Isa 2:2 | KingComments | STEP | The four chapters that follow now, Isaiah 2-5, form a coherent whole. It is one speech to Judah and Jerusalem. A new section begins with Isaiah 6, which is indicated by a new time indication ( ). Isaiah 2-5 contain a new vision that begins with the realm of peace. However, this realm only comes into being after the day of the LORD ( ) has come. The day of the LORD is the period when the LORD brings about His counsel concerning the glorification of Christ, the Branch of the LORD ( ), the restoration of Israel and the judgment and blessing of the nations. The first part of this chapter ( ) is largely verbatim similar to the description of the realm of peace by a contemporary of Isaiah, the prophet Micah ( ). This does not mean that one of them copied it from the other or that one of the two would not have been inspired. The one Spirit of God simply inspired them both to write the same thing. It is therefore a twofold testimony underlining that what has been said will be fulfilled. In Isaiah sees “the word … concerning Judah and Jerusalem”. In Isaiah 1 he sees a vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem ( ). Here he sees a word or message concerning Judah and Jerusalem (cf. ). This indicates that it is a supernatural message containing both visible and audible elements. This verse is also an introduction to Isaiah 2-5 and also indicates that it is about the cleansing of Judah. This is indicated by “the word”, for this is presented in the Word of God as a picture of the water that cleanses ( ). This cleansing takes place on “the day of the LORD” ( ) through “the Branch of the LORD”, which is the Lord Jesus ( ). It also indicates that the Word is living and powerfully active. It will be seen and heard by someone who lives in fellowship with God. Isaiah sees as a “seer” with the eyes of God and sees “the Word” of God performing its work ( ). Therefore, what he transmits are the words of God and not the imagination or the representation of his own thoughts. In we have a wonderful description of the beginning of the millennial realm of peace. It is also the glorious end of a sad history. The word Isaiah sees relates to the end time, “the last days” ( ). This is a special expression that occurs fourteen times in the Old Testament, here the only time in Isaiah. This expression refers to the period when the Messiah will appear and God’s ways will be brought to completion ( ; ). The expression here refers to the glory of the millennial realm of peace. The temple, “the house of the LORD”, will be established on the Temple Mount and will be highly exalted, both literally and spiritually (cf. ; ). This is the temple described by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 40-43). Mountains are often a picture of powerful kingdoms and hills of smaller earthly powers. The fact that the Temple Mount will be higher than all other mountains also means that Israel will be more powerful than the other nations and will be the head of all nations ( ). “All the nations will stream” now to the mountain of the house of the LORD. This description evokes the picture of a peacefully flowing river. It is in contrast to the raging of the nations before that time, which is compared to the raging of a wild sea. Since the temple is located on Mount Moriah or Sion, here referred to as “the highest of the mountains”, the remarkable picture of a river flowing upward is created. In the realm of peace, the nations will exhort one another “to go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob” ( ). That place is the center of the realm of peace. All nations will gather there. They will go there together, not to fight against it, but to receive teaching from the LORD. By building the tower of Babylon ( ) man has wanted to make his own gathering point to honor himself. God prevents this and scatters the nations. Now the nations acknowledge His reign and find their center in His house. The house of the LORD is here meaningfully called “the house of the God of Jacob”. It shows how God will then have openly triumphed over the selfish turnings that characterized Jacob and that have continued and has been proved in his offspring. This will be so clear that all nations will go to God’s house to learn from Him, so that they will walk in accordance with His law. When the judgments have been executed, people will be characterized by obedience to God and, as a result, by peace among themselves. They also come because they long to receive teaching from Him “concerning His ways”, so that they will no longer go their own ways, but “walk in His paths”. Then the promise God makes in Genesis 22 is fulfilled ( ; ; ; ). This fulfillment occurs because of the sacrifice that God Himself gives in His Son and of which the sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham is a picture. The teaching concerns the law by which the kingdom of heaven will be ruled, as laid down in Matthew 5-7. From Zion will not come forth the gospel of grace, but the teaching of the law. This underlines that it is not about the church, but about Israel. The law will be in the heart of Israel according to the new covenant ( ). Hunger for God’s Word, the desire for spiritual food and instruction, is one of the proofs of conversion. Everyone who has come to faith in the Lord Jesus will want to know God’s Word. The truth of God’s Word is nowhere else on earth but in what is now His house, “the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth” ( ). Every heart that longs to walk in God’s ways will therefore also go to the church meeting to hear about it. He will encourage others to do so with the words: “Come, let us go” (cf. ). Of course, this does not mean that there is no need for personal Bible study. Real hunger for the Word, stimulated by the teaching in the church, will encourage daily personal Bible study. The LORD, that is the Lord Jesus, “will judge between the nations” ( ). The disputes between the nations do not disappear automatically, but are resolved by Him. The result is peace on earth. Everyone will be at peace with His decision. It is not an unsettled, fragile peace, but peace based on righteousness. By eliminating any cause of conflict there will be no more wars. All war weapons, “swords” and “spears”, can be converted into tools that work as blessings for man, “plowshares” and “pruning hooks” (cf. ). No one will be instructed how to wage war anymore. There is no longer any reason to do so. When walking in the paths of the LORD there is peace in the heart and peace with all fellow walkers who also walk in those paths. The fact that they will no longer “learn war” is full of meaning. War is still taught and the teaching is done very efficient. The fear that characterizes people drives them to fight for their rights. As soon as someone thinks he is being wronged, weapons are seized, sometimes literally, sometimes in a battle of words. It is beyond the human capacity to abolish and banish war. There will come a time when people believe they have achieved this goal and attribute it to their own efforts. They will say: “Peace and security”, and then be struck by “sudden destruction” ( ). Any discontent between believers can also be removed if we want to be taught by the Lord Jesus (cf. ). If we go to Him with our disputes, He will judge. He can resolve any dispute. By bowing to His solution, peace will return and we will be able to use our strength for His work. That gives blessing. Lawsuits in the church today will be solved when thinking about the future described here ( ). After this glorious perspective, Isaiah can, as it were, not hold back. He calls upon the “house of Jacob” to return to the LORD immediately and to “walk in the light of the LORD” ( ) and no longer in the false light of idols. It is a call to walk in the light of the teaching that God’s Word spreads. Walking in the full light of the LORD they will do in the realm of peace. That light gives a view of the future ( ). Already today we may walk as children of light ( ), looking forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus. We see elsewhere in the Bible that reading about the future and taking it into our hearts has a sanctifying and cleansing effect on our lives today ( ; ). This section therefore shows us what God’s purpose and God’s standard are for the people of Israel. Since Israel does not meet this purpose and standard, God must necessarily judge the people and cleanse them through His word. This is described in the next section.

