The Prophet Isaiah
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)
During Advent we shall look at the people, places and symbols that invite us to prepare for the coming of the Christ-child at Christmas. They will not necessarily occur in the right order! Today we start with the Prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah lived in Jerusalem some 800 years before Jesus, when Judah and Israel had become separated into the northern and southern kingdoms, and King Uzziah reigned over Judah. Likely of noble birth, Isaiah's first prophecy must have shocked the people, for it was a peaceful time with the Assyrians occupied elsewhere (though they would return). In Isaiah's first vision (Chapter 1) Yahweh accuses the people of being "a sinful nation". As a result their country and its people will be destroyed, and when they appeal to Him He will not listen, for they need to stop offering him sacrifices and "cease to do evil and learn to do good".
However, after this, a second vision comes to Isaiah. Yahweh offers hope for the future. This ultimate hope would keep the nation going after the destruction of Jerusalem and the forcible repatriation of its inhabitants to Babylon some 200 years later, before the rebuilding and return to their homeland. However, this was not to be the permanent peace that God had offered.
Today, as Christians we are a part of this longing for the future. We recently saw that the word 'Zion' has a Heavenly meaning (Psalm 87) and speaks of a time when Yahweh will dwell among His people. It calls for a transformation of hearts and minds towards peace rather than warfare, and this will be a time when all the nations will come to Him, and all people will live in peace. It was this hope that was to keep the thought of a Saviour, a Messiah, alive for centuries until the arrival of the Christ-child in the manger. It was also this hope of peace that keeps us praying today for Christ's Second Coming and the completion of God's plans.
Lord Jesus Christ,
we pray for a future that does not include war,
for a time when weapons will not be needed
and people will pursue justice and peace.
We also pray for the time that You will return
to make all things well.
As we prepare ourselves spiritually
to celebrate Your birth once more
so may we be grateful to prophets like Isaiah
who listened to You and spoke Your words.
Amen.
Here is a little more information about Isaiah:
You might like to play this hymn: