Go Up

Read Isaiah 2 – 4
 
Isaiah 2:2-4 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, and all nations will stream to it. 3 Many people will come and say, “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.” 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
 
ISAIAH’S prophecies speak of the immediate, near, distant and eternal future. This passage points to the eternal future. Then the rest of the reading regards the LORD’s judgment on Judah that will culminate in the exile to Babylon about 300 years later. God’s judgment will precede his glorious salvation to the end of time.
    One of the reoccurring images in Scripture is going up to God on a mountain. This begins with Noah’s ark landing on Mt. Ararat at the flood’s end. Genesis 11 describes humanity desiring to build a tower up to God. Abraham is directed up Mt. Moriah to sacrifice Isaac to test his faith. Moses meets God on the mountain to receive the law. Then the Jerusalem temple is bult on a mount – the same place Abraham took his son. The Psalms of Ascents are going up step-by-step to worship God on his temple mount in Jerusalem. Jesus dies on the mount of Golgotha. The dead will rise up to meet the Lord in the air. In the last days, the new Jerusalem will come down from heaven.
    With the words, “in the last days” Isaiah points to the fulfillment of time. God’s rule will come to all his church in the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21). Some say this could also point to the current age of the church as we have total access to ascend to God and worship him through the Son and the Spirit.
    Worshiping God leads to peace. This is a picture of what the world will be some day. This also teaches what our lives, communities and nations can be today. Going up to God, we will come to know his law, justice, grace and forgiveness. Ascending to the Lord raises our minds to learn how to love one another. Isaiah’s prophecies of God’s judgment in chapters 3-4 point to the pain of keeping our eyes cast down on ourselves. Seeking our own desires we cannot look up to see God’s gracious will for our everyday and eternal lives.
    Are you seeking rest from life’s distress? Know God is on his throne and he has come down to raise you up to him. Go ahead. Get up each day to seek him. He’s in a solid, Bible-teaching church, in a quiet time with your Holy Bible, in a time of prayer alone or with a friend. He’s in a conversation with a godly friend and a Jesus-loving pastor. Even more, as you confess “Jesus is Lord.” He is within you. Yes, he is. He’s right there to raise you up to enjoy a life-giving, love-building, peace-making relationship with the Lord God Almighty.
 
Pause and Consider: a picture of God with his arms wide open waiting for you to come to him and to be strengthened in his love.