Isaiah 2:1 says, The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. This chapter and the next two are a new sermon directed at Judah and Jerusalem.
Verse two adds, And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. The last days referred to here are the end of the days of the old covenant and the beginning of the days of the new covenant. God's house will be established for all to see when the end of the new covenant comes. All nations will come to it, not just the Jews. Between the beginning of the new covenant and the return of Christ, those who believe in Jesus Christ throughout the world will be like a beacon on a hill when they call people to put their faith in Him. We should never be hidden away.
Verse three continues, And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Isaiah said that in this time many people would come to the house of the God of Jacob, and that God would teach them His ways and they would walk in His paths. Again, this wasn't limited to the Jews but was available to all. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit indwells us to teach us God’s law and lead us in His paths.
Verse four continues, And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. We know this will happen when Jesus Christ returns, but when He first came was also a time of peace in the world. It did not last that time, but He will bring everlasting peace when He returns. There will no longer be need of instruments of war. While we are awaiting His return as Christians, we are to do our best to live at peace in the world. This will not always be possible, but it is to be our goal.
Verse five states, O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. Isaiah called on the house of Jacob, the Jews, to walk in the light of the Lord, but they still haven’t accepted Jesus as the Messiah. We cannot walk in the light of the Lord if we do not accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. Just as Isaiah called on the people of Judah to walk in God’s light, we need to call on everyone to do the same thing today. Matthew Henry says this could apply to the physical descendants of Jacob or the spiritual descendants who come to God by faith. I do know that God calls both groups to put their faith in Jesus, the Light of the world. Of course, those living then put their faith in the coming Messiah and we put our faith in the Messiah Who has come.
Verse six adds, Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. Isaiah said God had forsaken His people from the house of Jacob because they had rejected Him. They were worshipping false gods and looking to soothsayers to guide them to please themselves and not to please God. If we reject Jesus Christ, when He comes again, He will reject us as well and we will be sent away to everlasting punishment.
Verse seven continues, Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: Isaiah said they were full of earthly treasures at that time, but they had rejected God’s word. No matter how rich we may become in the world, if we have rejected Jesus Christ, we have nothing of lasting value.
Verse eight says, Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: The people of Judah were worshipping the works of their hands and manmade idols while rejecting God’s way. Too many people are still worshipping wealth and manmade idols instead of worshipping God.
Verse nine adds, And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not. Since people both high and low in the eyes of the world were worshipping idols instead of God, they could not be forgiven. If we refuse to accept Jesus Christ and put our faith in material things instead, our sins cannot be forgiven.
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