Isaiah 2:1-4

Photo by Jack Anstey on Unsplash

The Word which Isaiah, son of Amoz, perceived concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
And it shall be, at the end of the days,
The mountain of Yahweh’s house will be secured
As the head of the mountains
And it will be lifted up more than the hills
And all the nations will stream to it.
 
And many peoples will come,
And they will say:
‘Come,
Let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh
To the house of the God of Jacob,
So that he may teach us something of his ways,
And that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion will go forth teaching,
And Yahweh’s word out of Jerusalem.
 
And he will set things to rights between the nations,
And arbitrate between many peoples,
And they will hammer their swords into plow blades,
And their spears into pruning knives.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
And they will not, any more, learn war.
 
 
Yahweh’s house.  The dwelling place of God with his people.  The mountain of teaching.  Where His Word is known.  It is there, by His Word and teaching, that justice is arbitrated, that peace is obtained.  It is there, by His Word and teaching, that division and animosity ceases.  It is there that the schismatic tributaries of nation and tribe and identity group flow into one stream of submission to His authority, humility before His Word, and honor to His majesty.
Do we think of the church in this way?  Is this trembling before His Word the thing which defines our character?  Do we gather before His presence, as one people, to be taught by Him?  To learn from Him?  To be directed as to how we must live?
You see, this is the manner by which peace is established, a flowing to hear from the Word of the Lord so that we may walk in His ways, appreciate what He values, and submit ourselves to His wisdom, authority, and majesty.  When we do this, there is peace, and our weapons of warfare, our striking to destroy implements of words and deeds towards others, are reshaped into words and deeds which bring fruit, and bread, and life.  Weapons of destruction remade into implements to provide sustenance and thriving of life.
Oh, that we would be known as people of the Word!  Oh, that we would be known by the world as those who humbly submit to His commands and decrees, “the people of the Book” who have laid down their weapons of destruction and speak words which may cut, but which are intended to bring life, and deeds which may prune, but which are intended to produce the flourishing of existential joy.