‏ Isaiah 2:2

Introduction

The four chapters that follow now, Isaiah 2-5, form a coherent whole. It is one speech to Judah and Jerusalem. A new section begins with Isaiah 6, which is indicated by a new time indication (Isa 6:1). Isaiah 2-5 contain a new vision that begins with the realm of peace.

However, this realm only comes into being after the day of the LORD (Isa 2:12) has come. The day of the LORD is the period when the LORD brings about His counsel concerning the glorification of Christ, the Branch of the LORD (Isa 4:2), the restoration of Israel and the judgment and blessing of the nations.

The first part of this chapter (Isa 2:1-5) is largely verbatim similar to the description of the realm of peace by a contemporary of Isaiah, the prophet Micah (Mic 4:1-5). This does not mean that one of them copied it from the other or that one of the two would not have been inspired. The one Spirit of God simply inspired them both to write the same thing. It is therefore a twofold testimony underlining that what has been said will be fulfilled.

The Coming Realm of Peace

In Isa 2:1 Isaiah sees “the word … concerning Judah and Jerusalem”. In Isaiah 1 he sees a vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem (Isa 1:1). Here he sees a word or message concerning Judah and Jerusalem (cf. Amos 1:1). This indicates that it is a supernatural message containing both visible and audible elements.

This verse is also an introduction to Isaiah 2-5 and also indicates that it is about the cleansing of Judah. This is indicated by “the word”, for this is presented in the Word of God as a picture of the water that cleanses (Eph 5:26). This cleansing takes place on “the day of the LORD” (Isa 2:12) through “the Branch of the LORD”, which is the Lord Jesus (Isa 4:2).

It also indicates that the Word is living and powerfully active. It will be seen and heard by someone who lives in fellowship with God. Isaiah sees as a “seer” with the eyes of God and sees “the Word” of God performing its work (1Thes 2:13). Therefore, what he transmits are the words of God and not the imagination or the representation of his own thoughts.

In Isa 2:2-4 we have a wonderful description of the beginning of the millennial realm of peace. It is also the glorious end of a sad history. The word Isaiah sees relates to the end time, “the last days” (Isa 2:2). This is a special expression that occurs fourteen times in the Old Testament, here the only time in Isaiah. This expression refers to the period when the Messiah will appear and God’s ways will be brought to completion (Heb 1:1-2; 1Pet 1:18-20). The expression here refers to the glory of the millennial realm of peace.

The temple, “the house of the LORD”, will be established on the Temple Mount and will be highly exalted, both literally and spiritually (cf. Isa 66:23; Zec 14:16). This is the temple described by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 40-43). Mountains are often a picture of powerful kingdoms and hills of smaller earthly powers. The fact that the Temple Mount will be higher than all other mountains also means that Israel will be more powerful than the other nations and will be the head of all nations (Deu 26:19a).

