so they built altars and temples in the heights. The Parthenon in Athens was built on a mountain top as an offering to the gods.
“In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills…” (2:2). Mount Zion is not much of a mountain. It is a hill among some other taller hills that could be called mountains. Something very important is going to happen here if Zion, not Sinai, is to be the chief mountain.
Mountains played an important role in the religions of those times. To the primitive mind, it was on the mountain that heaven and earth came together. It was thought that the gods could be reached on mountain tops, so they built altars and temples in the heights. The Parthenon in Athens was built on a mountain top as an offering to the gods.
Mount Zion became the center of the universe. In other words, Yahweh is to become the focal point of everyone’s attention in the world. Does the mountain literally rise? No, but it becomes chief among the mountains as the place to meet with God.
“…and all nations will stream to it” (v. 2). Here we find another oxymoron: a stream that runs uphill. This is the picture the Isaiah painted for us. People from all nations will drop their patriotism to stream like a river to Yahweh on Mount Zion. They will be joined into one throng of people, a people of God. This Mount Zion will attract a great number of people, as Isaiah wrote: “Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob’” (2:3).
There was something very radical about Mount Sinai. We can read in Hebrews: “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words, so that those who heard it begged no further words be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: ‘If even an animal touches the mountain it must be stoned.’ The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am trembling with fear’” (12:18-21). This was Mount Sinai, the untouchable mountain where God lived. Don’t touch the mountain. While God was there only Moses could go up and talk to God. Don’t touch the mountain. It was a frightening time in Israel’s history.
“…and all nations will stream to it” (v. 2). Here we find another oxymoron: a stream that runs uphill. This is the picture the Isaiah painted for us. People from all nations will drop their patriotism to stream like a river to Yahweh on Mount Zion. They will be joined into one throng of people, a people of God. This Mount Zion will attract a great number of people, as Isaiah wrote: “Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob’” (2:3).
There was something very radical about Mount Sinai. We can read in Hebrews: “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words, so that those who heard it begged no further words be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: ‘If even an animal touches the mountain it must be stoned.’ The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am trembling with fear’” (12:18-21). This was Mount Sinai, the untouchable mountain where God lived. Don’t touch the mountain. While God was there only Moses could go up and talk to God. Don’t touch the mountain. It was a frightening time in Israel’s history.
In Isaiah there is a monumental shift in how these mountains are perceived.
“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22-24).
A dramatic shift occurred, and This is what has changed so dramatically, and Isaiah saw a time when people could come to God without terror. This was Isaiah's vision. Coming to the Mountain of the LORD became something to be no longer feared because of our inability to keep the law of the Lord. Now we come to a mountain where we can approach the presence of God without fear. “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths” (2:3).
Isaiah saw a pilgrimage to the mountain of the LORD where people would learn a Godly way of life. The law would not frighten them away; grace would invite them to come. This is why Isaiah saw a stream running uphill – it was the magnetism of the LORD, drawing people to himself in an inspired momentum.
As the people come to the mountain of the LORD Isaiah saw an outflow coupled with this inflow. “The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (2:3). Think of all those excited people on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit performed this amazing work on the disciples. They went home to their own countries and told their countrymen about this Jesus. Jesus commanded his disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Mount Zion, the holy city, the New Jerusalem is a metaphor for the presence of God. As stated in Hebrews you have come to this mountain, to the angels singing, to the church of the firstborn, to God himself. We know this in part for we are still in the last days, but we will know it fully when Jesus comes again: “I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God…And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them’” (Rev. 21:2-3). John saw what Isaiah saw, the glory of the LORD in the presence of his people. The Prophecies in the Book of Isaiah speak about the peace that the Prince of Peace offers to those who come to by faith and through His grace.
Even though disease my ravage our bodies and throw us down as we have never been thrown before, we can know peace. I have witnessed people dying who knew this peace. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:1-5).
This is what Isaiah saw; this is his vision of Mount Zion. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ according to Isaiah. One day it will be fulfilled in the coming of Jesus; swords and bombs will be gone. No one will train for war anymore. We will know peace.
Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22-24).
A dramatic shift occurred, and This is what has changed so dramatically, and Isaiah saw a time when people could come to God without terror. This was Isaiah's vision. Coming to the Mountain of the LORD became something to be no longer feared because of our inability to keep the law of the Lord. Now we come to a mountain where we can approach the presence of God without fear. “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths” (2:3).
Isaiah saw a pilgrimage to the mountain of the LORD where people would learn a Godly way of life. The law would not frighten them away; grace would invite them to come. This is why Isaiah saw a stream running uphill – it was the magnetism of the LORD, drawing people to himself in an inspired momentum.
As the people come to the mountain of the LORD Isaiah saw an outflow coupled with this inflow. “The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (2:3). Think of all those excited people on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit performed this amazing work on the disciples. They went home to their own countries and told their countrymen about this Jesus. Jesus commanded his disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Mount Zion, the holy city, the New Jerusalem is a metaphor for the presence of God. As stated in Hebrews you have come to this mountain, to the angels singing, to the church of the firstborn, to God himself. We know this in part for we are still in the last days, but we will know it fully when Jesus comes again: “I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God…And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them’” (Rev. 21:2-3). John saw what Isaiah saw, the glory of the LORD in the presence of his people. The Prophecies in the Book of Isaiah speak about the peace that the Prince of Peace offers to those who come to by faith and through His grace.
Even though disease my ravage our bodies and throw us down as we have never been thrown before, we can know peace. I have witnessed people dying who knew this peace. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:1-5).
This is what Isaiah saw; this is his vision of Mount Zion. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ according to Isaiah. One day it will be fulfilled in the coming of Jesus; swords and bombs will be gone. No one will train for war anymore. We will know peace.
Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
In Christ,
Brown
The St. Petersburg (Russian) Men's Ensemble will be in concert onSaturday, December 3, 2011 at 6:30 PM
Location: First United Methodist Church,53 McKinley Avenue, Endicott, NY
Sponsored by the Union Center UMC
128 Maple Drive, Endicott, NY
More Information available at (607) 748-6329
Sponsored by the Union Center UMC
128 Maple Drive, Endicott, NY
More Information available at (607) 748-6329
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