1. Introduction
In this chapter, Isaiah gave a vision about the future of Jerusalem, namely when the Messiah returns to Earth a second time and rule from Jerusalem. We can imagine that it was difficult for the people of Isaiah's time to understand this prophecy, since the first coming of Christ had not even happened yet. The picture is about a conquering king, so no wonder the Jews had a hard time to believe that Jesus was the Messiah when he first came as a lamb.
Also, some of the passages are two-fold prophecies. In other words, the prophecy looked like a single picture of far-off mountains; however, as you get near to the first mountain, you realise that the mountains are not close together. The rest of the mountains are separated with some distance apart.
Thus, while some of the prophecies points to events thousands of years into the future, parts of the same passage also apply to the nearer events, such as the Babylonian captivity that would happen in the next hundred years.
We have an advantage over the ancient Jews, as we have already reached and passed the first few mountains - the Babylonian captivity and the first coming of Christ. Therefore we see more clearly which of the prophecies have passed, and which ones are still yet to come.
Thus when we read Isaiah, we need to keep in mind the two-fold nature of the prophecies.
1. Jerusalem in the Millenium (1-4)
When Christ comes again, He will defeat the secular nations and rule the Earth from Jerusalem. (Revelation 20:4-6). Many other prophets including Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah and even the Psalms also predicted the kingship of the Messiah in Jerusalem.
“Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You, ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ” (Psalm 2:6-9)
Unlike the corrupted kings of Judah and Israel, it will be a time of peace and justice, where Jesus will be the judge for all nations. There will be no more wars among the nations, but this is after the major war of the Armageddon where Jesus comes back to defend Israel and defeat the nations. (Rev 19:11-21)
All nations will come and pay tribute the Lord in Jerusalem, and to seek His wisdom.
Isaiah's contemporary colleague, Micah duplicated verses 1-4 in Micah 4:1-3. Micah may either have copied Isaiah or received the same message from God.
Applications: Israel today is a miracle, how it survived both the Assyrians, the Babylonians and the Romans to become a global technological leader. Even today, not many people wants to go Israel for holidays. It is considered dangerous. But one day, everyone will want to go. Zechariah prophesied "The inhabitants of one city will go to another, saying, 'Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going." (Zec 8:21)
The apostles we're motivated and were not afraid to be matyrs because they have the hope of a "heavenly country". (Hebrews 11:13-16)
2. The people became "worldly" (5-11)
Worldliness is not just a problem with the modern world. The children of Israel were addicted to the riches and pleasures their godless neighbours revel in. They are "full of things from the East" refers to the pagan practices of the Assyrians and Babylonians. They "strike hands" with foreigners and followed their way of financial corruption, learning their warfare technologies, and worship their gods.
God assured them that "The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day." (v11). This phrase is repeated several times by Isaiah.
Philippians 2:10 says: "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;"
Applications: Do we "strike hands" with those who do not believe in the same God and who do what is unlawful to the Scriptures? Are we addicted to riches and power? Do we worship money? The bible says "do not love the world", yet being in the world, it is sometimes hard to discern right and wrong, especially when the Bible doesn't speak directly about it.
There are two calls Isaiah made in this chapter - where we should be, and where we should do:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord" (v3) and "come, let us walk in the light of the Lord." (v5)
3. Judgement - A day of Jehovah (12-22)
God will bring a day of reckoning for all the nations, against those who are proud and lofty. It is commonly referred to by the prophets as "Day of the Lord". (Eg: Ezekiel 38:16; Hosea 3:5).
The cedars of Lebanon and oaks of Bashan refer to the assets of the nations (in those days, these wood were consider luxury items). The hills and mountains are places of religious (idol) worship. Towers and fortified walls are nations' defenses. Ships of Tarshish refers to commercial riches. All these will be brought down.
That will be the day when Jesus returns to Earth, not as a lamb, but as a lion, to establish His kingdom on earth.
"For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." (1 Thes 5:2-3)
On that day, we believe that the believers will be "raptured" and taken away to meet Jesus in the clouds and we will go directly to heaven without going through death. (1 Thes 4: 16-18)
The Lord will then "shake the earth" and every man will flee to the caves or holes in the ground in fear. (See Luke 23:30, Rev 6:16). This is a look into the future where bombs are falling everywhere, and there is the possibility of nuclear weapons being used as well.
In that day, men will know that all the silver, gold, and idols are totally worthless (major recession) and will abandon them. Trusting other men for help and salvation is also futile because no one will be able to help anyone.
Applications: The last verse of Chapter 2 says "Stop regarding man... for of what account is he?" (v22) David puts it this way "Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation."
The majority of people on earth believes in philosopher, political leaders, or religious teachers who are merely mortal - they cannot stop death nor bring salvation.
For us believers, how much of our confidence are put on man? We must be ready, for it will not be for long when the Day of the Lord comes, and everything that man pride themselves of doing will be washed away.
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