“All the nations will stream” now to the mountain of the house of the LORD. This description evokes the picture of a peacefully flowing river. It is in contrast to the raging of the nations before that time, which is compared to the raging of a wild sea. Since the temple is located on Mount Moriah or Sion, here referred to as “the highest of the mountains”, the remarkable picture of a river flowing upward is created.

In the realm of peace, the nations will exhort one another “to go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob” (Isa 2:3). That place is the center of the realm of peace. All nations will gather there. They will go there together, not to fight against it, but to receive teaching from the LORD. By building the tower of Babylon (Gen 11:1-9) man has wanted to make his own gathering point to honor himself. God prevents this and scatters the nations. Now the nations acknowledge His reign and find their center in His house.

The house of the LORD is here meaningfully called “the house of the God of Jacob”. It shows how God will then have openly triumphed over the selfish turnings that characterized Jacob and that have continued and has been proved in his offspring. This will be so clear that all nations will go to God’s house to learn from Him, so that they will walk in accordance with His law. When the judgments have been executed, people will be characterized by obedience to God and, as a result, by peace among themselves.

They also come because they long to receive teaching from Him “concerning His ways”, so that they will no longer go their own ways, but “walk in His paths”. Then the promise God makes in Genesis 22 is fulfilled (Gen 22:14; Isa 51:4; Mic 4:2; Zec 8:3). This fulfillment occurs because of the sacrifice that God Himself gives in His Son and of which the sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham is a picture. The teaching concerns the law by which the kingdom of heaven will be ruled, as laid down in Matthew 5-7.

From Zion will not come forth the gospel of grace, but the teaching of the law. This underlines that it is not about the church, but about Israel. The law will be in the heart of Israel according to the new covenant (Heb 8:10).

Hunger for God’s Word, the desire for spiritual food and instruction, is one of the proofs of conversion. Everyone who has come to faith in the Lord Jesus will want to know God’s Word. The truth of God’s Word is nowhere else on earth but in what is now His house, “the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth” (1Tim 3:15).

Every heart that longs to walk in God’s ways will therefore also go to the church meeting to hear about it. He will encourage others to do so with the words: “Come, let us go” (cf. Heb 10:25). Of course, this does not mean that there is no need for personal Bible study. Real hunger for the Word, stimulated by the teaching in the church, will encourage daily personal Bible study.

The LORD, that is the Lord Jesus, “will judge between the nations” (Isa 2:4). The disputes between the nations do not disappear automatically, but are resolved by Him. The result is peace on earth. Everyone will be at peace with His decision. It is not an unsettled, fragile peace, but peace based on righteousness.

By eliminating any cause of conflict there will be no more wars. All war weapons, “swords” and “spears”, can be converted into tools that work as blessings for man, “plowshares” and “pruning hooks” (cf. Joel 3:10). No one will be instructed how to wage war anymore. There is no longer any reason to do so. When walking in the paths of the LORD there is peace in the heart and peace with all fellow walkers who also walk in those paths.

The fact that they will no longer “learn war” is full of meaning. War is still taught and the teaching is done very efficient. The fear that characterizes people drives them to fight for their rights. As soon as someone thinks he is being wronged, weapons are seized, sometimes literally, sometimes in a battle of words. It is beyond the human capacity to abolish and banish war. There will come a time when people believe they have achieved this goal and attribute it to their own efforts. They will say: “Peace and security”, and then be struck by “sudden destruction” (1Thes 5:3).

Any discontent between believers can also be removed if we want to be taught by the Lord Jesus (cf. Phil 2:5). If we go to Him with our disputes, He will judge. He can resolve any dispute. By bowing to His solution, peace will return and we will be able to use our strength for His work. That gives blessing. Lawsuits in the church today will be solved when thinking about the future described here (1Cor 6:1-8).

After this glorious perspective, Isaiah can, as it were, not hold back. He calls upon the “house of Jacob” to return to the LORD immediately and to “walk in the light of the LORD” (Isa 2:5) and no longer in the false light of idols. It is a call to walk in the light of the teaching that God’s Word spreads. Walking in the full light of the LORD they will do in the realm of peace. That light gives a view of the future (Isa 2:2-4).

Already today we may walk as children of light (Eph 5:8-20), looking forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus. We see elsewhere in the Bible that reading about the future and taking it into our hearts has a sanctifying and cleansing effect on our lives today (2Pet 3:10-14; 1Jn 3:2-3).

This section therefore shows us what God’s purpose and God’s standard are for the people of Israel. Since Israel does not meet this purpose and standard, God must necessarily judge the people and cleanse them through His word. This is described in the next section.