Isa 2:2-5 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 2:2-4: 2:2-4 God’s gracious salvation would one day extend beyond Israel and Judah. This would prompt the nations to come to Zion, not in battle but to be blessed there and live by the rules of God’s kingdom. Isaiah encouraged Judah to look at the benefits that the nations would enjoy. He wanted to stimulate the people of Judah (2:5 ) to jealousy and provoke them to follow the Lord so that they would not be left out in that day. This section is repeated almost verbatim in Micah 4:1-3 . 2:2 In the Old Testament, the expression the last days is a general reference to the future era (see Jer 49:39 ; Ezek 38:16 ; Hos 3:5 ); in the New Testament, it is used to refer to the period that began with the coming of the Lord Jesus (Heb 1:2 ) and more specifically to the period immediately preceding the end of the present age (2 Pet 3:3 ). • The mountain of the Lord ’s house referred to the Temple Mount. This location symbolized God’s glorious exaltation (see Isa 6:1 ) and his kingdom on earth. Isaiah’s focus on God’s exalted and supreme kingship flows out of his famous vision of God (ch 6 ). • Far from being a narrow nationalistic dream, Isaiah’s prophetic hope extended beyond Judah and Jerusalem to include people from all over the world .

Summary for Isa 2:2-4: 2:2-4 ^a God’s gracious salvation would one day extend beyond Israel and Judah. This would prompt the nations to come to Zion, not in battle but to be blessed there and live by the rules of God’s kingdom. Isaiah encouraged Judah to look at the benefits that the nations would enjoy. He wanted to stimulate the people of Judah (2:5 ^b) to jealousy and provoke them to follow the Lord so that they would not be left out in that day. This section is repeated almost verbatim in Micah 4:1-3 ^c. 2:2 ^d In the Old Testament, the expression the last days is a general reference to the future era (see Jer 49:39 ^e; Ezek 38:16 ^f; Hos 3:5 ^g); in the New Testament, it is used to refer to the period that began with the coming of the Lord Jesus (Heb 1:2 ^h) and more specifically to the period immediately preceding the end of the present age (2 Pet 3:3 ⁱ).

• The mountain of the Lord’s house referred to the Temple Mount. This location symbolized God’s glorious exaltation (see Isa 6:1 ^j) and his kingdom on earth. Isaiah’s focus on God’s exalted and supreme kingship flows out of his famous vision of God (ch 6 ^k).

• Far from being a narrow nationalistic dream, Isaiah’s prophetic hope extended beyond Judah and Jerusalem to include people from all over the world.
2:3 ^l Human society will undergo changes as people conform to God’s revelation and follow his ways and paths.

• Judah received the revelation (teaching ... word) but did not obey it (1:10-15 ^m); however, the nations will be ready to do God’s will.
2:4 ⁿ The Kingdom of God is evident when conflict and violence end, and it is characterized by peace (Rom 14:17 ^o). People will cooperate willingly or they will be forced to end their hostilities (Ps 46:9 ^p). The nations will submit to divine arbitration rather than go to war (see Isa 1:18-20 ^q).

• The words mediate and settle refer to God’s acts here, but later verses show the Messiah as the executor of justice (11:3-4 ^r). When this takes place, war will cease, and the nations will change their instruments of war into agricultural tools.

• swords into plowshares: Cp. Joel 3:10 ^s, where the nations are exhorted to hammer their plowshares into swords.
Summary for Isa 2:5-4:1: 2:5–4:1 ^t Isaiah condemned Israel’s and Judah’s arrogance and self-exaltation, warning them that only God was to be exalted. All attempts by humans to lift themselves up will actually result in humiliation.
Summary for Isa 2:5-22: 2:5-22 ^u The prophet threatened judgment and scoffed at human pride. All human structures (religious, economic, military, social) will come under divine scrutiny and be found deficient on the day of the Lord—that final day in history when God will judge the wicked once and for all (1 Cor 1:8 ^v; 1 Thes 5:2 ^w; 2 Thes 2:2 ^x; 2 Pet 3:10 ^y; Rev 20:7-15 ^z). At times, the prophets also used the expression “the day of the Lord” (or others like it, such as “that day”) to refer to special instances of God’s judgment upon wickedness during the course of history (see Isa 13:6 ^aa, 9 ^ab; Ezek 13:5 ^ac; 30:3 ^ad; Obad 1:15 ^ae). On the day of the Lord, God alone will be exalted, while all human wickedness and pride will be struck down. The glorious day of God’s coming will fill wicked and arrogant humans with terror (Isa 2:10 ^af, 19 ^ag, 21 ^ah). 2:5 ^ai Come ... let us walk: Walking in God’s light (his revelation) will lead to glorious participation in his kingdom (see 60:1 ^aj; 1 Jn 1:7 ^ak). God is the only light that overcomes the darkness of sin and evil (Isa 9:2 ^al). People cannot generate such light in and of themselves (59:9 ^am) but must walk in the light God provides, as they trust him and live in obedience to his will (50:10 ^an).

• The phrase descendants of Jacob alludes to Israel’s special historic relationship with the Lord as well as their history of sinfulness and rebellion (see 14:1 ^ao; 48:1 ^ap).